Comic Review – Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider #4

 

"Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider #4" is a bittersweet chapter in Gwen Stacy's story both the best part of the first arc so far, and at the same time, an awkward epilogue to Spider-Geddon. Seanan McGuire once again shows that she understands the emotional core of Gwen’s character, delivering a narrative centered on loss, grief, and the hard decisions that come after a great battle. Unfortunately, despite its emotional depth, the issue still feels disconnected from the previous installments and may alienate readers unfamiliar with the Spider-Geddon event.

The plot takes place right after the multiversal war, focusing on the deaths of Spider-Man Noir and Spider-UK. Gwen, along with other Spider-heroes, attends memorials and pays personal visits to people close to the fallen. We see her travel to the Noir Universe to inform Aunt May, MJ, and Felicia Hardy of Peter’s death each reacting differently, from anger to quiet gratitude. Then she goes to Earth-803 to tell Lady Spider about William Braddock’s passing, culminating in a moving funeral scene.

One of the strongest aspects of the issue is how McGuire portrays grief from different angles: denial, pain, anger, and acceptance. Gwen doesn’t hide behind her mask while delivering the news, showing strength and respect for her friends. Her conversation with Peter Parker from Earth-616 adds another emotional layer a reminder that even heroes need rest, and that sometimes choosing yourself and your loved ones is not selfish, but necessary.

Artistically, the comic benefits from having both Rosi Kampe and Takeshi Miyazawa on board. The tonal differences between universes are well reflected, yet the overall style remains coherent. The Noir Universe sequences are particularly well done, with their moody atmosphere perfectly matching the gravity of the events.

However, the issue suffers from being too tied to Spider-Geddon. Without prior knowledge of that event, readers may feel lost and disconnected, as if they’ve skipped an important chapter. This disrupts the pacing of the "Ghost-Spider" series and makes the first four issues feel like an extended tie-in rather than a fresh start. It’s easy to imagine some readers starting directly from issue #5 without losing much.

Overall, Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider #4 is a well-written and emotionally resonant piece, but its place within the series is awkward. It’s more of a heartfelt epilogue to Spider-Geddon than a true continuation of Gwen’s solo adventures. For dedicated fans of the character and event, it’s worth reading but newcomers may find it disjointed.

Pros:

+Deep emotional core and authentic portrayal of grief.

+Strong dialogue and intimate character moments.

+Art that effectively conveys tone across multiple universes.

+Memorable Gwen–Peter conversation.

Cons:

-Feels disconnected from the main "Ghost-Spider" narrative.

-Requires Spider-Geddon knowledge to fully appreciate.

-Pacing suffers from being an extended tie-in rather than a standalone arc.

-First four issues don’t work well as a new-reader starting point.

My Score 6/10