The latest Marvel crossover event Heroes Reborn showcases a darker depiction of the Marvel Universe, with the devilish Mephisto altering history to create a reality where the Avengers and many of the other major superheroes never fulfilled their aspirational destinies. One fan-favorite character that has proven to be a hero, no matter what wholesale changes have been made to reality, is Gwen Stacy. The adventures of Heroes Reborn's Gwen are explored by Vita Ayala and Farid Karami in the tie-in special issue Heroes Reborn: Night-Gwen #1, a moody look at the toll this twisted world is exacting on her in every aspect of her life.

After being rescued from the Green Goblin by Nighthawk, Gwen maintains her career as a psychiatrist in the Ravencroft Institute, rehabilitating some of the most notorious supervillains in the world. But when Gwen is off the clock, she hunts criminals as the superhero Nightbird, tacitly working with local law enforcement to keep her city safe. However, when a familiar foe from her past resurfaces, Gwen finds that the double life she has been leading is causing both of her worlds to disastrously collide when this old threat strikes closer to home than ever before.

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Ayala has a firm grasp on the reimagined Marvel Universe and the voice of this incarnation of Gwen, crafting a superhero noir story. The issue takes advantage of several elements of the Spider-Man mythos, particularly the ones with which Gwen is most associated. This is a woman that is steadily burning the candle at both ends, but does it because she is one of the few rays of light in an increasingly darkening world. At the same time, Ayala knows they are writing a bit of escapist superhero fun and balances the tone deftly to reflect that. There is plenty of hard-hitting action, but at the same time, Ayala provides a glimpse at Gwen's past in this heavily revised world to highlight which elements of the character remain steadfast and what about Gwen has changed accordingly.

Karami, working with color artist Erick Arciniega, balances the shadowy action of Nightbird defending the Marvel Universe and the flashbacks to Gwen's college days back at Capitol State University. The action has a kinetic sensibility to it that helps it pop off the page, while Karami gets several splash pages to really stretch out and render Gwen's superhero activities in full. The artwork is the most effective when it delves directly into atmosphere as Gwen struggles to stay afloat in this harsh reality. Karami deliveres an ominous mood as Gwen confronts inner and outer demons, which is elevated by Arciniega's choice in color palette, from the dimly lit halls of Ravencroft to the shadowy rooftops of Washington, D.C. where Gwen calls home in this reality.

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While not a particularly vital, high-stakes read in the wider Heroes Reborn story, the Night-Gwen special tie-in provides more of a character study of this world's Gwen Stacy. Taking full advantage of the wider Marvel Universe and maintaining the hallmarks to Gwen, Ayala and Karami deliver a more introspective look into Heroes Reborn while keeping the narrative focus on Gwen. A fun look at Gwen and how one good person bears the weight of this dark world on her shoulders, Heroes Reborn: Night-Gwen #1 offers lightweight superhero fun that works best when it leans more into the noir possibilities of its narrative premise.

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