Marvel Honors Gwen Stacy’s Death with Animated Short on YouTube

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Over the course of his life, Spider-Man has experienced numerous hardships. Sadness seems to be a constant in his existence, dating back to the loss of his uncle Ben. However, few incidents have left a deeper impact on Peter Parker than the death of his cherished girlfriend, Gwen Stacy, at the hands of Norman Osborn, also known as the Green Goblin. This fateful event unfolded in Amazing Spider-Man issue #121, which went on sale on March 13, 1973. The comic was penned by Gerry Conway and illustrated by Gil Kane. To honor this significant milestone in Spider-Man’s journey, Marvel Comics’ official YouTube channel has shared an animated video, featuring Miss Minutes from Loki, hosted by the TVA (Time Variance Authority). (We remain cautious around her.) You can watch this moving depiction of events right here:

For over five decades, the demise of Gwen Stacy has left a profound impact on pop culture, influencing comics in various ways, some positive and others less so. This particular comic book issue is often cited as the commencement of the Bronze Age, a period when comics adopted a more somber tone compared to the brighter, more vibrant Silver Age. Previously, superheroes consistently rescued their loved ones from danger. However, Gwen’s death signified that this wasn’t always guaranteed anymore, marking a significant change in the overall tone of mainstream comics. Unfortunately, this development also paved the way for a regrettable trend – the tactic of killing off a male protagonist’s female love interest to fuel his storyline, which is now referred to as “fridging.

The demise of Gwen Stacy transformed the Green Goblin into Spider-Man’s arch-nemesis forever. Also, the live-action films often paid homage to Amazing Spider-Man #121 in various manners. For instance, in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man, the Goblin pushes MJ off the George Washington Bridge, similar to his actions against Gwen in the comics (thankfully, Peter saves MJ in this version). The Amazing Spider-Man 2 followed suit by having Emma Stone’s character die as Gwen did in the comic books. Due to her tragic “doomed” status, many animated Spidey adaptations chose not to feature Gwen as a living character. Nowadays, she is more recognized as someone who has forever been famously deceased.

2014 marked the turning point for the character who was previously known for her tragic role in Spider-Man’s history. Marvel chose to reinvent this frequently sidelined figure, giving her a starring role as Spider-Gwen (or Ghost Spider) in her own right. In her world, she was the one bitten by the spider, transforming into a hero while Peter Parker met an untimely end. Today, Spider-Gwen stands among Marvel’s most beloved heroes, largely due to the success of the Spider-Verse films. This alternate universe adaptation rescued a character from being forever remembered as “Peter Parker’s dead girlfriend.” The original Gwen’s demise was a significant shift for Marvel, and Spider-Man comics have never been quite the same since.

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2025-03-14 02:33