The following contains spoilers for Spider-Gwen: Shadow Clones #4, now on sale from Marvel Comics
Between Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and comics like Extreme Venomverse, Marvel fans are getting a nice range of multiversal Spider-Men to enjoy. Marvel's focus on the Spider-Verse has highlighted the company's creative flexibility and how bringing new perspectives and styles to a familiar concept can result in strong characters and even better stories. It's only fitting that Gwen Stacy follow suit given Ghost-Spider's prominence since her introduction in Edge of Spider-Verse.
Spider-Gwen: Shadow Clones #4 (by Emily Kim, Kei Zama, Oren Junior, Triona Farrell, and VC's Ariana Maher) reveals the full scope of Dr. Lyla Bennet's plans for Gwen, threatenng every Gwen across the multiverse – including a host of heroic Gwen Stacy variants. Marvel's set up a fun showcase for a multiverse worth of Gwen, highlighting just how far the character has come thanks to Spider-Gwen.
Every Gwen Stacy In The Multiverse Is In Danger
Ghost-Spider's investigation into who's been making copies of her has taken some increasingly dark turns, even as she's found a genuine connection with her Sinister Six-fused clones, Gwen Ock and Sand Gwen. Captured by Lyla, Gwen discovers the villainous scientist's hatred for her. Still blaming Gwen for her husband's death, Lyla has utilized her full resources and brilliance to recreate a Stark-designed machine that can trace specific signatures across the multiverse.
Using this multi-dimensional transmitter, Lyla can then deliver a lethal burst to them all in a single strike – murdering every Gwen Stacy in the multiverse. It's a wild concept, but one that seemingly has the potential to work, as the issue ends on the device activating and showcasing a whole host of new Gwen Stacy variants from different dimensions.
In some of the glimpsed timelines, Gwen is like her original Earth-616 counterpart – a regular woman caught in extreme circumstances. At least one Gwen found success as a rock icon and could even potentially be Spider-Punk's dead Gwen. In several timelines, Gwen is seen as the hero Ghost Spider. In a bittersweet touch, it seems at least one Gwen did find happiness with Peter Parker, as their wedding photo can be glimpsed across timelines. This is a notable exception from the seemingly multiversal fate most Gwen Stacy's experience when they enter into a romance with Spider-Man, something reinforced by Across the Spider-Verse.
Spider-Woman: Across The Gwen-Verse
Most versions of Gwen seem to become heroes in their own right. A post-apocalyptic Spider-Gwen can be seen outfitted with more tech and gear. Another Gwen is wearing an advanced suit of armor that provides her with four additional arms, similar to the Iron Spider Armor. Yet another Gwen is shown near a giant mech, suggesting she may have a major role to play in timelines like Avengers Mech Strike. A male Gwen variant can be seen swinging around in costume, while other variants include a mermaid Gwen, a medieval warrior Gwen, and even a Gargoyle Gwen. It's rare for Gwen to appear as a villain, but not unheard of as one of variant can be seen robbing a bank. This all speaks to the massive evolution Gwen Stacy has undergone through thanks to the multiverse.
When she was introduced, Spider-Gwen's appeal was the novelty reimagining Gwen as an overt hero. Now, Spider-Gwen's influence on creators and success with readers has allowed the concept to flourish into an entire multiverse of creative reimaginings. All those other Gwens hint at her greater heroic potential even outside her Spider-Ghost identity. It's a very impressive change for the character, especially considering her core-Marvel Universe counterpart is still best remembered as one of Peter Parker's greatest losses. It speaks to Gwen's adaptability and highlights how much Marvel's let her grow as a character.