Comic Review: Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider #5

 

After the emotional turbulence of Spider-Geddon, it’s time for Gwen Stacy to return to her own turf and that’s exactly what “Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider #5” sets out to do. This is the first fully original storyline after the crossover, and while it has promising elements, the result is only decent. It’s a story that’s sometimes fun and intriguing, but just as often falls into the trap of mediocrity.

Coming home… slowly and unevenly

Seanan McGuire starts with a simple premise reintroducing us to Gwen’s daily life after the chaos of an interdimensional battle. We open with a rehearsal of The Mary Janes, where we meet MJ, Glory Grant, and Betty Brant. Unfortunately, the dialogue here feels rather stiff more like lines of exposition than the lively banter of close friends.

Later, Gwen visits Harry Osborn. Their dinner serves as another piece of exposition, where she recounts her recent adventures. She’s rewarded with two milkshakes a cute moment, but one that doesn’t add much to her character development. In the background, we’re repeatedly reminded that after her prison stint, Gwen no longer has to hide her identity. This is a potentially rich narrative thread, but for now it’s only touched on lightly.

From purse to moral dilemma

On her way home, Gwen meets a mysterious woman asking for help recovering a stolen purse. At first, Spider-Gwen treats it with indifference, but she ends up finding it and to her surprise, accepts payment for the favor. This raises the question: can a superhero earn money for such acts of kindness? It’s one of the more interesting points of the issue, as it adds a new perspective to her day-to-day life.

Unfortunately, the way she finds the purse is trivial and lacks tension as if the writer didn’t have a stronger idea for how to make the scene engaging.

A new threat on the horizon

Meanwhile, a group of crooks plots to get rid of Spider-Gwen. In the final scene, we meet another player John Jameson, the Man-Wolf, who takes the job. It’s a good cliffhanger that might push the story in a more exciting direction in upcoming issues.

Alongside this, the Jackal is introduced a villain from Earth-616 seeking out his Earth-65 counterpart to get to Gwen. This subplot is far more engaging than the slice-of-life moments, offering more action and intrigue. Gwen’s kidnapping, the sleeping gas scene, her escape, and the confrontation with MJ are the parts where the comic finally gains momentum.

Visuals – expression over realism

Takeshi Miyazawa continues to split the fanbase. His art is expressive, dynamic, and full of youthful energy, which fits the tone of the series. The faces are full of emotion, from doubt to determination. Ian Herring’s colors give the action sequences an almost expressionistic flair, with bold blocks of color and shadows across faces.

However, the departure from realism won’t please everyone bodies are sometimes exaggerated, and backgrounds are often overly simplified.

Strengths and weaknesses

“Ghost-Spider #5” has potential – the publicly known identity, the moral dilemmas, and the introduction of new antagonists are promising ingredients. Sadly, the script is stretched thin in places, and the dialogue especially with The Mary Janes and Harry lacks spark. This is a transitional issue that sets pieces on the board, but doesn’t fully engage on its own.

Pros:

+Interesting premise of a publicly known superhero identity.

+Moral dilemma around accepting payment for help.

+Introduction of Man-Wolf and Jackal as threats.

+Dynamic, expressive art by Miyazawa with strong colors by Herring.

+Solid cliffhanger.

Cons:

-Weak, unnatural dialogue with the band and Harry.

-Trivial resolution to the purse subplot.

-Uneven pacing – too much small talk, too little action in the first half.

-Art style may turn off fans of realism.

My Score 5/10