Graphic Novel Review - 'Spider-Gwen: Gwenverse' by Tim Seeley (Writer), Jodi Nishijima (Artist)

'Spider-Gwen: Gwenverse' is a mixed, webbed bag, but mostly it's fun, and surprisingly accessible, thoughtful and well developed.

Its pacing, planning and plotting are far from perfect, but hey, it's a Marvel multiverse story that didn't make me want to teat my hair out, and it is actually about Gwen Stacy/Spider-Gwen/Spider-Woman/Ghost-Spider (how many names does she have?) and her character development, so it's a win for me.

Apart from 'Vol. 0: Most Wanted?', I didn't think I'd enjoy any 'Spider-Gwen' comic after some disappointments. Yet here comes the 'Gwenverse'. Hooray!

I bought it, alongside DC's 'Harley Quinn Vol. 3: Clown About Town', in the new comic book shop in my local mall, dressed in my Spider-Gwen T-shirt and hoodie. A guy who works there recommended 'Spider-Gwen' titles to me. It seemed like fate.

'Spider-Gwen: Gwenverse' - see Gwen as Thor, Captain America, Wolverine, Iron Gwen, Captain Marvel, and Nightbird. See them slowly, begrudgingly begin to work as a team to save the multiverse, even when they can't stand one another.

When Gwen Stacy can't stand herself. Hates herself.

She's a Spider-person, possibly the most cursed superhero ever. So honestly, who can blame her? Who can blame her for feeling how she does?

However, no matter what universe the superheroine comes from, she's still great, and believably flawed and human. She's still Captain George Stacy's beloved daughter, in their mega-complicated relationship. She's still a member of a band with Mary Jane Watson. Her Spider costume is still webbing awesome and original.

She's a blonde teenage badass with unmitigated hellish baggage to deal with, but she's learning. She's growing. She's healing. She's determined. She's kicking butt.

There's quite a lot of stuff going on in this sci-fi, Spider-verse, Marvel-multiverse, time travel malarky of a comic, so I'll just leave it at that, without spoiling a great deal.

It is flawed, and you may have to read other 'Spider-Gwen', 'Spider-Man', and modern Marvel comics in general to get everything that's going on. Though like I said, it's fun, and even touching and poignant, in the right places.

I like Spider-Zero, too. She seems cool.

J. Jonah Jameson makes an amusing, subversive cameo.

Go Gwen! Finally, you're fleshed out and written interestingly!

I may give more 'Spider-Gwen' comics a chance, now.

I may give more current Marvel comics a chance, now.

Final Score: 3.5/5