10 Iconic Comic Book Moments Erased By Stupid Retcons
3. Gwen Stacy's Reputation
The Night Gwen Stacy Died is one of the landmark events in the history of Spider-Man and one of the events that signaled the end of the Silver Age and the beginning of the Bronze Age of comics. In the story, Norman Osborn, who had previously suffered amnesia, suffered a mental breakdown that triggered the return of his Green Goblin persona, including his memory of Spider-Mans true identity. Gwen was Peters girlfriend at the time and were beginning to contemplate marriage, but to strike at Peter, the Goblin kidnapped Gwen and held her hostage, throwing her off the Brooklyn Bridge. Peter tried to save her with his webbing, but the sudden stop resulted in whiplash and broke her neck. Decades later, the Sins Past storyline by J. Michael Straczynski revealed that Gwen had an affair with Osborn and that he had impregnated her. She was drawn to his magnetism and the pregnancy was why she suddenly left for Europe where she gave birth. And when she refused to let Osborn have the children, that was his main motivation for eliminating her. Sins Past has been widely regarded as one of the worst Spider-Man stories ever written, one which tarnished the legacy of Gwen Stacy, and Straczynski himself has indicated there was a large amount of editorial influence.
Percival Constantine is the author of several novels and short stories, including the Vanguard superhero series, and regularly writes and comments on movies, comics, and other pop culture. More information can be found at his website, PercivalConstantine.com
