9 Ways The Amazing Spider-Man Almost Turned Out Awesome

1. Gwen Stacy's Death Done Right

That The Night Gwen Stacy Died is still quoted as one of the best comic story-lines ever over four decades after its first publication is testament to the strength of its storytelling. The Green Goblin throws Gwen from the top of the George Washington Bridge, Spidey frantically catches his girlfriend with his webbing, unbeknownst to him snapping her neck; it's only after cockily celebrating the foiling of his nemesis' plan that the real horror dawns on him. Revealing his identity in Civil War and, erm, finding out he was a clone may be pretty cool, but this is the iconic Spider-Man moment.

Anyone with a passing knowledge of this character-defining development went into The Amazing Spider-Man 2 expecting this incredible comic moment to be put on screen, and while they weren't disappointed by its absence, they sure were by its execution. The whole thing is framed to absolve Spider-Man of even the spectre of blame - instead of accidentally killing her, he simply fails to stop her fall in time. It still opens up the opportunity for Peter to feel overwhelming guilt, but the moral demons of the whole thing are cut out.

There's no official word on whether the neck-snapping was ever planned, but an early version of the script does show a totally different ending. As written, Gwen doesn't die instantly from the cringe-inducing thud, instead having time to plead Peter not to give up. It's a stark contrast to her father's death in the previous film, but also brings back the scene's original emotional complications - her death does indeed motivate Peter to give up (if only for five minutes).

Would you like to have seen The Amazing Spider-Man work? Or are you glad the character's gone to Marvel? Have your say down in the comments.