Spider-Gwen (Vol. 2) #33 Review

“I can’t continue to put what led me here out into the world.”

Gwen Stacy goes to trial…and to jail?!?! How long can Gwen last when she is surrounded by her enemies?

WRITER: Jason Latour

ARTISTS: Robbi Rodriguez & Chris Visions

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: Gwen goes to trial and is found guilty. She gets incarcerated in a S.H.I.E.L.D.
maximum-security prison. She is assaulted numerous times, from the likes of Titania, the
Serpent Society, and others, not to mention threats from The Vulture. Six months go by and
Captain America offers her a way out, but Gwen would have to join a team Peggy Carter is
putting together. Gwen declines. Spiders visit George Stacy in the hospital and he emerges
from his coma!

THOUGHTS: I really enjoy what Rodriguez and Renzi did with the cover this month. The pink
shading, instead of the usual city at night background, makes it stand out and I loved the
metaphor present in the art, with the mantle of Spider-Woman being something heavy for Gwen
to bear, weighing her down on the scales of justice. Thematically it is on point, as this issue is all
about justice, or some would say, the lack of it.

Rather than getting to see the actual trial, we get a time jump of six months and a quick glimpse
of the highlights. I guess knowing you’re ending the title next issue means there’s no time for an
epic “trial of the Flash” style arc. Again, sad we didn’t get to see more of Jonah’s role and that
Gwen’s confession didn’t sway him over to her side. She certainly didn’t share the same
dynamic that 616 Peter has with his, so I presume that played a part. It was also interesting to
note how She-Hulk is self made in this version-no gamma irradiation here, just lots of green
paint. She serves as an important reminder to be true to yourself, something Gwen will be
having to struggle with this issue.

I have to admit that I was shocked to turn the page and see the title splash with an incarcerated
Gwen’s “Day One” prominently featured. It’s a magnificent looking page, though, with Gwen in
front of the prison bars and the city she can no longer swing through laid out underneath her. I
always love Rodriguez’ cityscapes as they remind me of the 60’s cartoon.

As I read on, I kept having a feeling of “we’re actually doing this?” There was no easy out for
Gwen here. She’s staying the course and it makes the book feel fraught with danger. She still
has the suit, but the security collar she wears makes it painful for her to utilize it. What do you
do when you’re surrounded by people you have helped be incarcerated? I imagine The
Punisher, who is also there, too, is having a much easier time of it than she is. Plus, the Vulture,
bringing the series full circle to its beginnings, is now top bird, accepting payments for time to
beat down on our hero. The guards don’t care and as Latour puts it “but the worst are the times
when I’m certain something’s coming. And nothing does.” Gwen is in a constant state of fight,
either physically or mentally, with flight not an option.

Or rather, it does become an option later on, one in which she refuses. Cap does give her a
chance to join a team Director Carter is putting together, of which she would be the
not-so-sinister sixth to join. Gwen declines, with her sentence being about being accountable, to
find a better way to be than she was before. Joining a team of questionable heroes at best
wouldn’t help her put out into the world the type of hero, the type of person, she wants to be. By
staying in jail, Gwen is embracing her responsibilities in a way the 616 Peter has not in over a
decade. The beatings she winds up taking day in and day out get so brutal that even hardened
inmates comment that they can’t watch. It’s shocking to see Gwen’s puffy, beaten face as
rendered by Visions so fresh after seeing a more classic Gwen Stacy from Earth-617 the last
few issues. It’s quite a contrast from the innocent, clean cut version an old fan like me is used to
pictureing. The dichotomy really helps sell the differences once again between Gwen-65 and
other versions and how big her sacrifice is to repent and have her form of justice and
redemption. It even sways Cindy-65 to bestow upon Gwen her “Hang In There” kitten in a tree
poster! It may be painful and it may take time, but Gwen is turning hearts. The question is, can
she survive it?

On the subject of visuals, Rodriguez is his stellar self. I’m going to miss seeing his art on a
regular basis. When the chores switch over to Visions halfway through, it’s not the most jarring
transition this title has seen, but Visions’ heavy linework is in stark contrast to the preceeding
pages. He still keeps the kinetic energy flowing in his art and even throws in a panel of floating
heads of…support? Yes, Gwen is indeed changing the minds and attitudes of those she is
locked up with.

Backtracking a bit to an idea mentioned during the trial, I was intrigued by “Hulk” Walters’ comment that “A jury of your peers is impossible.” What would an all super-powered jury look like? Would it be heroes and villains? Would the non-powered citizens accept it as justice, or look at it as the powered community protecting their own? It’s all these issues that are in Gwen’s head and why she’s taking it upon herself to be truly accountable and not just accept a “get out of jail free” card. Again, Latour and Co. put the thematic emphasis on responsibility, as it should be.

The most shocking element of this issue was the possible revelation in the character bio that the Bodega Bandit is possibly John Jameson, son of J. Jonah Jameson! Not only is this scandalous for New York’s favorite publisher and king stone thrower, but it makes it a cool parallel to Spidey history! As the Bodega Bandit’s first appearance was Spider-Gwen #1 it mirrors John Jameson’s in Amazing Spider-Man #1! John also had a bit of trouble on Earth-616, at one time made strong and driven crazy by space spores and then there was the whole turning into a Man-Wolf thing. I’ll definitely be looking at the character in a new light as I reread the series.

This issue was not at all what I expected it would be. Not only was I stunned that Gwen was serving time, but for the duration in which we time jumped and all the beatings she had to endure. Latour crafted the story well, getting us into Gwen’s head. While I would’ve preferred one artist, both made valuable contributions to the story. Whatever next issue’s finale brings, all I can expect is that it will be unexpected!

MY GRADE: A

JAVI’S HUH?: Where’s Matt Murdock in all this? On the run? Dead? I was expecting a little more of a resolution or appearance from him as he is a lawyer.