Warning: Spoilers Ahead for Spider-Gwen: The Ghost Spider #5!
Spider-Gwen’s evolving powers are causing quite a stir among Spider-Man’s infamous foes. A beloved figure in the Marvel Universe, thanks to the thrilling Spider-Verse events, Spider-Gwen has officially become part of the main Marvel Earth-616 canon. This inclusion naturally means she shares Spider-Man’s well-known adversaries.
Her latest adversary is none other than Chameleon, Spider-Man’s inaugural supervillain. Their intense confrontation continues in *Spider-Gwen: The Ghost Spider #5*, crafted by Stephanie Phillips, Paolo Villanelli, Matt Milla, and VC’s Ariana Maher. The captivating cover art by Mark Brooks is presented below, with the issue set for release on September 11, 2024.
Preview panels for the upcoming issue reveal the formidable extent of Spider-Gwen’s newfound abilities, demonstrating her capacity to counter Chameleon’s powers.
Spider-Gwen’s New Powers, Explained
*Spider-Gwen: The Ghost Spider #5 arrives on September 11*
Originally from Earth-65, Spider-Gwen is now officially part of Earth-616 within the Marvel multiverse. As she navigates this new reality, her first major hurdle comes in the form of Chameleon, Spider-Man’s first official supervillain. After thwarting a bank heist orchestrated by crime lord Black Tarantula, Carlos LaMuerto enlists Kraven the Hunter’s brother for revenge. Initially, Chameleon attacks Gwen disguised as his brother but soon escalates to impersonating Gwen herself.
The sinister plot devised by Chameleon and Black Tarantula extends beyond merely injuring Spider-Gwen. Their goal is to tarnish Gwen’s reputation among the Earth-616 public, who are still unfamiliar with this new Ghost Spider. By committing crimes disguised as the Ghost Spider, Chameleon aims to discredit her while Gwen remains captive underground. Yet, in a twist of fate, it is during this captivity that Spider-Gwen discovers a new power, aligning with her status as an Earth-616 citizen.
While held captive in *Spider-Gwen: The Ghost Spider #3*, Gwen experiences hallucinations of her Earth-65 father, Captain George Stacy. This vision fuels her determination to escape, prompting her to think creatively. Frustrated by losing contact with her father, a sudden surge of electricity erupts from her mouth, enabling her to break free from her restraints. Gwen describes this phenomenon as “like a fire blasting through my veins. It feels like I’m about to [explode].” The confrontation between the two Gwens culminates in a powerful explosion in New York City.
This explosive burst astonishes Gwen, creating a crater in the heart of New York City. Moreover, this energy surge short-circuits Chameleon’s abilities, disrupting his form and mind. He begins changing erratically, eventually seeking Gwen’s assistance. However, before she can help, both Gwen and Chameleon find themselves pursued by the NYPD, setting the stage for the next issue.
The Origin of Spider-Gwen’s New Powers
*The Literal Sting of a Power Upgrade*
The origin and nature of Gwen’s new powers remain shrouded in mystery. Future developments are likely to shed light on this transformation as Spider-Gwen explores her enhanced abilities. Notably, she isn’t the first Spider-person to possess powers beyond the typical Spider-Sense or wall-crawling. Observant readers might liken her abilities to the electric Venom blast powers of Miles Morales.
Miles’ powers stem from a spider engineered with Oscorp’s Oz Formula in his universe, designed to replicate the spider that granted Peter Parker his abilities. Due to its distinct composition, it endowed Miles with unique powers. Similarly, different Spider-people encountering diverse spiders—sometimes from alternate universes—can manifest varied abilities.
This phenomenon is not unlike the natural secondary mutations experienced by some mutants in the Marvel Universe. Spider-people are similarly affected, as appears to be the case with Gwen. Unfortunately, her fugitive status leaves little time to explore her powers’ full potential. Aiding the Chameleon could further implicate her in criminal activities. Time will reveal how Spider-Gwen’s newfound powers evolve.
*Spider-Gwen: The Ghost Spider #5* will be available on September 11 from Marvel Comics.