Schoolboy Spiderman: 8 Real-Life Web Spideys

As a tribute to wall-climbing gadget creator Hibiki Kono, take a look through the top 8 real-life web spideys.

Not content with bashing together a spice rack or toy car in his design technology lessons, schoolboy Hibiki Kono, 13, instead created a device which allowed him to scale the school wall during morning assembly.

His friends watched in amazement at the school in Cambridge, England, as Hibiki climbed up the wall using his ingenious ‘Spider-Man’ machine. Constructed from two £15 vacuum cleaners made into a backpack, the nozzles are attached to wooden suction plates with handles and foot straps.

Teacher Angus Gent said he had doubts at the beginning of the project, but Hibiki proved him wrong and made him “hugely proud”. Hibiki’s mum was also impressed, but wouldn’t allow him to use it in his bedroom for fear of destroying the ceiling.

As a tribute to all Spider-Man fan, here’s a top 8 of real-life webtastic Spideys.

Indian Spidey

Indian climber Jyothi Raj amazed tourists at Chitradurga Fort in Karnataka, west India, by scaling walls at speed and hanging upside down from precarious holds 300 feet up.

Thai Spidey

Thai policeman Sonchai Yoosabai hit front pages everywhere by dressing up as Spider-Man to rescue an 8-year-old autistic schoolboy after he climbed onto a third-floor ledge. He refused to move until his favourite superhero coaxed him back inside.

Bookshop Spidey

A comic book thief in Adelaide, Australia, got the surprise of his life after being stopped from leaving the store by a row of Jedi Knights and then being apprehended by Spider-Man.

Navy Seal Spidey

The Pentagon has released details of their latest Spider-Man technology – an electric plate which forces tiny water droplets through a plate, creating an adhesive effect. DARPA, the Pentagon’s advanced research department, plans to develop the technology so that troops can scale walls without ropes.

Schoolboy Spidey

13-year-old English schoolboy Hibiki Kono made the list with his vacuum cleaner suction pads.

French Spidey

Renowned French daredevil Alain Robert donned a Spider-Man outfit in 2002 to climb a skyscraper in Paris. Without ropes, as is usual for this obsessive climbing genius.

Pervy Japanese Spidey

This Japanese burglar liked dressing up as Spidey to commit his crimes, but when caught by police, they found him slipping out of a slightly more unusual outfit… a women’s swimsuit, fishnet stockings and pink arm warmers.

Officer Spidey

British police use a device described as being like a ‘spider’s web’ to stop vehicles. The barbed net, which wraps itself around a vehicle’s wheels, was developed by QinetiQ, and is also used by US armed forces to stop suicide bombers.