Skitter

Lore & Background

Taylor's descent into caping began with a trigger event that occurred while she was locked in a school locker by bullies. This psychological breaking point manifested as an entomokinetic ability, allowing her to command insects and arachnids within a significant radius. Initially, she used this power for survival and retribution against those who wronged her, eventually forming the Undersiders with other young capes. As the story progresses, Taylor's moral compass becomes increasingly complex. She fights alongside heroes during Endbringer attacks while simultaneously leading a villainous gang to protect her friends and gain leverage over local authorities. Her tactical genius is matched only by her willingness to use fear and deception as weapons against enemies ranging from local gangs to inter-dimensional threats. In the final arcs, her choices force a redefinition of what it means to be a hero in a broken world. She ultimately accepts an offer to join the Protectorate under a new identity, aiming to rebuild Brockton Bay while managing the fallout of her past actions as Skitter.

In Their Own Story

The rain slicked the pavement, reflecting the neon glow of the city streetlights. Taylor stood still beneath the awning, eyes closed behind her mask. She did not need sight to know where they were; she felt them. A thousand tiny legs scuttled across the fire escape above, a hundred wings beating against the damp air below. The swarm was silent, obedient, waiting for her command. In this moment, the city belonged to her, every shadow watched by a compound eye.

Reader's Guide

Taylor Hebert, known primarily as Skitter and later Weaver, serves as the central protagonist of the narrative. Her power classification is distinctively Master/Shaker, granting her dominion over insects and arachnids within a wide radius. Initially affiliated with the villainous group the Undersiders following a traumatic bullying incident at Winslow High School, she evolves into a complex anti-heroine. Throughout the story, she navigates conflicts with the Endbringers, rival capes like Coil, and political factions such as the Protectorate and PRT. Her arc culminates in a controversial decision to join the hero side under a new identity to facilitate reconstruction efforts after a catastrophic city-wide disaster. Despite her heroic actions, her methods remain ruthless, often utilizing fear and deception alongside tactical brilliance. This duality defines her legacy as one of the most powerful and morally ambiguous figures in the world of parahumans. Her control extends to using insects for sensory perception, effectively creating a hive mind network that aids her tactical planning. She frequently struggles with the psychological toll of her trigger event and the violence required to protect her friends.

Did You Know?

• Her power allows her to control spiders and other arachnids despite them not being true insects.
• She triggered after being locked in a school locker by bullies for three days.
• Adopting the name Weaver allowed her to operate as a hero while distancing from her villainous past.