Gwen Stacy, the Ghost-Spider of Earth-65, is swinging out of the Spider-Verse and into the 616 — for good. Marvel Comics announced that new ongoing series Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider from writer Stephanie Phillips (Rogue & Gambit) and artist Chris Campana (Red Goblin) will see Gwen leave her home reality to become a permanent resident of Earth-616, the mainstream Marvel Universe. Since her first appearance in Edge of Spider-Verse #2 in 2014, Spider-Gwen (formerly Spider-Woman) has crossed over from Earth-65 to Earth-616, even taking temporary residency in the relaunched Ghost-Spider #1 in 2019. In April 2024, Gwen’s move becomes permanent.
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“Right after I started working on this new Spider-Gwen ongoing, I sawa little girl on Halloween dressed as Gwen and hitting some cool Spideyposes,” Phillips said. “It was kind of a surreal moment to realizethat I get to be a part of Gwen’s next big chapter, bringing her intothe 616 and giving readers stories that make us rethink who Gwen is andwhat her role is within this new universe. I’m also working on thisstory with the incredible Chris Campana, a great collaborator andfriend, and I truly believe this is one of the most special books I’vebeen a part of.”
“Stephanie’s writing allows for a ton of artistic freedom, whileproviding a great framework to work inside of. I wasonboard the moment I heard she was attached,” Campana added. “Drawing Gwen is surreal. She is such a pivotal partof Spider history. This suit and her character allow for a fun andpowerful artistic approach. Gwen feels strong and in control on thepage. I’m having a lot of fun.”
While the new run won’t kick off until April, writer Melissa Flores set the stage for Gwen’s migration to the main Marvel Universe in this week’s Spider-Gwen: Smash #1. The first issue of the four-part limited series sees Gwen question her place in her home universe, even with the support of her father, George Stacy. Meanwhile, she’s helping the Natasha Romanoff of Earth-65 protect pop star Dazzler from a super-powered stalker: her home world’s version of the Hulk. Also on the way in March is Flores’ Giant-Size Spider-Gwen #1, which is set in Gwen’s home reality and pits her against the Earth-65 Sinister Six.
“Kicking off with Gwen trapped in the 616 by mysterious otherworldlyforces, the young hero’s fresh status quo will open the door to excitingnew storytelling opportunities as she struggles to adjust in a worldthat’s not her own, and is forced to confront the tragic legacy of 616’sown Gwen,” reads the synopsis for Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider #1. “Hitting the ground running as New York’s next great superhero, she’ll gain both new enemies and new friends, but the secretbehind her current circumstance looms large, threatening to shatter hertrust with her fellow Spider-Heroes… Welcome to New York! Gwen truly becomes a Ghost-Spider when she movesfull time to the universe where Gwen Stacy died years ago. But why didshe leave Earth-65? Why aren’t the other spiders supposed to know she’shere? Why isn’t she supposed to suit up? And who will get hurt when shedoes?”
Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider #1 is on sale April 10, 2024, from Marvel Comics.
