Gwen Stacy Spider-Man Comic Book Essentials

Our last posts featured Spider-Man’s main squeeze Mary Jane, but it would be unfair to leave out his first love, Gwen Stacy. Some of the most important, iconic issues in the bronze age of comics are Gwen Stacy Spider-Man comics.

Here are some of the most essential Gwen Stacy issues, including important appearances later on by Gwen Stacy’s clone.

Essential Gwen Stacy Spider-Man Issues

First Gwen Stacy Spider-Man Appearance

gwen stacy spider-manThe first Gwen Stacy Spider-man appearance was in Amazing Spider-Man #31, in a storyline that stands as one of Spidey’s best, “If This Be My Destiny”, which continued for the next two issues.  She meets Peter Parker, her classmate, at ESU, but finds him to be a bit of a snob because he ignores her, as his mind is on his sick aunt.

Gwen Stacy Spider-Man Essential Issues
Amazing Spider-Man #31 (BUY)

The Mary Jane Gwen Stacy Spider-Man Love Triangle

Just as Peter Parker notices Gwen (and she notices him, thanks to his motorcycle purchased in Amazing Spider-Man #42), Mary Jane Watson enters the picture. Gwen (with Harry and Flash) meets MJ in Amazing Spider-Man #46. Harry dates both girls, while both of them seem to prefer Peter, which is hint very strongly in Amazing Spider-Man #51

Gwen Stacy Spider-Man Essential Issues
Amazing Spider-Man #42 (BUY)
Amazing Spider-Man #44 (BUY)
Amazing Spider-Man #51 (BUY)

Enter Captain Stacy

Gwen’s Father Captain Stacy enters the picture and notices his daughter’s interest in Peter. Gwen and Peter eventually fall in love in Amazing Spider-Man #59, where Peter meets Captain George Stacy for the first time. This storyline, which continues for the next two issues, is a perfect storyline of the era for all the supporting cast, not to mention an essential Gwen Stacy Spider-Man issue.

Gwen Stacy Spider-Man Essential Issues
Amazing Spider-Man #59 (BUY)

George Stacy’s Interest in Spider-Man

George Stacy always had a keen interest in Spider-Man. In Amazing Spider-Man #65, George Stacy defends a beaten Spider-Man from a mob trying to unmask him.

Gwen Stacy Spider-Man Essential Issues
Amazing Spider-Man #65 (BUY)

Peter Reveals to Gwen Stacy Spider-Man’s Identity

Peter Parker, thinking he lost his powers, reveals himself as Spider-Man to Gwen, her father, MJ and harry in Amazing Spider-Man #87. He gets help from the Prowler to make them believe it was not true after regaining his powers. This is also surprisingly the first Gwen Stacy Spider-Man cover.

Gwen Stacy Spider-Man Essential Issues
Amazing Spider-Man #87 (BUY)

The Death of Captain Stacy

Captain Stacy dies during a battle between Doctor Octopus and Spider-Man in Amazing Spider-Man #90. Captain Stacy’s dying words reveal to Spider-Man that he knows he is Peter Parker, and to take care of Gwen. Gwen, meanwhile, develops a hatred for Spider-Man, making a Gwen Stacy Spider-Man relationship even more complicated.

Gwen Stacy Spider-Man Essential Issues
Amazing Spider-Man #90 (BUY)

Gwen Leaves, Goes to London

After her father’s death, Gwen goes to live in London with her uncle Arthur in Amazing Spider-Man #93. Peter follows her there in Amazing Spider-Man #95, but fails to meet her, as she might catch he’s Spider-Man after having donned the costume upon his arrival. Gwen returns in Amazing Spider-Man #98.

Gwen Stacy Spider-Man Essential Issues
Amazing Spider-Man #93 (BUY)
Amazing Spider-Man #95 (BUY)
Amazing Spider-Man #98 (BUY)

Gwen Visits the Savage Land

Immediately upon her return, Gwen and Peter get back together. Not long after, J. Jonah Jameison sends Peter to get pictures in the Savage Land, and sends Gwen along with him as a model. One of the few stories with Gwen more heavily involved in the action. This takes place in Amazing Spider-Man #103 and Amazing Spider-Man #104.

Gwen Stacy Spider-Man Essential Issues
Amazing Spider-Man #103 (BUY)
Amazing Spider-Man #104 (BUY)

The Night Gwen Stacy Died

In probably the most iconic issue of Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man #121, Gwen Stacy Spider-Man’s girlfriend gets kidnapped by the Green Goblin and falls of the George Washington bridge and dies after a failed attempted of catching her with his webshooters. The cover of the aftermath issue of Amazing Spider-Man #122 features the lasting image of Gwen Stacy, in her kneehigh boots, skirt and trench. Her funeral takes place in Amazing Spider-Man #123.

Gwen Stacy Spider-Man Essential Issues
Amazing Spider-Man #121 (BUY)
Amazing Spider-Man #122 (BUY)
Amazing Spider-Man #123 (BUY)

gwen stacy spider-man

Gwen Stacy’s Clone

Her death did not mean the end of Gwen Stacy Spider-Man appearances. Other than her strong influence on the characters and appearances through flashbacks, Gwen Stacy also returns as clone. We first get a glimpse of her in Amazing Spider-Man #142, and is revealed as Gwen Stacy in Amazing Spider-Man #144. She is confirmed to be Gwen Stacy in the next issue, but we truly learn her origin as a clone in Amazing Spider-Man #149, as the Jackal is revealed to be Professor Miles Warren, who loved Gwen, his student, and blamed Peter/Spider-Man for her death. He created clones of both of them to exact his revenge. Gwen’s clone leaves to live a life of her own in Amazing Spider-Man #150.

Gwen Stacy Spider-Man Essential Issues
Amazing Spider-Man #142 (BUY)
Amazing Spider-Man #144 (BUY)
Amazing Spider-Man #149 (BUY)
Amazing Spider-Man #150 (BUY)

Gwen’s clone returns

The clone returns in Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #8, as is revealed to be not a clone, but a genetically modified human named Joyce Delaney. This origin is later debunked, or retconned, in the second clone saga, proving that the Jackal was capable of cloning.

Gwen Stacy Spider-Man Essential Issues
Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #8 (BUY)

Gwen Stacy in the Second Clone Saga


When the Jackal returns in Amazing Spider-Man #399, he reveals a third Gwen Stacy clone in an attempt to manipulate Peter and his clone, fresh out from exile. She is quickly disposed of in Spider-Man #56.

Later on, the original “Joyce Delaney” clone is discovered living in the suburbs with a Miles Warren clone in Web of Spider-Man 125. She once again goes into exile following the death of the Miles Warren clone.

Finally, as the clone saga comes to head in the Maximum Clonage crossover, the Gwen Stacy clone reemerges in Spider-Man #61. and is offered a renewed relationship with her as he now believes himself to be a clone. Epiphanies ensue, and the Gwen clone takes the final killing shot on the Jackal, before exiling herself and making this the last Gwen Stacy Spider-Man appearance, real or as a clone.

Gwen Stacy Spider-Man Essential Issues
Amazing Spider-Man #399 (BUY)
Spider-Man #56 (BUY)
Web of Spider-Man #125 (BUY)
Maximum Clonage Back Issues (BUY)
Spider-Man #61 (BUY)

See all the Gwen Stacy Spider-Man issues using “Gwen” as a search term in our Spider-Man Reading Order list.

What are your favorite Gwen Stacy Spider-Man issues?

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