Marvel: 4 things we must see from Spider-Woman in the MCU
By Mark Lynch
![Gwen Stacy as Spider-Gwen in Sony Pictures Animation's SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE. Gwen Stacy as Spider-Gwen in Sony Pictures Animation's SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/17f16150cf653414ec3d7fcb71d5d5a013295dd91192dd8a4686e750b51a3cd8.jpg)
A good origin
Unlike Spider-Man, both Gwen Stacy and Jessica Drew have origin stories that need to be told. Spider-Gwen may have a story similar to Peter Parker’s spider bite, but there’s a twist: On her Earth, Peter Parker died. Even then it isn’t that simple. Peter experimented on himself and Gwen couldn’t save him. Peter was her Uncle Ben.
Jessica Drew’s story is full of horrible people. Her parents were Hydra scientists, Jessica was poisoned with radiation while she was young, and placed in an accelerator for decades. Thankfully for her, it slowed her aging.
These are only some tragic moments from both of these character’s lives.
When a character’s story is being told, the beginning is important – especially when they aren’t well-known to mainstream audiences. For example, we don’t need a long story on how the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles became giant humanoid ninjas; we already know the story, so it can be done in five minutes. But since Jessica Drew and/or Gwen Stacy would just be beginning their movie/TV runs, the audience needs a reason to understand them and, by extension, cheer for them.
A hero can’t just save people and fly away (or swing in Gwen’s case). Heroes must have an interesting reason to want to be heroes – something that made this their calling. Since both of these Spider-Women do, an origin story on-screen is necessary – and, if done right, they’d definitely be well-received.