Spider-Woman (Gwen Stacy)
Spider-Woman (Gwendolyne Maxine "Gwen" Stacy; colloquially: Spider-Gwen, also known as Ghost-Spider) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. She was created by Jason Latour and Robbi Rodriguez. The character debuted in Edge of Spider-Verse issue #2 as part of the 2014–15 "Spider-Verse" comic book storyline, leading to the ongoing series Spider-Gwen in 2015.
For other characters named Spider-Woman, see Spider-Woman and Spider Woman (disambiguation). For other characters named Ghost-Spider, see Ghost Rider § The "Perfect" World. For the ongoing series, see Spider-Gwen. For the film adaptation of this character, see Gwen Stacy (Spider-Verse).
Gwen Stacy
Spider-Woman / Ghost-Spider
Edge of Spider-Verse #2 (September 2014)
- Jason Latour (writer)
- Robbi Rodriguez (artist)
(Based upon Gwen Stacy by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko)
Human mutate
- Superhuman strength, speed, agility, equilibrium, reflexes, stamina, and durability
- Ability to cling to solid surfaces
- Precognitive spider-sense
- Skilled hand-to-hand combatant
- Expert detective
- Use of multiverse travel device
- Utilizes wrist-mounted web-shooters
- Gliding
An alternate-universe version of Gwen Stacy from Spider-Man stories, she lives on Earth-65, where as a teenager she was bitten by a radioactive spider and becomes Spider-Woman, developing some of the classic Spider-Man personality, conflicts, tribulations, powers and abilities. The character's enemies include Earth-65 versions of Matt Murdock, Frank Castle, and Susan Storm.
Spider-Woman was met with positive reviews from critics, who cited her design—which would become a popular choice for cosplay—and feminist perspective. For promotion, several other versions of the character were developed, accompanied by merchandise. She was featured on animated television series and in video games as a playable character. Dove Cameron voices the character in the 2018–19 Marvel Rising media franchise as "Ghost-Spider", an alias later integrated into the comics; Laura Bailey, Ashley Johnson, Emily Tennant, Catherine Luciani and Allegra Clark have also provided the character's voice in other media. Since 2018, Hailee Steinfeld has voiced Gwen Stacy / Spider-Woman in the Spider-Verse films Into, Across, and Beyond the Spider-Verse, and will star as the character in an in development Spider-Woman spin-off solo film. She has also briefly gone by the names Gwanda, Gwynne, Gwendy, and Abigail.
Fictional character biography[edit]
Origin[edit]
In the alternate reality designated Earth-65, Gwen Stacy from Midtown High School is a drummer in a band called the Mary Janes, consisting of her and her friends Mary Jane Watson, Betty Brant, and Glory Grant, who compete with Felicia Hardy and her band the "Black Cats". Bitten by a radioactive spider, Gwen becomes the hero Spider-Woman. Shortly afterward, her classmate and best friend Peter Parker attempts to become a superhero, inventing a serum that turns him into Earth-65's version of the Lizard. Unaware of the reptilian figure's true identity, Gwen fights Peter, eventually dealing him mortal injuries. Peter reverts to human form and dies in her arms; in his last words, he says he wanted to be like her. Spider-Woman is devastated by Peter's death and inspired to use her power to protect others as a way to atone for accidentally killing him. She is blamed for Parker's death publicly by J. Jonah Jameson. Her father, NYPD Chief George Stacy, hunts for Spider-Woman, aided by his world's Captain Frank Castle and Detective Jean DeWolff. During a confrontation with her father, Gwen reveals her true identity to him. Shocked, he tells her to run.[25]
Spider-Verse[edit]
In the "Spider-Verse" storyline, Gwen of Earth-65 is one of many other Spider-Totems across the multiverse recruited to fight the vampiric Morlun and the Inheritors.[26] Although she is one of several people called Spider-Women who appear, she seems to be the only Spider who is also Gwen Stacy, leading to the nickname "Spider-Gwen." Gwen realizes most of her counterparts in other universes are dead, including the Earth-616 Gwen Stacy who was the first love of Peter Parker, leader of the group fighting the Inheritors. Telling Peter she likewise failed to save her version of him, they both agree to look out for each other.[27] Though Gwen deals with both criminals and enemies in the police department, she also makes allies such as her Earth's versions of Captain America (Samantha Wilson), Reed Richards, and Peggy Carter, the leader of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Web Warriors[edit]
Gwen meets Spider heroes of other worlds again on Battleworld in the Secret Wars storyline.[28] During the crossover storyline Sitting in a Tree, she explores a possible romance with Miles Morales, but they stay as friends.[22] Along with battling menaces on her own world, Gwen joins the Web Warriors, a group of Spiders with dimensional-travel devices who combat threats to other universes, particularly worlds that no longer have a Spider of its own to defend it. During the Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy storyline, as a Web Warrior, she poses as a clone of Earth-616 Gwen Stacy to help Peter and Kaine Parker stop a threat involving the Jackal's Carrion Virus.[29]
Gwenom[edit]
After losing her powers, Gwen seeks aid from the corrupt Matt Murdock (her universe's version of the Kingpin) and scientist Elsa Brock. It's discovered that combining the mutagenic Lizard serum with isotopes can form a version of the Venom symbiote, dubbed "Gwenom". Gwen bonds with Elsa Brock's symbiote, restoring her abilities. When Murdock puts out a hit on her father, George, Gwen succumbs to the symbiote's baser influence and almost kills Murdock in revenge. After she spares his life, Murdock reveals he was testing to see if Gwen, like him, would be corrupted by power.[30] After defeating Murdock, Gwen takes full control over the symbiote, reveals her identity to the public, and turns herself over to the authorities for her crimes. After turning down an offer from Captain America to perform black ops services in exchange for reduced sentencing, she is convicted for one year for the manslaughter of Peter Parker (and other offences) in a maximum security S.H.I.E.L.D. prison.[31]
Spider-Geddon[edit]
After serving her prison time, Gwen is informed the Inheritors have returned and joins the "Spider-Geddon" storyline.[32] At one point, she is believed by the others to be killed in an explosion. In truth, she survives the explosion but is stranded on Earth-3109, her dimensional transportation device now damaged.[33] The Gwen of that world, who operates as the heroic Green Goblin, creates a new dimensional teleportation device and Earth-65 Gwen returns to the fight against the Inheritors.[34] During the final battle, Miles Morales wonders if Gwen is a ghost after seeing her lost in an explosion, inspiring the new nickname "Ghost-Spider."[35] and later travels to Earth-90214 after the death of Spider-Man Noir to consult his loved ones while dressed as an airline pilot.
Back on Earth-65, Gwen tries to return to her normal life of superhero activities, drumming with the Mary Janes, and attempting to rekindle her relationships with friend Harry Osborn and her father George. Without her secret identity, things prove challenging, leading to judgments from the public and regular attacks by criminals like the Man-Wolf. Additionally, her symbiote starts causing massive headaches while dropping parts of itself as "gummy spiders." Since Elsa Brock has disappeared from public life, Gwen travels to Earth-616 to find her counterpart Eddie Brock. Peter Parker of Earth-616, now a teacher at Empire State University, volunteers to analyze the symbiote since his world's Eddie Brock is not a scientist. The two heroes then save people from the villain Swarm and Gwen is asked who she is. Since this universe already has a Spider-Woman, Gwen decides she needs a new name. Considering how so many of her multiverse counterparts are dead, as if "Death loves Gwen Stacy," she decides to adopt her "Ghost-Spider" nickname as a new official alias.[36]
Ghost-Spider[edit]
Realizing her secret identity is intact in this dimension, Gwen decides to attend college peacefully on Earth-616 without worrying about villains attacking. With Peter's help, she enrolls in Empire State University, explaining to school admissions that she comes from another dimension. This, along with her test records and Parker vouching for her, earns Gwen enrollment and a scholarship that applies to visitors from other worlds and dimensions. Gwen begins regularly attending classes while "commuting" back and forth from her own Earth, regularly encountering Peter. In costume, she fights menaces on both worlds, including Miles Warren, whose unhealthy obsession with the Earth-616 Gwen Stacy led to his becoming the villainous Jackal.[37]
Other versions[edit]
During the 2015 Secret Wars storyline, a version of Spider-Woman appears in the plot of A-Force. This version resides on the Battleworld domain of Arcadia. The character saves Mary Jane Watson during an invasion of the Marvel Zombies after Arcadia's Loki had fired at the part of the Shield that was closest to Arcadia.[38]
On Earth-8, Spider-Gwen is married to Miles Morales and is the mother of Charlotte and Max Morales, both of whom also have Spider Powers.[39]
A version of Spider-Gwen witnesses Gwenpool defeating the Green Goblin and saves Gwenpool from her death. They later eat pizza together with Peter Parker, Miles Morales, and Cindy Moon.[40]
In the universe of Spider-Ham, Spider-Gwen is a penguin known as Guin Stacy the Spider-Guin.[41][42] She later aids Spider-Ham and Parker Peterman in battling Spider-Ham's various villains.[43]
In A-Babies vs X-Babies, Spider-Gwen was new to town and went to Iron Man's food truck, where he asked her to go for a date, but she refused. She then took part in the battle between the Avengers, the X-Men, the Guardians of the Galaxy and the Inhumans.[44]
In the alternate Earth-616 storyline of The Night Gwen Stacy Died within What If...? Dark: Spider-Gwen, Spider-Man manages to save Gwen from the Green Goblin but at the cost of his life. Gwen dons Peter's costume and works together with Harry to get revenge on the Green Goblin. After murdering his own father, Harry blames Gwen for his death and becomes the new Green Goblin while Gwen vows to Peter to fix her mistakes and honor his legacy by becoming Spider-Woman. Her costume is a modified version of Peter's Spider-Man outfit along with the green hooded coat she wore the night Peter died. Despite lacking powers, she is able to use Peter's web shooters and develops other technology such as web bombs.[45]
Characteristics[edit]
Gwen Stacy's Spider-Woman is depicted as harboring much of Earth-616 Peter Parker's conflicts and tribulations, such as receiving negative media attention of herself and having the conflict of being a superhero over her normal life of a band member.[46] Critical commentary noted her as a sarcastic, wisecracking hero when fighting criminals and supervillains.[46] Spider-Gwen (Vol. 2) #1's summary of the character reveals that she originally used her powers for attention. After advice expressed to Gwen Stacy by her father that Spider-Woman could use her powers for good purposes, she was motivated to stop bullying, which Peter Parker in Earth-65 was a victim of.[11] Spider-Woman eventually became an idol to Peter and he experimented on himself to become a superhero like her,[11] leading to his demise. Gwen Stacy was branded a criminal after Peter's death, having been blamed for killing him.[11] Jesse Schedeen of IGN felt that this aspect was the most intriguing change of her story, "[Peter Parker becomes] both Gwen's first major villain and the defining, Uncle-Ben-style tragedy in her life."[47] Evan Narcisse from Kotaku explained that it was a role reversal that felt "enriching" to what the creators intended to do, which gave Gwen Stacy "a reason to live".[46] After saving her father's life and revealing her identity to him, she vows to use her powers to stop crime.[11] Captain Stacy is then depicted as choosing his daughter over his job. Meagan Damore of Comic Book Resources opined that even though Captain Stacy is no Uncle Ben, he fills the wise mentor role for Gwen very well.[10]
Powers and abilities[edit]
Spider-Woman was originally depicted as having similar powers to Spider-Man, which originated from a bite by a radioactive spider.[25] These powers include superhuman speed, agility,[56] enhanced strength that enables her to lift about 10 tons,[11] the ability to adhere to surfaces such as walls, and a precognitive "Spider-Sense" that warns her of danger. She uses web-shooters that were created by retired crime fighter and billionaire mogul Janet van Dyne.[25][11] The mechanisms help filter moisture from the air to create an adhesive web-fluid, which itself creates web nets, ropes and globs, among other shapes. They also help her swing from building to building, not requiring refilling as long as moisture is present.[11][25] Spider-Woman also has a wristwatch that allows her travel to the multiverse after the events of "Spider-Verse". She is commonly depicted as using her smartphone for superhero equipment.[11] As the daughter of a police captain, Spider-Woman has developed detective skills and analytical thinking. She is not trained in fighting, but has picked up elements from kung fu films.[11]
The character is eventually depicted as depowered, but regains her powers after bonding with her universe's version of the Venom symbiote. Her symbiote feeds off the nutrients of her body but if it does not consume the correct nutrients, Gwen's powers become unstable. To help keep her symbiote stable, Gwen often eats extra food and has made kale chips a regular part of her diet, since the symbiote responds well to cellulose.[57]
Legacy[edit]
The character inspired 20 Marvel variant covers of Gwen Stacy being a wide array of Marvel heroes (and one for the Image Comics series Invincible and its title character),[93][94] one of such hybrids inspiring the character Gwen Poole.[65] A rock band named Married With Sea Monsters drew inspiration from Spider-Woman for their track "Face It Tiger", which was based on a song sung by Spider-Gwen's fictional band The Mary Janes.[95][96] The character's popularity has spawned merchandise, including shirts and action figures of the superhero.[95][97] Figures have been sold to companies such as Diamond Comic Distributors and Hasbro, among others.[98][99][100] In addition, Funko released bobblehead figures of the character,[101] while in Australia, Harley Davidson has teamed up with Marvel to create custom hero-themed motorcycles including a design based on Spider-Gwen.[102]