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| “ | You're a good cop, dad. You put on that badge and carry that gun because you know if you don't someone who shouldn't will. When I put on this mask, I only did it -- Because it freed me from responsibility. I thought I was special. And Peter Parker died because he tried to follow my example. I have to take responsibility for that. To make his death mean something. But I can't do it in a jail cell. This mask is my badge now. If I don't define what it means... monsters like this will. This is where I'm needed most. | „ |
| ~ Spider-Woman (Gwen) to her father; and her most-famous quote, yet. |
| “ | As Spider-Woman I've traveled the Multiverse. I've stared down psychic vampires and psycho cops. Kicked in all the scary yellow teeth. And no, being caught or killed or found never truly scared me. No, what scares me is losing what I have in my hand now... what scares me is losing the people I love. | „ |
| ~ Spider-Gwen. |
Gwendolyn Maxine "Gwen" Stacy, better known as Ghost-Spider, also commonly referred to as Spider-Gwen or Spider-Woman, is a superheroine in the Marvel Universe, being a major character for the Spider-Verse series and the titular main protagonist of the Spider-Gwen series.
The character is a variant of Spider-Man and an alternate-universe version of Gwen Stacy. She is a teenager that resides in what Marvel official nomenclature dubs Earth-65, where, instead of Peter Parker being bitten by a radioactive spider and becoming Spider-Man, Gwen Stacy is bitten and becomes the superheroine Spider-Woman. Initially seeking attention, Gwen became a true hero after the death of her friend Peter Parker, and has worked with other spider-heroes in saving the multiverse on several occasions.
Since her debut, the character has been featured in other alternate universes and appears in other Marvel media such as an animated television series and video games, and in merchandise such as action figures. She even became a main character for the Spider-Verse film series.
She was created by Jason Latour and Robbi Rodriguez, the character debuted in Edge of Spider-Verse #2 in September of 2014, as part of the 2014–15 Spider-Verse comic book storyline. This led to the ongoing series Spider-Gwen that began in 2015.
Overview[]
In the alternate reality, the radioactive spider bit Gwen Stacy rather than Peter Parker giving her the abilities of a spider. She goes by the name Spider-Woman and much like Spider-Man of Earth 616 used her newly found powers to for more personal gain rather than helping people by becoming a professional drummer. Peter Parker remained a weak individual that Gwen needed to save from bullying.
This made him develop an inferiority complex causing him to create a serum to make himself more like Gwen after she has revealed to him her powers. This causes him to become Earth 65's version of the Lizard and Gwen is forced to fight him. Unfortunately, due to the serum during the battle, Peter dies and she vows to use her powers for good. Additionally, Gwen is blamed for Peter's death and a campaign against her (spearheaded by J. Jonah Jameson) is started.
Gwen is the drummer of a band named the Mary Janes (Which includes Mary Jane Watson, Glory Grant, and Betty Brant) although she is often late for practices and concerts. While out fighting crime she is also targeted by the police force who is being commanded by her own father Captain George Stacy.
Due to Captain Stacy's success against organized crime he a hit is placed on him by the Kingpin who uses his lawyer Matt Murdock to hire hit man Aleksei Sytsevich (who in the regular continuity is the villainous Rhino). Aleksei tracks Captain Stacy down at a Mary Janes concert and attacks him there, Gwen steps in and is able to defeat him but is cornered by her own father. There she reveals to him that she is Spider-Woman and he allows her to escape.
Gwen is recruited to take part in the Spider-Verse event where Spider-Men from every reality is being hunted down by Morlun and his family. She is one of Spider-Man's (616) right-hand members but he is unwilling to risk her in dangerous situations since he couldn't save his own Gwen Stacy. They promise to look after each other's backs.
Biography[]
Background[]
Gwendolyn Maxine "Gwen" Stacy was born in Forest Hills, Queens, New York to George and Helen Stacy, and is from an alternate reality of Earth sixty-five than her main counterpart. Following her mother's death, Gwen turned to self-isolation due to her father attempting to instill his views onto her. However, she made friends with Peter Parker, Harry Osborn and Mary Jane Watson, whom she formed a band with called the Mary Janes.
Becoming Spider-Gwen[]
At some point, Gwen was bitten by a radioactive spider, giving her spider-like abilities, and decided to become a vigilante after being given web-shooters by Janet van Dyne. Initially, she exploited her abilities to remain in the spotlight until her father expressed his belief that the new hero, whom was named "Spider-Woman" by the public, could do some good. As Gwen gained fame, Peter turned to vengeance to fight against his bullies, turning himself into a lizard and attacking his fellow classmates at the prom. She battled her friend until he returned to his human form, but due to her not holding back, he died from his injuries. Branded a criminal by the police, Gwen became guilt-ridden from Peter's death, and turned her attention on redeeming herself by fighting crime.
When the King's successor Matt Murdock learned of the incident, he tasked the Rhino into killing George since he was tasked with investigating Peter's death. Gwen fowled the attempt and revealed her identity when confronted by her father, whom told her to leave so she could prove her innocence. Before she could do so, however, Gwen find herself transported to Spider UK, and was gathered to other spider heroes across different realities to fight against the Inheritors. During the storyline, Gwen was tasked to recruit an alternate Peter Parker from Earth-21205, whom was later killed by the hunter Verna. After the Inheritors' defeat, Gwen returned to her reality, and continued her pursuit to change the public's opinion on her.
Her newfound profession as a vigilante strained her relationships with her father and friends, and was then pursued by the police officer Frank Castle when George was taken off the case. Gwen attempted to capture the Vulture, but failed and was attacked by him on the orders of Murdock. Later on, she stopped Black Cat from fighting Murdock at the Mary Jane's gig, learning that the kingpin was planning to make Gwen his new apprentice. At some point, she joined the Web-Warriors in stopping Norman Osborn in taking control of the Web of Life and Destiny, and briefly suffered from amnesia when her universe was destroyed.
Powers and Abilities[]
Spider-Woman is depicted as having similar powers of Spider-Man which originated from a bite by a radioactive spider. These power include sticking and climbing on walls, a sixth sense to danger (that she has yet to master) and being able to lift approximately 10 tons. After a Silk from her universe strips her of her powers, a Venom symbiote created by scientist Elsa Brock that bonds to her replicates these abilities, alongside replicating any style of clothing, including her standard superhero suit that can transform into a monstrous version of itself to act as intimidation.
She owns web-shooters that were given by her and created by retired crime fighter and billionaire mogul, Janet van Dyne. The mechanisms help filter moisture from the air that help create an adhesive web-fluid that can create web nets, ropes and globs and many other shapes. They also help her swing building to building. The web-shooters do not require refill as long as moisture is present. She also has a possession of a wristwatch that helps her travel to other multiverses due to the "Spider-Verse" events. She is commonly depicted as using her smartphone for superhero equipment.
Being the daughter of police captain, George Stacy, she is depicted as having detecting skills and analytical thinking. She's untrained in fighting and only picked up on fighting from kung fu films. She's also depicted as being skilled at being a drummer.
Portrayals[]
Animated[]
- As Spider-Woman in Ultimate Spider-Man vs. the Sinister Six and Ghost-Spider in Marvel Rising, Gwen was voiced by Dove Cameron, who also played Liv and Maddie Rooney In Liv & Maddie, and Mal in Descendants.
- In Marvel's Spider-Man (2017), she is voiced by Laura Bailey, who also voiced Tohru Honda in Fruits Basket, Rayne in BloodRayne, Nadine Ross in the Uncharted series, Supergirl in Injustice 2, and Mary Jane Watson Insomniac's Marvel's Spider-Man series.
- Bailey also voiced the character in Spider-Man: Unlimited, where Gwen is an unlockable character.
- In Phil Lord and Chris Miller's Spider-Verse trilogy of films, she is voiced by Hailee Steinfeld, who voices Vi in Arcane, portrays Kate Bishop in the Disney+ series Hawkeye, and also played Charlie Watson in Bumblebee, and Mattie Ross in the 2010 remake of True Grit.
Video Games[]
- In Marvel Heroes, she was voiced by Ashley Johnson, who also voiced Peter Shepherd in the Jumani tv series, Gretchen Grundler in Recess, Jinmay in Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!, Terra in 2003s Teen Titans, Gwen Tennyson in Ben 10, Ellie Williams in The Last of Us series, and Petra in Minecraft: Story Mode.
- In Marvel Avengers Academy, she as voiced by Catherine Luciani.
- IN Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order, she was voiced by Allegra Clark.
Trivia[]
- She was originally from Earth-14211, but it was changed to Earth-65 in Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 3 #9, as it's a reference to the original Gwen being introduced in 1965.
See also[]
- Gwen Stacy on this wiki.
