Warning: Spoilers for Spider-Gwen: The Ghost Spider #5!
The new powers of Spider-Gwen Continue wreaking havoc on Spider-Man’s rogues gallery. Spider-Gwen has long been a staple of the Marvel Universe through the Spider-Verse team-up events, and even officially joined the main Marvel Earth-616 canon recently. As such, she and Spider-Man, arguably the center of the Spider-Verse, share the same villains.
Her latest challenge is none other than former Spider-Man villain Chameleon, The first supervillain that Peter Parker faced. Gwen and Chameleon’s battles continue in Spider-Gwen: The Ghost Spider #5 by Stephanie Phillips, Paolo Villanelli, Matt Milla and VC’s Ariana Maher. Mark Brooks’ cover art can be viewed below, as the issue itself will be released on September 11, 2024.
In addition, preview panels below for The upcoming issue showcases the full extent of Spider-Gwen’s new powers and just how powerful they are, As they manage to offset Chameleon’s powers.
Spider-Gwen’s new powers, explained
Spider-Gwen: The Ghost Spider #5 is out on September 11th
Originally hired from Earth-65, Spider-Gwen has officially joined Earth-616 in the Marvel Multiverse. When Gwen is acclimated to this reality, she is faced with her first big challenge in the form of the Chameleon, Spider-Man’s first official supervillain. After Spider-Gwen stops crime lord Black Tarantula’s attempted bank heist, Carlos LaMuerto hires Kraven the Hunter’s brother to retaliate. Initially, the chameleon tries to do this by attacking Gwen in the guise of his brother, but now, he has moved on to impersonating Gwen himself.
Whatever plan Chameleon and the Black Tarantula have in store goes beyond just injuring or miming Spider-Gwen. instead, They want to defeat Gwen by ruining her reputation With the public of Earth-616, who are still unfamiliar with the Ghost Spider that has suddenly emerged. To achieve this, Chameleon was committing crimes under the guise of the Ghost Spider. This is all happening while Gwen is being held captive underground. However, on a broader note, it is while incapacitated that Spider-Gwen unlocks a new power for herself to match her new status as an Earth-616 citizen.
While they were held captive in Spider-Gwen: The Ghost Spider #3, the title character starts seeing hallucinations of her Earth-65 father, Captain George Stacy. This vision provides the motivation for Gwen to try harder to escape, leading her to think outside the box. Out of frustration, especially after losing contact with her father, A sudden burst of electricity shoots out of her mouth, and another burst allows Gwen to break free of her shackles.. Gwen describes the feeling as “Like a fire blasting through my veins, it feels like I’m about to.” [explode].” Later, the Gwen vs. Gwen fight culminates in Gwen bursting into New York City.
The explosion shocks Gwen as it creates a crater in the middle of New York City. Not only that, but This single blast of energy from Spider-Gwen short circuits the Chameleon’s abilities, fracturing not only his ability to hold one form, but fracturing his mind. He starts changing randomly and acting erratically to the point that, in the next issue, he has no choice but to turn to Gwen, begging for help. Before she can help, both Gwen and Chameleon are on the run from the NYPD, bringing readers to the next issue.
Where did Spider-Gwen get her new powers?
The literal sting of a power upgrade
For now, it remains unclear how the powers appeared in Gwen and why she suddenly has them. The mystery will likely be addressed in the future as Spider-Gwen delves more into her new abilities. However, she also wouldn’t be the first Spider-Man to have powers beyond the ordinary, like spider-sense or wall-crawling. Specifically, she is not the first Spider with electricity powers, as some readers may see her powers and immediately think of the electricity Venom Blast powers that Miles Morales has.
For Miles, his powers come from being bitten by a spider engineered by the Oscorp’s Oz Formula in his universe. This spider was specifically designed to recreate the spider that gave Peter Parker his powers. Because it was made differently than the original spider, it released different powers when Miles was bitten. with the same sword, Different Spider-Men who manifest different powers can also be pegged on being bitten by different spiders (in some cases, from different universes) and as such, are all affected differently..
It is no different from the fact that some mutants in the Marvel Universe manifest secondary mutations naturally in life. The same can be said for Spider-Man, and it seems to affect Gwen in the same way. Unfortunately for Gwen, she doesn’t have much time to explore her powers and what they entail because she’s a wanted fugitive. If she continues to try to help the chameleon, she will continue to be accused of helping a known criminal. Time will tell how Spider-Gwen Continue to develop your new power.
Spider-Gwen: The Ghost Spider #5 Will be available September 11th from Marvel Comics.