Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider, “Haunted”, is out January 22nd, collecting the first five issues of the Marvel Comics series.
“Haunted” sees Gwen Stacy, the Spider-Woman of Earth-65, relocated to the mainline Marvel Universe by the TVA under mysterious circumstances. No one is supposed to know she’s there—including her friends Peter Parker, Miles Morales, and Cindy Moon—and she isn’t supposed to suit up and play hero. But Gwen is a Spider, and with great power comes great responsibility, so how long will she be able to hide on the sidelines? (Spoiler: not long at all.)
The series is by writer Stephanie Phillips and artists Federica Mancin (issues #1-3) & Paolo Villanelli (issues #4-5), with colors by Matt Milla, and letters by Ariana Maher.
It may sound trite or clichéd for a publisher to fold a popular character from an alternate universe into their mainline one, but the creative team here makes the story feel exciting and interesting. Phillips’ story is entrenched in mystery: Why is Gwen on Earth-616? Why can’t the other Spiders know? These questions hook the reader in and keep them turning the pages looking for answers.
There’s also a personal tragedy piece to the story. Gwen is expected to keep a low profile and stop heroing, which she simply can’t do. She’s a hero at her core—a Spider being told to sit on the sidelines even though she could be helping people. At the same time, she has to isolate herself from her friends for their safety; she can’t rely on them during this trying time in her life. Great Spider-People stories usually deal with navigating personal struggles and interpersonal relationships like these; Phillips clearly understands that.
“Haunted” is an exciting superhero comic on top of these other elements, and Mancin & Villanelli don’t let you forget it. Ghost-Spider goes up against Chameleon in this story, who’s had an upgrade that allows him to better mimic other villains. In a way, Gwen gets to battle a number of classic Spider-Man villains in this story, and they’re all new to her. It was surely a ball for the artists to get to draw all these iconic baddies, and you can feel their excitement radiate off the page. Their art styles are different—Mancin’s is more cartoony with a manga-inspired flair, while Villanelli’s has a bit more of a gritty edge to it—but both artists infuse their issues with a visceral energy. Fights are big and electric, with a fluidity that carries you from one panel to the next.
Easing the transition between the two artists are Milla and Maher, whose respective colors and letters create a consistent tone throughout the arc. From her first comic to the Spider-Verse films, Spider-Gwen has become associated with bright neon colors, particularly pinks and purples. Milla ensures these are all still present here, even among the backdrop of Earth-616, which typically has a more natural color scheme. It’s a detail that ties Gwen back to her roots on Earth-65, while also adding some vibrancy to an already fun and inviting comic. This carries over to Maher’s letters, which also utilize Gwen’s signature palette in narrative captions and special effects. Maher’s work also enhances the aforementioned fluidity of the art, guiding readers through a sea of action.
Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider is an exciting new chapter for fans of Earth-65’s Gwen Stacy. Who knows if the heroine is in the 616 for good, but we’ll certainly enjoy her story while she’s here.
