Across the Spider-Verse's Gwen Stacy May Prevent Her Own Death

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse introduces the concept of canon events -- moments that must happen; otherwise, the universe will collapse. In regard to the Spider-Persons, there are a handful of canon events each hero must go through, like the death of a loved one early in their heroic career and the death of a police captain close to them. Along with these events, it appears there are more ahead of each Spider-Person, with Gwen Stacy alluding to her death as one of them.
When Spider-Gwen reunites with Miles Morales in Across the Spider-Verse, she tells him that in every universe, Gwen Stacy falls for Spider-Man, but in every universe, it never works out. Given that she is aware of canon events by this point, Gwen could be implying that her death is a canon event -- or at least the end of her relationship with Spider-Man is. However, it also appears that Gwen is actively avoiding this fate by putting the breaks on a possible relationship with Miles, sparing him the inevitable heartbreak and possibly saving her life.
If what Miguel says is true about canon events, this could mean Gwen's death is not a canon event, or Gwen's universe will eventually unravel as she tries to prevent her own downfall. However, Miguel's theory about canon events may also not be as sound as he wants it to be, as Gwen has already proven there are ways to work around canon events without destroying a universe in the process.
Is the Death of Gwen Stacy a Canon Event?
For years, the death of Gwen Stacy was not only one of the most infamous deaths in comics, but it was also one of the most definitive deaths. At the time, killing off a character as important as Gwen was unheard of, and a hero failing so horrifically to save someone they loved was game-changing. "The Night Gwen Stacy Died" is a staple Spider-Man story and comic at large, as it is even credited as one of the comics that marked the shift from the Silver Age to the Bronze Age, a significantly darker era of storytelling. Given the significance of her death to comics, it would make sense for Gwen Stacy's death to be a canon event; however, come Spider-Gwen, that is debatable.
As a concept, Spider-Gwen directly challenges the notion that Gwen is a character who has to die in comics, as she takes on the role of the hero while Peter is the one who dies, although his death is drastically different. Peter's death feels more in line with Uncle Ben's death in the comics or Uncle Aaron's death in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, again highlighting how the death of Gwen Stacy -- or a love interest in general -- may not be a canon event for all Spider-Persons.
The failure of a significant relationship, on the other hand, might be the true canon event. After all, Gwen just says it never works out when she falls for a Spider-Man, no matter what universe they are in. This could mean that, in some universes, it ends with her death; in others, it ends in heartbreak, and in even more universes, something else tragic could befall them. Either way, Gwen seems certain that a relationship with Spider-Man will lead to pain. Along with delaying the supposedly inevitable, Gwen may also know how to prevent this canon event in general after the events of Across the Spider-Verse.
Could Spider-Gwen Survive Her Canon Event?
Toward the end of Across the Spider-Verse, Gwen has a heart-to-heart with her father, who she believes will eventually die because it's a canon event that a police captain close to a Spider-Person will die. However, as the conversation continues, he reveals he has quit being captain. Gwen realizes this means they've likely avoided a canon event without her universe collapsing, and this gives her extra confidence in her plan to help Miles save his father without putting his universe at risk.
With Gwen seemingly stopping one canon event already, it would not be surprising to see her do so again when it comes to the death of Gwen Stacy or the downfall of her relationship with Spider-Man. After all, her comic counterpart alone is proof there is a universe where Gwen does not die, although she still endures heartbreak. With Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse likely focusing on how Miles, Gwen and company can save the multiverse without sacrificing Miles' father, Gwen will likely continue to challenge canon, hopefully leading to a happy ending for her and Miles.
To learn more about canon events, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is now playing in theaters.
Caitlin Sinclair Chappell is a writer turned editor at CBR. What started as a love for comics, film and television turned into a career after graduating with honors from Lewis & Clark College. Along with her work for CBR, she edits the in-development comic series Half-Dragon, and she read her short story, "The Kabbalist and the Golem," at the 2021 National Queer Arts Festival. Beyond writing and editing, she was the Film School Director at River Way Ranch Camp and the Assistant Director on the play Famous. She can be contacted at caitlin.c@cbr.com, and her social is @comiccookbook.