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Warning : Spoilers for Spider - Gwen : The Ghost - Spider ( 2024 ) # 9 ahead!Ever since Marvel’sSpider - Verseexploded in popularity , I retrieve it ’s good to say that there has been one clear spider - hero par excellence : Gwen Stacy , or as she ’s more conversationally make out , Spider - Gwen . But popularity can be a forked - edge sword , and I think there ’s ample evidence to be found in Gwen ’s late serial to evidence that the popularity of the Spider - Verse is hurting the character .
Spider - Gwen : The Ghost Spider ( 2024)#9 - written by Stephanie Phillips , with artistry by Paolo Villanelli and Matt Milla - is exemplary of the military issue presently hassle the character . Having been poison by the baddie Mr. Fear , Gwen spends most of the book convalesce . rather , the volume of the activity is handled by series fledgeling and likely romantic interest , Black Tarantula ( who is secretly involved in another villainous sub - secret plan himself ) .
Like much of the series , Spider - Gwen : The Ghost Spider ( 2024)#9 takes too much of the focus off Gwen herself , instead reducing her to a demoiselle in distress within her own statute title .
Marvel Has A Gwen Stacy Problem On Its Hands
By now , I think most Marvel fans are familiar with Spider - Gwen : Gwen Stacy from an alternate universe where she never die , and instead becomes Spider - Woman in Peter Parker ’s place . Although this version of the character has been around sinceEdge of Spider - Verse ( 2014)#2 , her popularity has reached all - new heights since she appeared as a feature character in the wildly successfulSpider - Verseanimated films dealership . The character has proven to be so popular that Marvel has actuate her into its mainstream continuity as ofSpider - Gwen : The Ghost - Spider , no longer having her adventures take place in her rest home universe .
Edge of Spider - Verse ( 2014)#2 - written by Jason Latour , with art by Robbi Rodriguez and Rico Renzi - is extremely worth the read , revitalizing Gwen Stacy and breathing fresh life into her legacy .
Readers become to know Gwen moderately well in her home base of Earth-65 . Artistic , a slight headstrong , and acrobatic , Gwen ’s tenure as Spider - Woman is distinct from other spider - heroes . In her civilian aliveness , Gwen is handle but guard after the death of her universe ’s Peter Parker , with her superhero duties conflicting withher role as drummerfor the bandThe Mary Janes . Gwen is especially driven , and while this can lead to her creating her own problem , she also has the skills and determination to own up to her mistakes and confront her proceeds head - on .
Gwen Stacy Doesn’t Have a True ‘Role’ On Earth-616
My problem is that the Gwen Stacy account above does n’t seem to be present inSpider - Gwen : The Ghost Spider . Nine upshot in , and the majority of the stories apportion with Gwen either feeling guilty , afraid , or needing to be deliver in some fashion . The covers ponder this , with seven out of eleven depicting Gwen as a dupe . While it ’s common for laughable covers and plots to put their champion in risk so as to push back up interest , I ’m strike by what appear to be an alarming want of bureau for Gwen in what is supposed to be her own series .
Marvel ’s one - shot series turning wedge in heralds of Galactus turns its aid to Spider - Gwen next , as the persona continues to damp out .
I see Gwen as stuck in a bind : popular enough that Marvel want to place her in mainstream continuity , but ineffective to claim a niche when there are already so many other Spider - people . This is only exacerbated bySpider - Gwen : The Ghost Spider#1 reiterating to referee that Gwen Stacy ’s role on Earth-616was to be a tragic element in Spider - Man ’s life-time . While this could lead to a compelling Pisces the Fishes - out - of - water story , I ’m worried that , now that Marvel has taken Gwen out of her element , the publisher does n’t have sex what to do with her outside of stock romance - or - rescue stories .
What’s Marvel To Do With All These Spiders?
Earth-616 is flooded with Spider - people . Peter Parker and Miles Morales have a joint deed of conveyance in addition to their own serial , and erstwhile hands like Jessica Drew , Madame Web , and Silk are conjoin by newcomer like Spider - Boy . With so many hero , it ’s already hard for Gwen to stand out without her own title of respect minimise her capability . While there are narrative thread linking her to the TVA , even lay heras a major fibre inTVA ( 2024 ) , that ’s just place her back in her original role as a multiversal variant hero - it does n’t help her claim a shoes on Earth-616 .
Gwen Stacy is an exciting and popular character , but regrettably , I see her as put up the brunt of Marvel ’s wanderer - person consequence . I live that Gwen has so much potential - she ’s already turn out her solicitation in legion titles and films . This move to place her in mainstream continuity baffles me , not because she does n’t deserve the attention , but because it ’s read her out of an surroundings tailored to act as to her strengths and forcing her to share the already crowd together Spider - spotlight . Marvel needs to figure out how it wants to palm itsSpider - Verse , becauseGwen Stacyis suffering for it .
