-
Marvel's Spider-Gwen: Gwenverse #1
- Artist:
- Jodi Nishijima
- Colorist:
- Federico Blee
- Cover Artist:
- David Nakayama
- Letterer:
- VC's Ariana Maher
- Price:
- 3.99
- Publisher:
- Marvel
- Release Date:
- 2022-03-09
- Writer:
- Tim Seeley
Between her romance with Peter Parker and her multiversal crime-fighting exploits, Gwen Stacy has developed a loyal following. Her appearance in Marvel's Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse introduced the character to hordes of new fans. Now, the spectacular Spider-Gwen faces the biggest challenger of her heroic career: herself -- or several new versions of herself. Author Tim Seeley and artist Jodi Nishijima are joining forces to present Spider-Gwen: Gwenverse #1, a fast-paced, fun first issue sure to delight readers looking for campy action.
Spider-Gwen: Gwenverse #1 follows Gwen Stacy as she struggles to balance her life as a superhero with her obligations to her family and friends. Her crime-fighting keeps getting in the way of her friendship with Mary Jane, and her father is becoming increasingly worried about all the time she spends on more dangerous Earths in the multiverse. However, Gwen learns she has a bigger problem to solve when a futuristic artist's misguided attempt to become "the ultimate meme" ends up disrupting the time stream and radically changing the nature of Gwen's reality.
Seeley's tongue-in-cheek tone allows him to address the absurdity of his premise without pulling any punches. The humor in Spider-Gwen: Gwenverse #1 encourages the reader to suspend their disbelief and lean into this remarkably silly but quite entertaining narrative. Seeley's comedy is disarming. At first, the artsy antagonist seems misguided but fundamentally harmless, so when her dark side is revealed, it is particularly shocking. Similarly, Gwen's inner turmoil stands in harsh contrast to the light tone of the rest of the story, making her struggles all the more emotionally affecting. This balance between the zany and the sincere makes for a really compelling first issue.
Loud colors, dynamic compositions, and a great sense of humor make every page of Spider-Gwen: Gwenverse #1 fun and exciting. Nishijima's cartooning perfectly complements the tone of Seeley's writing while maintaining rigorous attention to detail. Her character designs are as outlandish as can be, but instead of distracting from the narrative, they help to push it forward. The Hamburglar-esque Bodega Bandit is a great representation of the goofy criminals Spider-Gwen has to put up with in her universe, whereas the Ultimate artist looks significantly more modern and more dangerous. As engaging as Nishijima's campy designs are, she is just as skilled in capturing the subtle tensions between Gwen and her father. She reflects Gwen's emotional state in an immediately clear and empathetic way.
Spider-Gwen's impending interactions with numerous versions of herself promise to be entertaining and full of surprises. Seeley and Nishijima lean into the ridiculous nature of the premise but they don't make a mockery of the work. As funny as this first issue is, it also establishes real emotional stakes that will keep the reader willing to suspend their disbelief and invested in the story. Spider-Gwen: Gwenverse #1 is a fun read that will intrigue longtime Gwen Stacy fans and new readers alike.