Spider-Gwen Officially Moves to Marvel’s Main Reality in Permanent Lore Change

This spring will see Spider-Gwen travel across the Spider-Verse and become a permanent part of Marvel’s main Earth-616 universe. In the decade since her introduction, this fan-favorite variant of Gwen Stacy has traveled across the multiverse while maintaining a home base in her original universe, Earth-65. That will no longer be the case in her all-new ongoing series, Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider.

Marvel has provided a new look at two variant covers for the first issue of Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider. The two covers by artists Jenny Frison and Pablo Villalobos capture the iconic look of Gwen as she embarks on this new chapter of her storied superhero career.

The series will be written by Stephanie Phillips, whose recent works include the ongoing Harley Quinn series, Capwolf & The Howling Commandos and the recently launched Black Widow & Hawkeye. The main art will be provided by Federica Mancin, the winner of last year’s Marvel Art Atelier Challenge who made her debut in Miles Morales: Spider-Man. The first issue will hit shelves on May 22.

Spider-Gwen first appeared in 2014’s Edge of Spider-Verse #2 by Jason Latour and Robbi Rodriguez. The series was part of the original Spider-Verse crossover and focused on different Spider-heroes from across the multiverse. On Earth-65, it was Gwen Stacy, rather than Peter Parker, who was bitten by the radioactive spider. With her new arachnid superpowers, she began fighting crime as Spider-Woman.

As a breakout star of the Spider-Verse storyline, Spider-Gwen was quickly given her own ongoing Marvel Comics series. She has played a major role in subsequent Spider-Verse events, and is a major character in the animated Spider-Verse films. A few years after her debut, she renamed herself “Ghost-Spider.” She’s made frequent visits to Marvel’s Earth-616 universe, and even briefly struck up a romantic relationship with Miles Morales, another alternate universe Spider-hero who has become a permanent part of the 616. It remains to be seen if this relationship will further develop now that she’s permanently joining the 616.

Spider-Gwen Is Finally Ready To Be A Permanent Resident Of Earth-616

The past couple of years have been tumultuous ones for Spider-Gwen. After losing her spider powers, she was able to regain similar abilities after bonding with the Venom symbiote. During the King in Black event, her best friend, Mary Jane Watson, was also bonded to a symbiote, becoming her universe’s version of Carnage. This has put a strain on their friendship, which has already been pushed to its breaking point by the fact that Gwen’s heroic activities have caused her to neglect her friends and her duties to the band she plays in with MJ, The Mary Janes. Spider-Gwen’s most recent adventures have even had her wondering if she has any place in her home universe, setting up her new status quo.

Spider-Gwen’s new series will see her join the crowded ranks of Spider-heroes in New York City as she adjusts to her new home. There she will have to grapple with the tragic legacy of the 616’s Gwen Stacy, as well as friends and enemies, old and new. The series will address several mysteries, such as how she got there in the first place, why the other Spider-heroes aren’t supposed to know she’s there, and why she is not supposed to suit up. Spider-Gwen is ready for a new chapter in her life, and Marvel’s Earth-616 will never be the same.

Source: Marvel Comics