Spider-Man: The Death of Gwen Stacy [Paperback]

Gerry Conway (Author), Stan Lee (Author), Gil Kane (Illustrator)

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Marvel Enterprises; Graphic No edition (April 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785107169
• ISBN-13: 978-0785107163
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,602,852 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most poignant tales in comic book history, March 23, 2001

By 

Christopher Griffen "Commitment to mediocrity!" (Pleasanton, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Spider-Man: The Death of Gwen Stacy (Paperback)

I had never owned any of the original issues in this collection (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #96-98 and 121-122), but I knew the story of Gwen Stacy's death. Gwen was the girlfriend of Spider-Man's alter ego, Peter Parker and had been a staple of this series since the mid-60's.

When writer Gerry Conway determined that he would kill her off, his intent was to show that in the life of a costumed adventurer like Spider-Man, nothing was certain. He felt that the readers needed a shock to wake them up. Nasty things can happen when insane super-villains are about and who's more insane than Spider-Man's archnemesis, the Green Goblin?

The Stan Lee-written drug stories (#96-98) are hokey and it's obvious Stan didn't know the first thing about drugs, but the publication of these issues was a seminal moment for modern comics. Long under the bootheel of the Comics Code Authority, Lee had to publish these three issues WITHOUT the code logo on the cover because of the drug content. He felt it was necessary to speak out against drug use and was willing to take a fairly considerable risk to do it.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #96-98 also lays the groundwork for what was to come. Harry Osborn, son of Norman Osborn (a.k.a., the Green Goblin), is addicted to drugs and gets on a bad LSD trip. Later, in #121, we find that Harry continues to have substance abuse problems. His father is livid and blames Harry's friends, including Peter. His rage drives him back into the role of the Goblin and the fateful climax atop the Brooklyn Bridge which would leave one long-time and much-beloved character dead and another forever changed.

The wonderful art of comic industry icons Gil Kane and John Romita, Sr., make this story a visual treat. Kane's drafting and storytelling prowess shines in this story.

Don't miss out on this story, one of the most involving, dramatic and poignant comic book tales to see print.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Touching and Tearful, July 28, 2001

By 

Hassan Galadari (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Spider-Man: The Death of Gwen Stacy (Paperback)

How can you review perhaps one of the biggest feats in comic history. The most tragic event that shattered the belief of a hero and drew a new status quo unlike any other known in that character's history. With a title clearly telling you what will happen in the story and what events will transpire. What is it that you can say to recommend this book to anyone who has the plot written on the title?

What you might ask??? PLENTY...

. How Gwen Stacy fell to her death forever shattering the world of Peter Parker, Spider-Man. The five chaptered story can be divided in two parts. The first three chapters, written by Spidey co-creator, Stan Lee, paved the ground for the upcoming epic events and battle. In that part Lee ditches the long-established comics code (which is just what Marvel has done now), in order to bring out a great story about the effects of drugs and what people thought of them at the time. His take on that problem showed how comics could also be utilized for the benefit of the public, just like any other media form, which is a pioneering step in such a direction. Later themes dealt in other comics would come about AIDS and abortion.

The Green Goblin, Spidey's greatest foe, and the one he'll be facing in next summer's movie, knows Spidey's secret identity. With every move he taunts the webslinger and clearly provoked him on every move. Terrorizing him and his family. The deranged Goblin is not swayed until he confronts the addiction of his only son, Harry. Throughout, Peter is in dismay over the disappearance of his first love, Gwen, which has skipped town after the death of her police captain father, blaming Spidey as the cause of it all. The first part ends ith Gwen's coming back into Peter's arms and all is well.

Wrong...

Peter gets sent away on a NEWS mission for the newspaper he works in, this time, him leaving the love of his life behind. That hiatus is not expressed in the TPB and the reader is brought back to NY as Peter arrives. Nothing has changed. Harry is still a drug addict, finally diagnosed with full blown schizophrenia. Norman Osborn, Harry's father and the Green Goblin, is hellbent on seeking revenge on Spidey. He does that with the only way he thinks possible, by kidnapping the love of his life. That's when the story is set through and breaks out as being one of the greatest ever told. You know,s he'll die in the end, but the pages succeed in showing you how much she meant to Peter. The memories that flood in as images and words in his mind create such a collage of some of the beautifully written lines ever found in comics. This was a story of substance. A story from the heart. A story seldom portrayed in today's comics.

You feel Peter's pain and you truly feel the tragedy that befalls him. The ending of the story takes on the form of how Peter appreciates MJ, hwo later becomes his wife. It was during that moment of death and sorrow, that a stronger love was born. The epilogue in the end, drawn by legendary artist John Romita Sr., brings the past to the present, in a wonderful story that sums things and finds closure. The TPB as a whole may not necessary make you cry, but you will definitely feel the heart ache and anguish of, perhaps, one of the most enduring comic charcaters of all time. Peter Parker: Spider-Man.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quite Possibly Spider-Man's Brightest and Darkest Moment, August 2, 2002

By 

R. J. Burks "Spider-Phoenix" (Cotati, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Spider-Man: The Death of Gwen Stacy (Paperback)

Who wouldn't know about Gwen Stacy's death? Saddly enough a lot of people. New fans are all convinced Mary Jane was #1, but those who've been around or well educated on backstories remember a knockout blonde who went from out of range to the first love of Peter Parker's life. This book doesn't really show the greatness of their relationship but how it all came to an end. 5 issues dealing with the Green Goblin's 1st return are reprinted here, plus a story drawn by John Romita Sr. from the Webspinner's Tales called "The Kiss". And while the 5 Amazing Spider-Man issues are quite "amazing" it's "The Kiss" that sold me on the whole thing. Never have I seen so much emotion and so much insight in a superhero. It's quite exceptional in my book. Definatly get this book. It's essential.