Spider-Woman (Gwen Stacy)

## Spider-Gwen

**Gwendolyn Maxine "Gwen" Stacy** AKA **Spider-Woman** and less popularly as **Ghost-Spider**, also commonly referred to in publication as **Spider-Gwen** is a character first appearing in 1965's *Amazing Spider-Man* #31 but as her superhero counterpart in 2014's *Edge of Spider-Verse* #2. She is an alternate-universe version of Peter Parker's deceased love-interest Gwen Stacy, from a universe where she got spider powers and Peter died, leading to her becoming the hero *Spider-Woman*.

## History

Gwen Stacy is a skateboarder, science whiz, active feminist and member of the *Worldwide Engineering Brigade* in *Avengers Campus*, California. Gwen is also a drummer who is a member of the band *The Mary Janes*, presumably under Mary Jane Watson. Gwen lead a double-life as the superhero, "Spider-Woman".

## Appearances and allusions

### Avengers Assemble: Flight Force

Tony Stark passes by Gwen's name in the WEB portion of his Avengers database. Her alias as Spider-Woman is not listed, implying the Avengers were not aware of her double-life.

### Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel

There are various pieces of artwork throughout this hotel depicting Gwen as Spider-Gwen.

### Heroic Encounter

Gwen's likeness as Spider-Woman appears as artwork in the wall of Marvel Superheroes.

### Shawarma Palace

There is a paper advertising the Mary Janes alongside the many mementos of Shawarma Palace's past.

### Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure

Gwen Stacy has a locker in WEB's headquarters decorated with feminist iconography, science jokes and the logo for *The Mary Janes*. Gwen's skateboard also appears in WEB's foyer with Spider-Gwen's colour-scheme and a logo for the Mary Janes band. On the notice board, Gwen is indirectly alluded to via a poster requesting a drummer for the street-punk band *The Gamma Rays* which is written in a font and colour-scheme affiliated with the Spider-Gwen comics.

#### Web Suppliers

Guests can purchase web-shooters modelled after Spider-Gwen to use on the Web Slingers attraction.

## Behind the Scenes

Gwen Stacy is a classic character from the Spider-Man franchise. She was Spider-Man's original love-interest who was killed by Green Goblin, and later revealed to be Spider-Woman in an alternate universe.

#### Earth 616

Gwen Stacy was daughter of NYPD captain George Stacy and a popular girl at Midtown High. In school, Gwen befriended OsCorp heir Harry Osborn, aspiring performer Mary Jane Watson and the nerdy Peter Parker. Peter and Gwen would wind up having a romance together though Gwen was unaware how Peter was leading a double-life as the superhero vigilante, Spider-Man. Part of the reason Gwen did not know was because her father hated Spider-Man and Peter didn't want to start family conflict.

When Harry Osborn's evil father Norman Osborn AKA The Green Goblin found out Peter was Spider-Man, he kidnapped Gwen to make an attack on Peter's personal-life. Norman threw Gwen off the side of a building in-front of Peter who shot a web at her ankle to save her life. However, the sudden jolt created by Peter's webbing caused Gwen to snap her neck and instantly killed her.

#### Earth 65

Gwen Stacy was daughter of NYPD captain George Stacy and childhood best-friends with Mary Jane "Em Jay" Watson. When Gwen and Em Jay were kids, they made plans of running away together in order to become successful rock-stars. As a result of this, both grew up with a keen interest in punk-rock music and desires for celebrity status. Gwen was a skilled drummer and skateboarder while Em Jay was a lead vocalist and guitarist.

In high school, Em Jay and her girlfriend Gloria Grant established the band *Murderface* (later renamed to *The Mary Janes*) which Gwen became drummer for. Gwen was also friends with the wealthy Harry Osborn and his nerdy friend Peter Parker who was often bullied. One day on a science field-trip, Gwen was bitten by a stray genetically-engineered spider which gave her spider powers. With these powers, Gwen aimed at garnering a minor celebrity reputation as the superhero, "Spider-Woman".

Using tech gifted to her by retired super-hero Janet van Dyne, Gwen aimed to use her superhero status for garnering attention and fame more than anything. This changed when Peter became envious of her and injected himself with an experimental serum stolen from his employer Dr. Curt Conners. This serum transformed Peter into a human/reptile hybrid known as, "The Lizard" who went on a mindless rampage before being stopped by Spider-Woman. Peter died of his wounds from the fight and passed away in Gwen's arms, teaching Gwen how with great power comes great responsibility.

Gwen was deemed a criminal by the presses for the part which she played in Peter Parker's demise. As a result, her father was fired from his position by Mayor J. Jonah Jameson and replaced by brutal war-hero and cop, Captain Frank "The Punisher" Castle who was given the job of hunting Spider-Woman down. In addition to this, Gwen became the nemesis of New York city's criminal kingpin Matthew Murdock, a blind assassin and crime-lord who ran the ninja clan, "The Hand". Because of her secret hero work, Gwen had to leave the Mary Janes as super heroism caused her to miss many of their gigs, causing Em Jay to falsely believe that Gwen hated her.

Gwen often travelled the multiverse and befriended other reality spider heroes such as Peter Parker, Miles Morales and Anya Corazon.

## Trivia

* It is unknown if the park Gwen Stacy is likewise from a parallel reality or not.
* Souvenir Mouse Ears of Gwen have been sold in the parks. This merchandise utilizes her white/pink/blue colour scheme emphasized in the Non-Disney animated film *Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse* (2023), and which is often interpreted as representing the colours of the transgender pride flag.

## Gallery

Gwen's web-shooter in the queue.Gwen's locker in the top rightGwen inspired Web-Shooters.
## References

1. ↑ https://www.marvel.com/articles/culture-lifestyle/hotel-new-york-the-art-of-marvel-now-open
2. ↑ https://www.laughingplace.com/w/articles/2021/12/20/meet-marvel-superheroes-heroic-encounter-disneyland-paris/
3. ↑ https://www.syfy.com/syfy.com/avengers-campus-mcu-easter-eggs-hidden-everywhere
4. ↑ https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/05/first-look-embrace-your-inner-super-hero-with-avengers-campus-merchandise-including-all-new-web-tech-available-at-disneyland-resort/
5. ↑ https://dlnewstoday.com/2023/06/ghost-spider-ear-headband-arrives-at-disneyland-resort-from-across-the-spider-verse/