It’s official: followers of Spider-Man: Throughout the Spider-Verse are satisfied that the character of Gwen Stacy is trans – and the proof is compelling.
Warning: This text comprises main spoilers for Spider-Man: Throughout the Spider-Verse (June 2023)
The animated sequel to 2018’s Oscar-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was launched on Friday 2 June 2023, reuniting viewers with the primary biracial Spider-Man, Miles Morales (voiced by Shameik Moore), and numerous Spideys from different dimensions, together with Spider-Gwen, often known as Spider-Girl (Hailee Steinfeld).
Followers who’ve seen the movie are theorising that Gwen is trans – or not less than an allegory for the trans expertise – as a consequence of plenty of queer-coded (and queer-coloured) clues.
All of it comes after Spider-Verse followers seen a trans Pleasure flag bearing the phrases “Defend Trans Youngsters” within the background of a trailer for the movie earlier in 2023.
Observe up Spider-Man: Past the Spider-Verse was imagined to have been launched on March 29, 2024 however has been delayed and faraway from the Sony launch schedule for now, disappointing followers who have been hoping that the third instalment within the “threequel” would reply among the following questions.
So, is Gwen Stacy trans in Spider-Man? Right here’s the proof thus far:
Watching Throughout The Spider-Verse provides very important extra context, with many who’ve now seen the movie in full arguing that Gwen’s characterisation, animation and story arc mirror the societal and inside struggles that trans individuals face each day.
First off, there’s that aforementioned “Defend Trans Youngsters” poster, which is confirmed to be on the wall of Gwen’s personal bed room on Earth-65 through the movie’s prologue.
In a movie with a number of animation kinds, the color palette used for all of Gwen’s scenes on Earth-65 seem imbued with the pastel blue, pink and white colors of the trans Pleasure flag.
This stylistic alternative turns into much more obvious throughout a key scene the place Gwen opens as much as her policeman father, George Stacy (Shea Whigham), about her hidden id as Spider-Girl.
Gwen and the atmosphere round her are virtually drenched within the trans Pleasure colors through the sequence, with many seeing the scene itself as a metaphor for popping out: Within the movie, Gwen is compelled to cover her id from judgemental eyes in a world the place Spider-Girl is misunderstood and despised by society.
To high all of it off, eagle-eyed viewers seen that in the identical scene, a trans Pleasure flag badge might be seen pinned to Gwen’s father’s police uniform.
Like Into the Spider-Verse earlier than it, Throughout the Spider-Verse boasts a various array of characters, with the Spider-Verse teeming with completely different variations of Spider-Man who share lots of the identical struggles but additionally the identical pleasure of their identities.
Whether or not Gwen Stacy is trans, an ally or just a metaphor for the trans expertise, many followers have praised the inclusion of a trans-coded superhero overcoming adversity in a world hellbent on suppressing her.
One person likened the open-ended reply to the query of Gwen’s id to Star Wars actor Mark Hamill’s previous feedback that his legendary character Luke Skywalker may very well be homosexual if that’s how viewers select to interpret him.
In an interview with The Solar in 2016, the acclaimed actor mentioned: “[Fans] would say to me, you already know, ‘May Luke be homosexual?’ I’d say it’s meant to be interpreted by the viewer.
“In the event you assume Luke is homosexual, after all he’s,” he continued. “You shouldn’t be ashamed of it. Decide Luke by his character, not by who he loves.”
Whereas Gwen Stacy’s gender id is just not integral to the plot of Throughout the Spider-Verse, the struggles she faces in her life have resonated with the trans neighborhood and cemented her as a trans icon, whether or not she’s cisgender or not.
Gwen isn’t the one Spidey who’s been embraced by the LGBTQ+ neighborhood: Final 12 months, Marvel revealed particulars concerning the origin story of its first-ever homosexual Spider-Man, who made his debut within the fifth concern of the Fringe of Spider-Verse comedian e-book.
Followers will discover out whether or not Gwen’s trans mythology is explored additional when the delayed third instalment within the franchise, Spider-Man: Past the Spider-Verse, is lastly launched.
When will Spider-Man: Past the Spider-Verse be launched?
Spider-Man: Past the Spider-Verse was initially scheduled for launch on 29 March 2024 earlier than it was taken off the Sony launch schedule in July 2023.
There’s no new launch date as but, however Spider-Man followers would possibly take pleasure in The Spider Inside: A Spider-Verse Story which has been launched on YouTube. It’s a brief film set within the Spider-Verse world that sees Miles Morales expertise a panic assault and be taught that asking for assistance is as heroic as something.