Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider (2024) #7 review: Let the game begin

It isn't a secret that Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider (2024) was a bit of a mixed bag throughout its first issues (especially compared to other fantastic Spider-Man-related series). Federica Mancin's art left something to be desired, the story took a bit of time to take off, and I'm really not sure if Peter would've just given his back to Spider-Gwen that easily. However, the latest issues have served as a bit of course correction to the series, with Gwen fully deciding to swing into action, going face-to-face against the Chameleon, and later even risking her life to save him (because that's what all great heroes do). So now it's time to figure out if issue #7 managed to keep the streak going or if the series went back to its roots in all the wrong ways.

The most striking aspect of Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider (2024) #7 is its art. Penciller Von Randal took over the spot of Paolo Villanelli (for this one issue only), who had been doing a fantastic job in the series. This resulted in illustrations with a gothic-esque style you'd expect to find in a Batman comic book. They're dark, cold, and very striking. I understand it might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I think it's a welcome addition to the series that blends perfectly with Tarantula's dark (and even creepy) actions. Some of Gwen's facial expressions feel off when she's talking to Jessica, but for the most part, the art feels like a breath of fresh air in the saga and works extremely well when the bad guys take the spotlight.

The story, on the other hand, is made up of common tropes we've all seen countless times before. There's a bad guy who — it turns out — isn't all that evil and wants to impart justice against corrupt functionaries while trying to convince the main character to hear them out. Furthermore, the villain and the hero kind of have a thing for each other (even if the former is a total creep). Additionally, the two have also met outside of their "work life" though the hero doesn't know it yet. There isn't something completely new here, but that doesn't mean the story is bad. It does work for the series, but I do wish it had a bit more flavor or a unique twist to it.

Fortunately, the pieces are in place for the next issue to surpass its predecessors. While the idea of the anti-hero letting the world determine the fate of a corrupt functionary has (also) been explored in other series, I think it could allow for some interesting scenarios for Spider-Gwen. How do you save a life when it's regular citizens you're going up against? Besides, it's just a matter of time before Gwen finds out the only person who has shown interest in her after moving has been the man hunting her, and it's going to be fun to see how that plays out. Finally, her relationship with Jessica Jones and Cindy Moon has only grown stronger, which is nice considering how bad things kicked off with Peter Parker. So fingers crossed they keep building up their characters.

Verdict: A good but flawed entry in the series.

Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider (2024) #7 lacks a completely original element in its story, a few facial expressions in it are a bit off, and sometimes its humor misses the mark (saying Jessica Jones has "definitely never been pooped on during a stakeout" hasn't been exactly the most remarkable line said by a hero). However, it's still an improvement over some of the first issues in the saga, and now all the pieces are set for an interesting storyline to follow. Besides, its gothic-esque art makes it a definite stand out while bringing a new flavor that the saga needed.

Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider (2024) #8 will be released on Dec. 04, 2024