10 Spider-Man Moments That Shocked The World

Gwen Stacy was Peter Parker's first true love, and her death was one of the most shocking events in comic book history up to that point. It all culminated in The Amazing Spider-Man #122 with the Green Goblin's ultimate assault on his nemesis Peter Parker, aka, Spider-Man.

Up to this point, few characters in the Marvel Universe were ever killed off in any meaningful way. One who was related was Captain Stacy, Gwen's father. He revealed with his dying breaths that he knew of Peter's true identity as Spider-Man and even made him promise to always protect Gwen.

That death changed Peter's outlook on life and how he managed the people in it. He swore to protect anyone who was ever close to him, but in the end, he wasn't able to protect the woman who was the closest of them all.

When the Green Goblin threw Gwen from the bridge, Spider-Man did everything he could to save her, but his quick webbing only managed to snap her neck. That isn't to say he was responsible for her death, but he certainly didn't feel that way. This was one of the most defining moments of Spider-Man's life and it was also one of the most shocking for readers to behold.