Screwball (character)

Screwball is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Dan Slott and artist Marcos Martín, the character first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #559. Screwball is described as the world's first "live streaming super-villain" and commits crimes to get more hits on her web page. She is a recurring antagonist of the superhero Spider-Man.

Publication history
Screwball debuted Amazing Spider-Man #559, created by writer Dan Slott and artist Marcos Martín. She appeared in the 2021 Marvel Action: Spider-Man series.

Fictional character biography
Not much is known about Screwball's past. She is an Internet personality who seeks attention, to the point that she commits infractions to gain followers and fame. Screwball would commit crimes while a film crew filmed her so that she could get more hits on her videos by having Spider-Man appear on it. She first encountered Spider-Man while he was tracing the "Spider-Tracer Killer."

Screwball later posed as Spider-Man to help Bookie where they filmed Spider-Man fighting a villain called Basher. The fight was uploaded on YouTube and watched by the patrons of the "Bar with No Name". The Enforcers recognized what was happening and began to attack Bookie only for him to be rescued when the real Spider-Man showed up.

When Spider-Man and Daredevil arrive at the Bar With No Name, Screwball is among the patrons that attack them.

Because of Spider-Man's humiliating fight with Screwball, Ben Reilly didn't want to buy any of Peter Parker's photos.

During the "Origin of the Species" storyline, Spider-Man apprehends Screwball and Looter in Midtown in light of Doctor Octopus stealing Lily Hollister's newborn child Stanley.

Spider-Girl later chased Screwball and confiscated her camera to prevent her from broadcasting her latest activity before handing her over to the police.

Screwball later collaborated with Jester in pranking Mayor J. Jonah Jameson which was uploaded on the Internet. Both villains were defeated by the Superior Spider-Man (Otto Octiavus's mind in Spider-Man's body), who savagely beats them. Screwball later appeared in Las Vegas where she collaborated with Arcade who gave her the training, equipment, and exclusive streaming rights that she needed. She later fights Elektra, under Arcade's orders, but is defeated.

During the "Hunted" storyline, Screwball was seen as a patron at the Pop-Up with No Name.

Following the "Gang War" storyline, Screwball used drones to pull off a pique to gain more followers. These drones ended up attacking Spider-Woman and Spider-Boy. Screwball later spoke through them when they combined into a giant robot. When the robot was defeated, Spider-Woman and Spider-Boy used one of the drones to track down Screwball. They defeat Screwball and leave her for the police.

Powers and abilities
Screwball is an expert gymnast. She relies on her skills to evade Spider-Man.

Critical response
Joshua Kristian McCoy of Game Rant included Screwball in their "5 Spider-Man Villains Who Actually Could Carry A Solo Project" list, calling her "perfect" for a "meta-comedy film about making movies or social media." Screen Rant included Screwball in their "Spider-Man: 10 Best Female Villains" list, and in their "10 Spider-Man Villains That Are Smarter Than They Seem" list. Comic Book Resources ranked Screwball 10th in their "Spider-Man's 10 Funniest Villains" list.

In other media

 * A composite character version of Screwball appears in the Spider-Man (2017) episode "Screwball Live!", voiced by Natalie Lander. This version is the alias of Liz Allan.
 * Screwball appears in Spider-Man (2018) and The City That Never Sleeps DLC,   voiced by Stephanie Lemelin.
 * In 2017, Diamond Select Toys released a Screwball action figure inspired by Liz Allan's incarnation of the character.