Spider-Gwen (Vol. 2) #30 Review

“Just–whatever this is. Wherever you’re from. Please…please don’t tell me you’re a clone.”

Gwen talks to herself and the Watchers get closer to who is behind the time anomaly!

WRITER: Jason Latour

ARTIST: Robbi Rodriguez

COLOR ARTIST: Rico Renzi

LETTERER: VC’s Clayton Cowles

COVER: Robbi Rodriguez

TITLE PAGE ART: Rico Renzi, Robbi Rodriguez, & Anthony Gambino

PRODUCTION DESIGNER: Carlos Lao

ASSISTANT EDITOR: Kathleen Wisneski

EDITOR: Devin Lewis

GWEN STACY created by STAN LEE & STEVE DITKO

STORY: On an unspecified Earth, Gwen takes Gwen-65 out to eat. Gwen-65 grows impatient, turns into Venom, and takes off. On Earth-8, The Watchers are trying to figure out what is going on with the timeline and what is causing the change. Back on the unspecified Earth, Venom attempts to recruit Reed Richards for help, but he can’t be bothered. Venom heads back to her Gwen counterpart, catching her interacting with her Peter Parker. The Gwens go out for hot dogs, debating life, their respective troubles, and Schrodinger’s Cat. This Gwen’s Earth finally gets identified as Earth-617. Back on Earth-8, the Spider-Kids of Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy get interrogated by The Watchers, who believe they have something to do with meddling with the timeline. ANOTHER Gwen Stacy jumps in, slugging the Watchers and refers to herself in the plural, with something black and inky crawling over her face.

THOUGHTS: For those hoping for an epic throwdown between Spider-Woman and Venom based on the cover, sorry to disappoint, but it’s metaphorical, representing Gwen’s struggle within. As much as I love a good fighting-an-evil-version-of-yourself story, this issue takes a different tack and is all the richer for it.

First off, Latour doesn’t specify what Earth we’re on. The device that fills the reader in on where we are setting-wise is having trouble calibrating and even gives off an error message at one point. Don’t fret, Spider-Friends, it does pay off at a pivotal moment at the end, revealing it’s an Earth just once removed from the one we’ve known and loved since the 60’s.

Speaking of the Earth Gwen-65 has found herself on, I’m not sure who gets the credit for this, but the world has a distinct look, rendering it with a grain to give it a vintage older comic feel, while still leaving Gwen-65 with a clean, modern look. I really enjoyed the effect it gave off and the classic tone it established.

I loved the shout-out to “Jazzy” John Romita, Sr. with his photo on the wall in the diner. It’s interesting to note that while I felt this new Gwen from Earth 617 resembled the Ditko interpretation last issue, this one feels more Romita, Sr. to me. Gil Kane or Ross Andru next time? Or maybe take a leap and present us with a new Gwen, this one based on the Ultimate Mark Bagley version? That might be a little too close to our heroine, though.

There’s quite a few constants in this issue-the Gwens go out for hot dogs, we see Spider-Ham, and Gwen-65 turns to a Reed Richards for help. This Reed is a little too self-absorbed to be bothered, though, and even has Spider-defenses built into the Baxter Building’s security system. Jerk. I did appreciate the callback to ASM #1 (the first one. Sigh.)

The creative team continues to do a fantastic job making the Venom suit feel alive. After getting zapped by Reed’s home invasion system it hisses its displeasure. In fact, it seems to do it a few times this issue. Plus, we continue to have Venom’s speech in that hot pink color, use of “we”, and the misting tendrils that pop up every now and then. Oh, and lest we forgot, the voice inside her head demanding more hot sauce!

Latour really pulls off the contrasts and similarities well, all the while throwing in a revelation or two. Not only does 65 not see her Peter in a romantic light, she also doesn’t want to turn to Peter-617 for help. It’d just be another reminder of her failure and guilt. I like how Gwen-617 realizes her Peter is keeping something from her and that Gwen-65 understands how 617 might be a bit smarter than her. Both Gwens have their share of father tragedies and it serves to bond them, even give 617 hope for her life.

One of the most important things in this issue to me is the post-hot dog conversation, where they bring up topics like Schrodinger’s Cat. Anyone else get a creepy feeling when 617 makes the statement “…we’re the dead cat.” as she snaps her fingers? It’s an effective allusion to the 616 version’s demise, and, oh, yeah, Spider-Gwen is still using the term 616. Sorry, Marvel Editorial, but you’re not getting that cat >ahem< back in the bag.

Even more important than allusions to other Gwens’ fates is that each Gwen inspires the other, offering hope when they need it. 617 knows that anything can still happen, that her life isn’t as small as she thinks. 65 learns that worst case scenario, she can go on and even thrive if she does wind up losing her dad. Also, not only can she carry on, but she still has a chance to make her dad proud of who she is. The Venom and Murdock haven’t won yet.

Just when you thought two Gwens were enough this issue, we get a monkey wrench in the form of yet another one. This one seems older and is venomized, too. We’re being led to believe it’s the Gwen from Earth-8, but it could just be Charlotte making an inaccurate presumption. It definitely complicates the plot as Latour continues to bring all his threads together as we inch closer to the end. She’s definitely a force to be reckoned with as she takes out two Watchers with one punch! I liked how Rodriguez combined elements of Spidey, Spider-Gwen, and the infamous Gwen Stacy trench coat. The coat has an air of futuristic to it and of course, Venom tendrils slink over her face for good measure.

It’s getting harder and harder to praise Rodriguez in a new way. He really pulls off the different aesthetic of Earth-617 well and imbues each of the Gwens with different characteristics, making them easy to differentiate when they share panels. I love the way he portrays the youth of Peter-617, too, with the Romita haircut and thicker eyebrows. Even the clothing feels ripped from 60’s Spider-Man!

Once again, just a solid issue from this team. Renzi lends his colors to make you feel you’re somewhere else, Rodriguez’s panels are a sight to behold even when the issue isn’t action packed, and Latour gives one of the best two-versions-of-the-character-meeting stories of recent memory. This isn’t just one of the best Spidey books on the stands, it’s one of the best, most enjoyable books for me, period.

MY GRADE: A+

JAVI’S HUH?: If we can see that Earth 617 is grainy like an older comic, does Gwen-65 notice it, too?