The following contains major spoilers for Spider-Gwen: Shadow Clones #1, on sale now from Marvel Comics.
Ever since her introduction, the Gwen Stacy better known as Spider-Gwen has been embroiled in one multiversal misadventure after another. Along the way, she has fought alongside countless other heroes from the multiverse. Among the most astounding of these has been none other than other variants of herself. Now it looks like history is repeating itself in the worst way possible, and not just because Gwen's current counterparts are forming their very own Sinister Six.
After an explosive confrontation with Earth-616's Sinister Six in her home reality, the titular hero of Spider-Gwen: Shadow Clones #1 (by Emily Kim, Kei Zama, Tríona Farrell, and VC's Ariana Maher) finds herself hunting down what appears to be a rogue Doctor Octopus who somehow escaped being sent back to the primary Marvel Universe. Shockingly, this isn't the Otto Octavius fans know best, but instead a version of Gwen sporting a set of mechanical tentacles. Thankfully, neither are egregiously harmed during their initial encounter, although Gwen Ock is absolutely dealt a crushing blow once a young Reed Richards explains the situation to them.
Spider-Gwen Has Her Own Sinister Six
Rather than being another variant from across the multiverse, Gwen Ock is a clone of the original, and she is far from the only one. Presumably, this makes her a creation of the scientist who swore vengeance against Spider-Gwen after losing her partner during the hero's battle with the primary Sinister Six. As such, it is no surprise when Sand Gwen makes a menacing introduction, yet everything about these other Gwens is unnerving in ways that Spider-Gwen never could have imagined.
In all of her experiences traversing the multiverse, Spider-Gwen has only ever come across variants she could genuinely connect with. Even if that didn't mean they ended up on the same side of the battlefield, there has always been an innate sense of sympathy. While there is certainly something to be said about sharing vaguely similar experiences, the fact that they were at their core the same person is the most obvious contributing factor to the way Gwen has handled her various selves. Unfortunately, that is only half true when it comes to her sinister clones.
Spider-Gwen's Sinister Six Subvert Expectations
No matter how many times she has fought alongside or against another Gwen, the only person who Spider-Gwen has gained a greater understanding of is herself. This isn't to say that she hasn't learned anything else of value over the years, but rather that Gwen hasn't been given an opportunity to get to know the same sort of villains as her predecessors.
This casts a dark shadow over not just the battles to come, but also over every interaction she will have with the Sinister Gwens. Whatever inherent goodness or personal connection Gwen thinks she can use to her advantage is going to be tempered with the respective villain who composes the respective other halves of her latest counterparts. With any luck, the hero within them will prove to be stronger than anything else, otherwise, these might be the last Gwens that she ever meets.