19/05/2014

The Gwen Stacy Syndrome

Throughout comic book literature we have seen many women (usually lovers of male superheroes) pay the ultimate price in order for the protagonist to feel pain. This has been apparent through many films, books and other media platforms however most people do not know where this originated from. Cue Gwen Stacy.

Originally within The Amazing Spider-Man comics (and the Amazing Spider-Man 2 film adaptation) Gwen Stacy is the first love of Peter Parker (The Amazing Spider-Man) who falls victim to The Green Goblin- her murderer. The comic books killed off Gwen by The Green Goblin throwing her of the Brookyln Bridge in the very first portrayal of The Night Gwen Stacy Died (or the George Washington Bridge depending on which comic book series was followed) whereas the film adaptation had her fall from the heights of the Clock Tower. Either way within The Amazing Spider-Man and Marvel universe this is a milestone where multiple theories of feminism through comic book mediums were born. And no matter which series or adaptation that you follow it always leads to the same outcome on the same night: The Night Gwen Stacy Died.

The famous tragedy of Gwen Stacy was fed to comic book fans through the arc 'The Night Gwen Stacy Died'. This arc then lead on for academics, scholars, comic book fans and literature experts to view the pain and sacrifice of a woman as a means to hurt the male protagonist, the woman are shown to physically suffer more than the males, in order to cause the male characters emotional and psychological pain. This is the Gwen Stacy Syndrome and such characters undergoing the syndrome are said to be 'Women in refrigerators'. The term was named by established comic book writer gail Simone (1994) and derives from an issue of The Green Lantern comic book series, in which the aforementioned hero returned home to find his female lover defiled, murdered and placed in a refrigerator. Henceforth Women in refrigerators refers to female comic book characters who are, attacked, defiled, abused or hurt (physically and psychologically) within the narrative as a plot twist or to continue the narrative and its themes.



Although a powerful, captivating character in her own right she was simply a pawn in a battle between males. Although originally written in July (1973), these themes of male superiority are still apparent in comic book, novels and film adaptations to this day. This is the reason that The Gwen Stacy Syndrome is not only a product of male superiority with comic books but an unfortunate sexist theme that continually  appears within creative media. The Gwen Stacy Syndrome is apparent within films such as,The Dark Knight, where Rachel is killed by the Joker in order to cause the 'Dark Knight' pain. Again women are simply used to enact pain on the male character (superhero or not), and this is The Gwen Stacy Syndrome. Further characters who are claimed to have been given the Gwen Stacy Syndrome are; Jean Grey, Batgirl Aqua-Woman, Ms Marvel and The Scarlett Witch (these woman are also held on the list of women in refrigerators).


Will these women forever be classified as women in refrigerators? And is the Gwen Stacy Syndrome more prevalent in comic books? Gwen Stacy, having been classified as a 'woman in a refrigerator' shows a trend in female characters killed and/or tormented for the storyline to reach its full impact: for sympathy for Peter Parker. It is bewildering that such a trend is of gender inequality is still so prevalent within comic books in contemporary society...



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