'The Night Gwen Stacy Died' A Novel By Sarah Bruni

I will openly say that this book was nothing like I anticipated. When I first ordered the book I though it would be a novelisation of the comic book arc of the aforementioned name. I presumed that the novel would span over the 24 hour period of the loveable Gwen Satcy, the first love of Peter Parker (Spider-Man) and her inevitable death. This was not the case. This book focused on a young woman working in a gas station who meets a boy who identifies himself as Peter Parker and run away together. This novel was so much more than I expected, it surpassed my hopes and has actually become one of my favourite books of all time. With a deep and dark psychological background, hilarious characters and strong allegory to issues of The Amazing Spider-Man. This book was a wonderful roller coaster of emotions.

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.