Spider-Gwen

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Spider-Gwen
Spider-Gwen Vol 1 1.jpg
Cover of Spider-Gwen #1 (February 2015).
Art by Robbi Rodriguez.
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
ScheduleMonthly
Format Ongoing series
Genre
Publication dateSpider-Gwen (vol. 1)
5 issues
Feb.–June 2015
Spider-Gwen (vol. 2)
34 issues and 1 Annual
Oct. 2015 – July 2018
Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider
10 issues
Oct. 2018 – July 2019
Ghost-Spider
10+ issues and 1 Annual
Aug. 2019 – June 2020
Gwenom vs. Carnage
3 issues
January–March 2021
Spider-Gwen: Gwen-Verse
5 issues
March–August 2022
Spider-Gwen: Shadow Clones
5 issues
March–July 2023
Spider-Gwen: Smash
5 issues
December 2023 – February 2024
Main character(s) Spider-Woman (Gwen Stacy)
The Kingpin (Matt Murdock)
Creative team
Created by Jason Latour
Robbi Rodriguez
Written by Jason Latour (vol. 1–2)
Seanan McGuire (vol. 3–5)
Artist(s)Robbi Rodriguez (vol. 1–2)
Takeshi Miyazawa (vol. 3–5)
Rosi Kämpe (vol. 3–5)
Colorist(s) Rico Renzi
Collected editions
Most Wanted? ISBN   978-078519-7737
Greater Power ISBN   978-078519-9595
Spider-Women ISBN   978-130290-0939
Edge of Spider-Verse ISBN   978-130294-9983
Weapon of Choice ISBN   978-078519-9601
Long Distance ISBN   978-130290-3107
Sitting in a Tree ISBN   978-130290-7624
Predators ISBN   978-130290-5965
Gwenom ISBN   978-130290-7648
The Life of Gwen Stacy ISBN   978-13029-11928
Gwen Stacy ISBN   978-130291-9863
Amazing Powers ISBN   978-130292-3723
Deal With The Devil ISBN   978-130293-1650
Unmasked ISBN   978-130294-5251

Spider-Gwen (also titled Radioactive Spider-Gwen, 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.

Contents

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

Cosplay of Spider-Gwen SDCC 15 - Spider Gwen (19964497141).jpg
Cosplay of Spider-Gwen

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) #1–5112November 2015 978-0785197737
1Greater PowerSpider-Gwen (vol. 2) #1–6136May 2016 978-0785199595
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 #1200July 2016 978-1302900939
2Weapon of ChoiceSpider-Gwen (vol. 2) #9–13112January 2017 978-0785199601
3Long DistanceSpider-Gwen (vol. 2) #14-15, Spider-Gwen Annual #1, All-New Wolverine Annual #1112July 2017 978-1302903107
Spider-Man/Spider-Gwen: Sitting in a TreeSpider-Gwen (vol. 2) #16-18, Spider-Man (vol. 2) #12-14136May 2017 978-1302907624
4PredatorsSpider-Gwen (vol. 2) #19–23112October 2017 978-1302905965
5GwenomSpider-Gwen (vol. 2) #24–29136May 2018 978-1302907648
6The Life of Gwen StacySpider-Gwen (vol. 2) #30-34112October 2, 2018 978-1302911928
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 #1480May 1, 2023 978-1302949983
2Weapon of ChoiceSpider-Gwen (vol. 2) #9-24, Spider-Gwen Annual #1, All-New Wolverine Annual #1, Spider-Man (vol. 2) #12-14496February 20, 2024 978-1302956356
3GwenomSpider-Gwen (vol. 2) #25-34, Spider-Geddon: Ghost Spider Video Comic, Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider (vol. 1) #1-10464October 14, 2025 978-1302965891
Hardcover
1Spider-Gwen Vol. 1Edge of Spider-Verse #2, Spider-Gwen (vol. 1) #1–5, Spider-Gwen (vol. 2) #1–6272February 2017 978-1302903718
2Spider-Gwen Vol. 2Spider-Gwen (vol. 2) #7-15, Spider-Gwen Annual #1, All-New Wolverine Annual #1264January 2018 978-1302909000
3Spider-Gwen Vol. 3Spider-Gwen (vol. 2) #16-23, Spider-Man (vol. 2) #12-14248October 2018 978-1302913694
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 978-1302919863
Spider-Gwen: Amazing PowersSpider-Gwen (vol. 2) #9–15, Spider-Gwen Annual #1 and All-New Wolverine Annual #1224June 2020 978-1302923723
Spider-Gwen: Deal With The DevilSpider-Gwen (vol. 2) #16-23, Spider-Man (vol. 2) #12–14238April 2022 978-1302931650
Spider-Gwen: UnmaskedSpider-Gwen (vol. 2) #24-34240November 2022 978-1302945251
Omnibus
Spider-GwenEdge of Spider-Verse #2, Spider-Gwen (2015A) #1-5, Spider-Gwen (2015B) #1-34, Spider-Gwen Annual #1, All-New Wolverine Annual #1, Spider-Women Alpha and Omega, Silk (2015B) #7-8, Spider-Woman (2015) #6-7 and Spider-Man (2016) #12-141,224June 2021 978-1302930387
Spider-Gwen: Ghost-SpiderSpider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider (2018) #1-10, Spider-Geddon: Ghost-Spider Video Comic (2018) #1, Ghost-Spider (2019) #1-10, Ghost-Spider Annual #1, King in Black: Gwenom vs. Carnage (2021) #1-3, Web-Warriors (2015) #1-11 and material from Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #1824August 2023 978-1302946791

Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider

#TitleMaterial collectedPagesPublication dateISBN
Paperback
1Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider Vol. 1 - Spider-GeddonSpider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider #1-4, Spider-Geddon: Ghost-Spider Video Comic #1112May 21, 2019 978-1302914769
2Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider Vol. 2 - The Impossible YearSpider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider #5-10136Sept 17, 2019 978-1302914776
Graphic Novel Trade Paperback
Spider-Gwen: Ghost SpiderSpider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider #1-10, Spider-Geddon: Ghost-Spider Video Comic240August 2023 978-1302950101

Ghost-Spider

#TitleMaterial collectedPagesPublication dateISBN
Paperback
1Ghost-Spider Vol. 1 - Dog Days Are OverGhost-Spider #1–5112February 18, 2020 978-1302920128
2Ghost-Spider Vol. 2 - Party PeopleGhost-Spider #6–10112January 5, 2021 978-1302924706
King in Black: Gwenom vs. CarnageKing in Black: Gwenom vs. Carnage #1–3 and King in Black: Scream #1, King in Black: Spider-Man #1136August 17, 2021 978-1302928117
Graphic Novel Trade Paperback
Spider-Gwen: Into The UnknownGhost-Spider #1–10224August 13, 2024 978-1302956950

Spider-Gwen: Gwenverse

#TitleMaterial collectedPagesPublication dateISBN
Spider-Gwen: GwenverseSpider-Gwen: Gwenverse #1–5128November 22, 2022 978-1302934651

Spider-Gwen: Shadow Clones

#TitleMaterial collectedPagesPublication dateISBN
Spider-Gwen: Shadow ClonesSpider-Gwen: Shadow Clones #1–5128October 17, 2023 978-1302951184

Spider-Gwen: Smash

#TitleMaterial collectedPagesPublication dateISBN
Spider-Gwen: SmashSpider-Gwen: Smash #1–4128August 27, 2024 978-1302956554

Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider

#TitleMaterial collectedPagesPublication dateISBN
1HauntedSpider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider #1–5136Jan 21, 2025 978-1302958862
2UnraveledSpider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider #6–10112Jun 10, 2025 978-1302958879
3UnchartedSpider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider #11–15120Nov 25, 2025 978-1302964696

References

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