The Inheritors, who made their first appearance in The Superior Spider-Man #33 as part of the "Spider-Verse" storyline, were created by Christos Gage and M. A. Sepulveda, based on the Ancients, an earlier version of Morlun's family introduced in the 2006 novel Spider-Man: The Darkest Hours, written by Jim Butcher.

"Spider-Geddon" again depicts the Inheritors; Gage said, "They’re terrific villains – they literally eat spider-people!

They capture spider deity Master Weaver on Earth-000 at the cost of the life of their matriarch because Karn hesitated to strike.

Patriarch Solus orders Karn to wear a mask and exiles him until he can earn his way back.

They use the Master Weaver's power to conquer Earth-001, traveling between dimensions and hunting Spider-Totem avatars because those were prophesied to overthrow them.

Morlun says that he wants to be his father's chosen heir; the Great Web is his legacy and obligation.

[8] Ben Reilly of Earth-94, Kaine, and Black Widow of Earth-1610 run into this world's version of Tony Stark and overpower him.

[9] As Jennix regenerates on Earth-802 and refuses to return to battle, Black Widow of Earth-1610, Ben Reilly of Earth-94, and Kaine move on his headquarters in the Baxter Building.

As Ben Reilly prepares to sacrifice himself to destroy the lab, Kaine steals Black Widow of Earth-1610's teleporter to confront the Inheritors.

Karn is turned by Spider-Girl, Spider-UK, Spider-Punk, Spider-Man: India, and Spider-Woman of Earth-807128 against the Inheritors.

[18] Jennix, Morlun, and Verna emerge from Superior Octopus' cloning machine and Spider-Man Noir and Spider-UK are their first victims.

[19] As Jennix works to regenerate the rest of the Inheritors, the spiders suggest that Superior Octopus trigger the base's self-destruction while Spider-Gwen with her symbiote distracts them.

[20] Solus' body is restored as Daemos, Brix, Bora, and Jennix await for Verna's return with the crystal.

[23] Using a Dimensional Teleportation Watch, Verna travels to Earth-3145 where they were previously trapped in order to find the crystal with Solus' life force.

He puts the crystal in the cloning machine, reviving Solus, who plans to reward his children with a feast.

Superior Spider-Man knocks out Ben Reilly and gives him to them as part of a deal which includes Solus sparing Earth-616.

Solus is then shot in the back by Miles Morales, who was transformed into Captain Universe by the Enigma Force as Spider-Punk says that Jennix is insane and Verna is missing.

As Superior Spider-Man and Octavia Otto revive Ben Reilly, the other spider-powered groups fight the Inheritors.

The three Spider-Women use the Web of Life and Destiny fragments to take down Brix and Bora, while Spider-Woman of Earth-925 fights Daemos.

[27] Forced to work alongside the remaining Spider-Totems to stop Shathra, Morlun uses, in the heat of a battle, the Totem Dagger against Shatra, which can sever someone from the Great Web.

[31] Restricted to just this one Earth, they are defeated by Spider-Man with additional aid from Black Cat and the Rhino, culminating in Mary Jane Watson driving her car into the last Ancient standing, the wall-crawler realising that all of their kind are vulnerable when feeding as their attention is focused elsewhere.

In June 2018, Comic Book Resources ranked the Inheritors its fourteenth choice of supervillains for a subsequent Marvel Cinematic Universe.