Gwen Stacy’s Secret Villainous Identity Revealed

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The book Ultimate Spider-Man, despite tough competition from within the comic industry, remains remarkable. This Marvel title stands out as exceptional due to writer Jonathan Hickman’s audacity to redefine the traditional Spider-Man narrative. Ultimate Spider-Man #16 showcases more groundbreaking storytelling, shaking up significant Spider-Man characters. The book presents two main narratives: the genesis of Ultimate Gwen Stacy and the unmasking of Mysterio’s true identity and purpose. These stories complement each other well, with Ultimate Gwen Stacy being the daughter of one of the five Mysterios in the Ultimate Universe, taking her father’s place after his death, becoming entangled in a plot to shatter the Ultimate Universe as we know it. In the mainstream Marvel universe, 616 Gwen Stacy was the police captain George Stacy’s daughter.

In a creative twist, the idea of merging Gwen Stacy and Mysterio into one character, with a mission reminiscent of the Mysterios’ group, is quite clever. Throughout the Spider-Man universe, Gwen has consistently been a significant figure. In the Ultimate Universe, there was much speculation about her role; she proved to be formidable, as demonstrated by her interactions with other characters. However, it appears that she’s being positioned for something entirely different and challenging – a target that not even the most talented heroes across multiple realities could defeat: The Maker himself.

Mysterio’s Mission Is One of the Most Dangerous in the Ultimate Universe

In previous issues of Ultimate Spider-Man, we’ve encountered Mysterio who was a member of Kingpin’s Sinister Six and one of New York’s rulers, as seen in issue #8. It was assumed that the Mysterio from the Ultimate Universe was simply Quentin Beck, but issue #16 revealed something different. As for Gwen Stacy, she joined the series in issue #4, married to Harry Osborn. She was portrayed as strong and intelligent, unlike any previous version of Gwen Stacy we’ve seen. It became clear that there was more to her than met the eye; she assisted Harry in running OsCorp and financed an independent news site called The Paper run by Ben Parker and J. Jonah Jameson. Her support for their mission makes sense once we discover the true identity of Mysterio in the Ultimate Universe.

In the Ultimate Universe, the character known as Mysterio has a unique purpose unlike what was initially expected. Unlike his role in the Sinister Six suggesting some level of involvement with the Maker’s plan, it was revealed in Ultimate Spider-Man #16 that a group we could call the Council of Mysterios is seeking to uncover the truth about the universe and its past, untouched by the Maker’s manipulations. They aim to gather evidence for this discovery, some of which they obtained from Oscorp gaining control of Stark/Stane’s archives. Gwen Stacy’s investment in “The Paper” goes beyond financial gain; it provides a platform for disseminating this information. The Mysterios assisted Gwen in locating where Kraven had taken Peter and Harry, enabling her to rescue Harry. Although she deceived Peter into believing he was deceased, and then eliminated Kraven, Harry is now free to act as Green Goblin against the powerful entities he initially confronted. The alliance between Mysterio and Green Goblin could grow beyond just Ultimate Spider-Man, potentially expanding in significance.

Mysterio Is About to Become a Maker-Level Threat

One standout aspect of Mysterio and Green Goblin is that they can function effectively as formidable antagonists across various superhero landscapes, not just for Spider-Man. While they are primarily associated with Spidey, their strength and complexity make them a threat to other heroes too. This versatility was evident in the late ’00s series, Thunderbolts/Dark Avengers, where Green Goblin took on multiple foes, and in “Old Man Logan,” where Mysterio played a significant role. These storylines demonstrate their adaptability beyond their Spider-Man ties. Writer Hickman has even expanded the villainous roles of both characters, making them adversaries for more than just Spider-Man. Their objective – to uncover the truth about the Maker by targeting the power structures left in his absence – positions them at a level where they could appear as villains in other Ultimate Universe books, waging their own war against the Maker.

In addition to this, there’s an intriguing correlation between the 616 universe and the one we’re in now. Just as Mysterio collaborated with Kindred on Earth-616 to revive Harry Osborn, so does Gwen Stacy in our universe, assuming the role of Mysterio to resurrect Harry for her war. A striking similarity between these two universes is that Gwen dismisses Otto Octavius when she finds out he was tracking Harry after his disappearance. This mirrors an event in the 616 universe where Doctor Octopus murdered George Stacy, suggesting that Otto in our universe might target Gwen and Harry at some point. As we delve into Gwen’s past, as portrayed in Ultimate Spider-Man #16, it appears she may have been drawn to Harry primarily because of his lineage, being the son of Norman Osborn. It seems Gwen is playing a risky game, one that could potentially elevate her and her partner to the top echelons of Earth-6160’s hierarchy.

Ultimate Spider-Man #16 is on sale now.

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2025-05-02 01:44