Warning: Spoilers for Spider-Gwen: The Ghost Spider #5!
The new powers of Spider-Gwen continue to wreak havoc on Spider-Man’s rogues’ gallery. Spider-Gwen has long become a staple of the Marvel Universe through the Spider-Verse team-up events, and has 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 very first supervillain that Peter Parker ever faced off against. 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. The cover art by Mark Brooks can be viewed below, as the issue itself will be released on September 11, 2024.
In addition, preview panels below for the upcoming issue showcase 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 11
Originally hailing from Earth-65, Spider-Gwen has officially joined Earth-616 within the Marvel multiverse. As Gwen becomes acclimated into 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 attempt at a bank heist, Carlos LaMuerto hires Kraven the Hunter’s brother to retaliate. Initially, the Chameleon attempts to do just that by attacking Gwen in the guise of his brother, but now, he has moved on to impersonating Gwen herself.
Whatever plan that Chameleon and the Black Tarantula have in store goes beyond just injuring or maiming Spider-Gwen. Instead, they want to defeat Gwen by ruining her reputation with the public of Earth-616, who are still unfamiliar with this Ghost Spider who has suddenly emerged. To accomplish this, Chameleon has been committing crimes under the guise of the Ghost Spider. This is all happening while Gwen is held captive underground. However, on a brighter note, it’s while being incapacitated that Spider-Gwen unlocks a new power for herself to match her new status as an Earth-616 citizen.
While being 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 a connection with her father, a sudden burst of electricity exits from her mouth, and a further burst allows Gwen to break free from her shackles. Gwen describes this 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 in New York City.
This burst shocks Gwen as it creates a crater in the middle of New York City. Not only that, but this one blast of energy from Spider-Gwen short circuits the Chameleon’s abilities, fracturing not only his ability to maintain one form, but fracturing his mind. He starts changing at random 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 this next issue.
Where Did Spider-Gwen Get Her New Powers?
The Literal Sting of a Power Upgrade
For now, it remains unclear how these powers have manifested in Gwen and why she suddenly has them. Those mysterious 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-person to have powers beyond just the usual, like Spider-Sense or wall-crawling. Specifically, she isn’t 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 manifested different powers when Miles was bitten. By the same sword, different Spider-people manifesting different powers can also be pegged on them being bitten by different spiders (in some cases, from different universes) and as such, they are all affected differently.
It’s 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-people, and it appears to be affecting Gwen in the same way. Unfortunately for Gwen, she does not have much time to explore her powers and what they entail as she is a wanted fugitive. If she continues trying to help the Chameleon, she will be further accused of aiding and abetting a known criminal. Time will tell how Spider-Gwen continues to develop her new power.
Spider-Gwen: The Ghost Spider #5 will be available September 11 from Marvel Comics.
