Fictional character biography
Ezekiel Sims is a rich businessman who, in his younger years, ritualistically gained powers similar to those of Spider-Man. He aspired to use his powers to be a hero, but instead used them to create and develop a corporation, realizing that he could not do anything without a base of operations. He swiftly became too busy to use his powers on a daily basis. When Spider-Man emerged, Ezekiel hired six independent and private detectives to investigate Spider-Man's life, allowing him to piece together who Spider-Man was from the various pieces of information they provided him.
Ezekiel, in his 50s, contacts Spider-Man to explain to him the nature of animal totems: people who gain supernatural abilities from a mystic link to certain animals. He suggests that the spider that bit Peter Parker was not mutated by the radiation, but actually trying to give Peter its powers before the radiation killed it. This means that Spider-Man is now part of the supernatural food chain, becoming a target for other totems and beings who feed on totems. It is also suggested that many of Spider-Man's foes are themed after animals because they sense Peter to be a true totem and are motivated to destroy him, as they are merely impostors. Ezekiel subsequently aids Spider-Man in battling Morlun, a vampire-like entity that 'fed' on totems, apparently at the cost of his life. It was later revealed that he survived and departed for Africa, where he aided Spider-Man in battling Shathra.
It is later revealed that the vast supernatural menaces that Spider-Man had faced were really after Ezekiel. In an attempt to direct the consequences of gaining his powers onto Spider-Man himself, Ezekiel takes Spider-Man to the temple where he had been given his powers and draws blood to attract a massive spider that would take the 'false' totem warrior as a sacrifice. However, Ezekiel realizes that he had done nothing with his powers but help himself, while Peter had selflessly risked his life to save others repeatedly. For this, he sacrifices himself by attacking the spider that would have eaten Peter.
In Grim Hunt, a reanimated Ezekiel (covered in spiders) appears before Spider-Man and Arachne. Unknown to Spider-Man, this Ezekiel is really the Chameleon in disguise, leading Spider-Man into a trap to carry out the resurrection of Sergei Kravinoff.
During the "Original Sin" storyline, it is revealed that the radioactive spider also bit Cindy Moon before dying. Ezekiel had educated Cindy to use her powers, but kept her locked in a bunker to keep her safe from Morlun. Years later, Spider-Man learns about Silk and frees her from Ezekiel's bunker, allowing her to start a new life and career. This ends up triggering the multiversal hunt of all spiders as the Inheritors are now aware of Silk's existence.