Spider-Gwen Explained

Schedule:Monthly
Ongoing:Y
Superhero:Y
Publisher:Marvel Comics
Date:Spider-Gwen (vol. 1)
Feb.–June 2015
Spider-Gwen (vol. 2)
Oct. 2015 – July 2018
Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider
Oct. 2018 – July 2019
Ghost-Spider
Aug. 2019 – June 2020
Gwenom vs. Carnage
January–March 2021
Spider-Gwen: Gwen-Verse
March–August 2022
Spider-Gwen: Shadow Clones
March–July 2023
Spider-Gwen: Smash
December 2023 – February 2024
Issues:Spider-Gwen (vol. 1)
5
Spider-Gwen (vol. 2)
34 and 1 Annual
Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider
10
Ghost-Spider
10+ and 1 Annual
Gwenom vs. Carnage
3
Spider-Gwen: Gwen-Verse
5
Spider-Gwen: Shadow Clones
5
Spider-Gwen: Smash
5
Writers:Jason Latour (vol. 1–2)
Seanan McGuire (vol. 3–5)
Artists:Robbi Rodriguez (vol. 1–2)
Takeshi Miyazawa (vol. 3–5)
Rosi Kämpe (vol. 3–5)
Main Char Team:Spider-Woman (Gwen Stacy)
The Kingpin (Matt Murdock)
Colorists:Rico Renzi
Creators:Jason Latour
Robbi Rodriguez
Subcat:Spider-Man
Sort:Spider-Gwen
2Ndary Box:interpreted by
Tpb:Most Wanted?
Isbn:978-078519-7737
Tpb1:Greater Power
Isbn1:978-078519-9595
Tpb3:Spider-Women
Isbn3:978-130290-0939
Tpb4:Edge of Spider-Verse
Isbn4:978-130294-9983
Tpb5:Weapon of Choice
Isbn5:978-078519-9601
Tpb6:Long Distance
Isbn6:978-130290-3107
Tpb7:Sitting in a Tree
Isbn7:978-130290-7624
Tpb8:Predators
Isbn8:978-130290-5965
Tpb9:Gwenom
Isbn9:978-130290-7648
Tpb10:The Life of Gwen Stacy
Isbn10:978-13029-11928
Tpb11:Gwen Stacy
Isbn11:978-130291-9863
Tpb12:Amazing Powers
Isbn12:978-130292-3723
Tpb13:Deal With The Devil
Isbn13:978-130293-1650
Tpb14:Unmasked
Isbn14:978-130294-5251

Spider-Gwen (also titled Ghost-Spider, and Gwenom) is an ongoing comic book series published by Marvel Comics that began February 2015. The series revolves around Gwen Stacy of Earth-65, an alternate universe version of Gwen Stacy that debuted in Edge of Spider-Verse #2 as part of the 2014–2015 Spider-Man storyline "Spider-Verse". Spider-Gwen explores a universe where Gwen Stacy was bitten by the radioactive spider instead of Peter Parker, leading her to a career as the Spider-Woman of her world.

Publication history

A spider-powered Gwen Stacy was first envisioned by longtime Spider-Man writer Dan Slott for the 2014–15 "Spider-Verse" storyline. However, his initial concept was very different from what was published, which was mainly the work of Spider-Gwen creators Jason Latour and Robbi Rodriguez.[1] [2]

In October, Nick Lowe announced at New York Comic Con 2014 that the fan-favorite Spider-Gwen who was introduced in "Spider-Verse" would be getting her own series after much demand.[3]

The first volume ended after the fifth issue with the character carrying over into the second volume of Spider-Verse as part of the "Secret Wars" storyline.[4] After the conclusion of that storyline, a second volume by the same creative team began with issue #1 as a part of Marvel's All-New, All-Different Marvel imprint.[5]

Following the departure of Latour and Rodriguez, Marvel launched a new series titled Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider, written by Seanan McGuire with pencils by Rosi Kämpe, and later Takeshi Miyazawa. After 10 issues, the series was relaunched as simply Ghost-Spider, which ended after an additional 10 issues. Under this creative team, stories featured Gwen Stacy traveling back and forth between her home dimension, in which her identity was publicly known, and Earth-616, in which she attends college.

In 2022, a new limited series titled Spider-Gwen: Gwen-Verse by Tim Seeley and Jodi Nishijima was published, featuring Stacy traveling through time alongside alternative versions of herself (modeled after other Marvel heroes) to correct a disruption in the timeline.

Story

Before Spider-Gwen

Before the beginning of Spider-Gwen, high school student Gwen Stacy was bitten by a radioactive spider. This granted her all of the quintessential Spider-Man powers, and Stacy began her career as Spider-Woman. In her regular life, she begins a relationship with Peter Parker, forms a friend group with Parker, and ostracizes new student Harry Osborn, who is later revealed to have had a crush on her. Meanwhile, Peter becomes infatuated with Spider-Woman without knowing that she is Stacy. The bullied Peter's suffering worsens, and eventually, he creates a formula that turns him into a lizard mutant.

On prom night, after he is being bullied yet again, he injects himself with the formula and transforms, going psycho. Gwen Stacy dons her Spider-Woman costume and fights Peter, defeating and accidentally killing him. Peter regresses to his human form in Gwen's arms, telling her he just wanted to "be special" like her and prompting her to realize what she has done. She runs from the scene, creating the public misconception that Spider-Woman has murdered Peter Parker and is a menace to society and setting up the Spider-Gwen series.

Volume 0

Before the Spider-Verse event that introduced Spider-Gwen, Stacy's father George Stacy was ordered as captain of the NYPD to hunt down and detain Spider-Woman, considered a public menace. Captain Stacy—unaware of Spider-Gwen's secret identity—is more than happy to do so. Upon hearing about this, the Kingpin, one of New York's most prominent crime bosses, decides to ally himself with Spider-Gwen—for reasons unexplained—and apparently has his lawyer Matt Murdock (Daredevil on Earth-616, the main Marvel universe) send the assassin Aleksei Sytsevich to kill Captain Stacy. Gwen arrives and saves her father, who corners her at gunpoint. To avoid getting shot, she reveals to her father that she is Spider-Woman.

After the Spider-Verse event, Gwen goes back to her ordinary life of bumming around by day and Spider-Woman-ing by night. Her father passes the Spider-Woman investigation on to Detective Frank Castle. Suddenly, the villainous Vulture appears, secretly working for the Kingpin, and causes trouble for Gwen (Spider-Ham appears for a short time as a hallucination because of an attack). Gwen defeats the Vulture and in the end, he is put away, Murdock continuing to influence him from behind bars. Frank Castle increases his efforts against Spider-Woman, becoming more and more ruthless. Castle eventually makes the connection with Spider-Woman's identity and enlists the help of Kraven the Hunter to perform a siege on the Stacy house. Castle and Kraven brutally beat down Gwen after she gets her father to safety. The volume concludes when Gwen decides to take a stand against Castle and not run any longer, blindsiding him as he unmasks her while trying to get away.

Volume 1

Gwen is unsure of how secure her secret identity is as she hides from her father and awaits the recollection of Frank Castle. Her problems are put to the side when a Lizard appears on the streets, seemingly having taken something similar to Peter Parker's formula. The dog of Spider-Gwen's "arch-nemesis", the Bodega Bandit, is eaten by the Lizard. Tracking the Lizard into the sewer, Spider-Woman encounters a pack of Lizard-Men. Earth 65's Captain America, Samantha Wilson, shows up to capture the Lizards and Spider-Gwen as well. Gwen battles CA while avoiding the Lizards. Gwen saves CA from the Lizards and they part ways on good terms. After a quick chat with Jessica Drew of Earth-616, Gwen and the Mary Janes go on a camping trip where Harry Osborn makes a surprise appearance. He explains his connection with S.H.I.E.L.D. and his motive to go after Spider-Woman. He appears nights later in a green mechanical suit accompanied by an army of orange robots to kill Spider-Woman. After an issue-long battle, Harry sets off an explosion to even the playing field. As Gwen lies on the floor, Harry drinks a vial of the Lizard formula and unmasks her to his surprise. After an issue break from the fight, involving a story line of George Stacy conversing with Matt Murdock, Gwen resumes her fight with a now-mutated Harry Osborn with the assistance of Captain America. Gwen eventually convinces Harry that he is in the wrong and allows him to run from S.H.I.E.L.D. Gwen reconciles with her father in the end and he quits his job.

Volume 2

Following the events of Spider-Women, Gwen is left limited to seven temporary uses of her powers, which she can activate through a device on her wrist. She attends a rock concert with her friends, then visits the recently reconstructed Dollar Dog. While there, she is attacked by Frank Castle, and left with no other choice, uses one of her power-ups to take him down, before fleeing the scene, and spending the night at her father's place. The next day, Gwen and her father are attacked by Kraven the Hunter and Frank Castle. During the fight, Gwen's device is damaged by Kraven, and although she and her father escape, Frank Castle makes off with one of her six remaining power-ups.

After having her device repaired by Earth 65's Reed Richards, Gwen suits up and prepares to go after Frank Castle. In an intense fight, Frank Castle manages to escape, and after coming to her aid, Gwen's father turns himself in for assisting Spider-Woman. Two weeks later, Gwen is approached by Matt Murdock, Earth 65's Kingpin, who she makes a deal with. He will defend her dad in court as a lawyer, but in return, Spider-Women will work for him. To celebrate halloween, and get her mind off her problems, Gwen and her friends go trick-or treating, and explore an abandoned carnival. Here, Gwen is confronted by a zombified Peter Parker, calling her out on her failures. However, this is revealed to be a hallucination caused by a strange gas.

Characters

Villains

Other characters

Reception

Spider-Gwen has received positive reviews from critics. IGN said "Spider-Gwen's new comic gets off to a solid start thanks to a hip tone, strong characterization, and vibrant artwork."[19] Comic Book Resources said that the first issue was "fun, familiar, energetic and invigorating, the art is engaging and the character has nothing but potential to offer. "Spider-Gwen" #1 is more than just a comic with something for everyone; it's a comic with everything for everyone."[20]

Spider-Gwen #1 was the third-best selling comic of February 2015, selling over 300,000 copies.[21] [22]

Collected editions

Spider-Gwen

TitleMaterial collectedPagesPublication dateISBN
Paperback
0Most Wanted?Edge of Spider-Verse #2, Spider-Gwen (vol. 1) #1–5112
1Greater PowerSpider-Gwen (vol. 2) #1–6136
Spider-WomenSpider-Women Alpha #1, Silk (vol. 2) #7-8, Spider-Gwen (vol. 2) #7-8, Spider-Woman (vol. 6) #6-7, Spider-Women Omega #1200
2Weapon of ChoiceSpider-Gwen (vol. 2) #9–13112
3Long DistanceSpider-Gwen (vol. 2) #14-15, Spider-Gwen Annual #1, All-New Wolverine Annual #1112
Spider-Man/Spider-Gwen: Sitting in a TreeSpider-Gwen (vol. 2) #16-18, Spider-Man (vol. 2) #12-14136
4PredatorsSpider-Gwen (vol. 2) #19–23112
5Gwenom Spider-Gwen (vol. 2) #24–29136
6The Life of Gwen Stacy Spider-Gwen (vol. 2) #30-34112
Modern Era Epic Collection
1Edge of Spider-VerseEdge of Spider-Verse #2, Spider-Gwen (vol. 1) #1–5, Spider-Gwen (vol. 2) #1–8, Spider-Women Alpha #1, Silk (vol. 2) #7-8, Spider-Woman (vol. 6) #6-7, Spider-Woman Omega #1480
2Weapon of ChoiceSpider-Gwen (vol. 2) #9-24, Spider-Gwen Annual #1, All-New Wolverine Annual #1, Spider-Man (vol. 2) #12-14496
Hardcover
1Spider-Gwen Vol. 1Edge of Spider-Verse #2, Spider-Gwen (vol. 1) #1–5, Spider-Gwen (vol. 2) #1–6272February 2017
2Spider-Gwen Vol. 2Spider-Gwen (vol. 2) #7-15, Spider-Gwen Annual #1, All-New Wolverine Annual #1264January 2018
3Spider-Gwen Vol. 3Spider-Gwen (vol. 2) #16-23, Spider-Man (vol. 2) #12-14248October 2018
Graphic Novel Trade Paperback
Spider-Gwen: Gwen StacyEdge of Spider-Verse #2, Spider-Gwen (vol. 1) #1–5, Spider-Gwen (vol. 2) #1–6272October 2019
Spider-Gwen: Amazing PowersSpider-Gwen (vol. 2) #9–15, Spider-Gwen Annual #1 and All-New Wolverine Annual #1224June 2020
Spider-Gwen: Deal With The DevilSpider-Gwen (vol. 2) #16-23, Spider-Man (vol. 2) #12–14238April 2022
Spider-Gwen: UnmaskedSpider-Gwen (vol. 2) #24-34240November 2022
Omnibus
Spider-Gwen OmnibusEdge of Spider-Verse #2, Spider-Gwen (vol. 1) #1-5, Spider-Gwen (vol. 2) #1-34, Spider-Gwen Annual #1, All-New Wolverine Annual #1, Spider-Women Alpha and Omega, Silk (vol. 2) #7-8, Spider-Woman (vol. 6) #6-7 and Spider-Man (vol. 2) #12-141,224June 2021

Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Albert . Ching . Slott Details the Unexpected Origins of Spider-Gwen and Spider-Punk . . 11 March 2015 . 29 August 2015.
  2. Web site: Rodriguez . Robbi . Meet Gwen Stacy, Spider-Woman, in Edge of Spider-Verse #2. . 30 July 2015.
  3. Web site: Ching . Albert . NYCC: Marvel's 'Spider-Verse' Panel, 'Spider-Gwen' and 'Silk' Ongoings Announced . Comic Book Resources . 12 October 2014 . 12 October 2014 .
  4. Spider-Gwen #5. Marvel Comics.
  5. Web site: Meagan . Damore . Latour, Rodriguez to Stick with "Spider-Gwen" Following "Secret Wars" . Comic Book Resources . 29 August 2015 . 10 September 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160910001132/http://www.cbr.com/latour-rodriguez-to-stick-with-spider-gwen-following-secret-wars/ . dead .
  6. Edge of Spider-Verse #2
  7. Spider-Gwen Annual #1
  8. News: Suebsaeng. Asawin. Marvel Artist Who Made a Trump Supervillain Thinks Donald Is a 'Goddamn Idiot'. The Daily Beast. July 6, 2016. 14 June 2022.
  9. Spider-Gwen #1
  10. Spider-Gwen (vol. 2) #10
  11. Spider-Gwen #2
  12. Spider-Women Alpha #1
  13. Ghost-Spider #9 (May 13, 2020)
  14. Spider-Gwen #3
  15. Spider-Gwen (vol. 2) #1
  16. Spider-Gwen (vol. 2) #2
  17. Spider-Gwen #4
  18. Spider-Gwen (vol. 2) #19–23
  19. Web site: Spider-Gwen #1 Review. 25 February 2015 . IGN.
  20. Web site: Spider-Gwen #1 Review. Comic Book Resources. 2015-03-29. 2016-09-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20160902012523/http://www.cbr.com/spider-gwen-1-2/. dead.
  21. Web site: Top Selling Comics & Publisher Market Share: February 2015 . News.yahoo.com . 13 March 2015 . 29 August 2015.
  22. Web site: Rich . Johnston. Spider-Gwen #1 Has Now Sold Over 300,000 Copies . Bleeding Cool . 24 April 2015 . 29 August 2015.