Issue #1 – Spider-Gwen (2015)
Title: Spider-Gwen #1
Writer: Jason Latour
Artist: Robbi Rodriguez
The Buzz: Spider-Gwen is all about buzz. She was created as an alt-universe version of much-killed-off Spiderman love interest Gwen Stacy in Edge of Spiderverse #2, to join an ensemble of dimension-hopping Spider-characters. But right from the start (actually from the release of the cover art/costume design via Instragram and Tumblr) her distinctive look and the fresh, contemporary feel of her world captured the imagination of readers. Spider-Gwen in her white web-lined hoodie, with her grrrl band and her dead boyfriend and her over-protective cop father, was so vivid in that single issue that she became a cosplay icon and a call to arms practically overnight.
All You Need To Know: Gwen was bitten by the radioactive spider instead of Peter Parker; he was so inspired/obsessed by the mysterious Spider-Woman that he experimented on himself and died as tormented villain The Lizard. Gwen is the drummer in the rising rock band The Mary Janes (their first single: “Face It Tiger, You Hit the Jackpot”) and her dad has just found out she’s a super vigilante. She’s just got back from her dimension-hopping adventure with all the other Spider-peeps, and is hoping to put her life back together.
Story: Gwen’s band is getting famous without her, and she hasn’t yet connected with her Dad or her friends since her time “away.” The city hates and fears her, but there’s a new villain tearing things up – the Vulture. Like it or not, she’s the hero for the job. A fairly basic intro storyline, made more interesting by the snarky, Veronica Mars tone, a diverse cast and character-rich side plots.
Art: Vivid and dynamic, with a focus on cityscapes, dark alleys and graffiti. Gwen comes across as a strong gymnast and a snarky teen, with body language that makes her a protagonist rather than a sex object. The amount of expression that comes across from her blank white mask is extraordinary. I actually really like that Gwen out of costume is often drawn in quite unflattering ways – she stoops and slumps like a real teenager, her clothes aren’t super put together, and she never looks like she’s posing for the audience.
But What Did I Miss?: Edge of Spiderverse #2 is a must if you’re interested in Spider-Gwen as a character. It’s a great standalone issue and probably does a slightly better job than this one in convincing you why Gwen is someone to care about. If you want to be a Spider-Gwen completionist, you can also catch up on the whole Spiderverse story (but I haven’t, and I read this just fine). There’s a one-page intro page in this Issue 1, which covers the important bits of her backstory, so you’re basically good to go if you don’t feel like doing any homework first.
Would Read Issue 2?: Yes! I want to see where this goes.
PREVIOUS ISSUE #1 POSTS
Thor #1 (2014)
Spider-Woman #1 (2014)
All-New Captain America #1 (2014)
Captain America & the Mighty Avengers #1 (2014)
S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 (2014)
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #1 (2015)
Bitch Planet #1 (2014)
Secret Six #1 (2014)
Operation: S.I.N. #1
