Ghost-Spider, Vol. 2: Party People

Ghost-Spider (2019)

by Seanan McGuire (Writer), Rosi Kampe, Ig Guara (Cover Art)

Gwen Stacy has it all! Two worlds - two lives - in perfect harmony, with endless realities and infi nite possibilities to explore with her friends! And don't forget her dad, a police Captain whose cases Gwen likes to help solve when she can! But what will George Stacy's latest mystery mean for Ghost-Spider? Prepare to learn the answer to the question you didn't even know to ask: whatever happened to the Susan and Johnny Storm of Earth-65?! Plus, rock and roll dreams come true for the Mary Janes as Gwen takes her band on a rip-roaring multiversal concert tour! But not all those eyes belong to starstruck fans. There's something symbiotic and sinister stirring in the Prime Universe - and something unsettling is happening to Ghost-Spider's costume. Something...Gwenom-ous!
Collecting GHOST-SPIDER #6-10.

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Spider Man, Comic Book, Superheroes, Graphic Novels Comics

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 5, 2021

About the author

Hi! I'm Seanan McGuire, author of the Toby Daye series (Rosemary and Rue, A Local Habitation, An Artificial Night, Late Eclipses), as well as a lot of other things. I'm also Mira Grant (www.miragrant.com), author of Feed and Deadline.

Born and raised in Northern California, I fear weather and am remarkably laid-back about rattlesnakes. I watch too many horror movies, read too many comic books, and share my house with two monsters in feline form, Lilly and Alice (Siamese and Maine Coon).

I do not check this inbox. Please don't send me messages through Goodreads; they won't be answered. I don't want to have to delete this account. :(

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gwen's reality (Marvel Universe No. 65) Johnny and Sue Storm were social media influencers that went missing for 4 years ago on their visit to Latveria... until they turn up battered and bruised in the middle of New York! Some more localised New York shenanigans for the hero with the best costume in Marveldom...

And to be honest I only read this fair to middling series because of the costume and the band! 6 out of 12. Some mediocre fun for Spidey fans.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a huge fan of Ghost-Spider, if I'm honest. I find these 'alternate universe' versions of characters lose my interest quite quickly. That being said, I really enjoyed this volume. The artwork was really good and the story was intriguing with its 'are they or aren't they evil?' alternate versions of Sue and Johnny Storm.

As this was the last volume of this run, I guess we'll have to see where alterna-Gwen turns up next (I'm guessing in the 'Outlawed' event before anywhere else)...

[Pochodnia fandomu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sue i Johnny jako ci źli było samo w sobie dobrym pomysłem, ale Sue wciągająca w to Johnny'ego, uwodząca Dooma i potem podająca się za Dooma, kiedy go zabiła, bo ośmielił się uderzyć Johnny'ego... CÓŻ we have to stan

[Δημήτρης Μπ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like the series...

The first volume ended with the Jackal from the parallel earth where Gwen goes to school, forming an alliance with Man Wolf from her home earth. At least, he looked like a promising main villain for the series. However, in this Vol. he is only mentioned once in a panel like he barely even existed.

The antagonists in this volume are the Storm siblings who in this universe are influencers and have been turned to villainy by Doctor Doom in a totally unconvincing origin story.

Plus she gets affected by the outlaws policiy in the parallel earth.

And there's the Maker that plays clearly the villain although we never learn what he does, who he is (we get a hint, but not an actual reveal), or how he does it

The plot is a big big mess. The art is the only thing great in this volume.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seems like this book got cancelled. Which is a shame because that really hurt the book. I was into and invested in the Jackal story from the first volume. Well, that got abandoned and thrown out in this volume. Never got any closure on that. This books takes on a new arc with Sue and Johnny Storm from Gwens dimension. They go missing for 5 years and then pop back up with super powers. The how and why of that is glossed over pretty fast. How the book ended wasn’t the best since we won’t get a conclusion. Gwen Was left tucking her tail and running. Lame, as we won’t get to see her maybe come up with a plan to fight back.

[!Leon 🦈 · Rating 4 out of 5]

super było pomijając fakt ze niekiedy nie ogarniałem czy to się dzieje w teraźniejszości czy przeszłości

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm an adult. I know who I am, and I know what I want to do! All across the multiverse, this power chooses Peter Parker! But here, for once, it chose me! Here I get to be the hero! I don't have to be a damsel in distress! I get to save people! Me! It shouldn't matter how old I am! It should only matter that I'm willing to do the work!

In many ways, this was the best volume of McGuire's Gwen stuff so far! As Outlawed is happening in the Earth-616 universe, Gwen's college life gets thrown through a loop. She can't legally be a hero there, and when she's in her home Earth-65 universe her dad doesn't like when she's a hero there either. What is she supposed to do? Couple that with Sue and Johnny Richards, social media celebrities who have been missing for five years and new returned mysteriously, and she's got her plate full.

Ghost-Spider, Vol. 1: Dog Days Are Over introduced Gwen to the Earth-616 universe and a new status quo as a student there. This volume ends with another big status quo shift, but... there's no more. That's it. The series is done. There's an editor's note about there being big plans for Gwen in the future... maybe tied in to some events in this volume... but that's it.

If this were just another volume in a longer series, I'd give it 5 stars and praise it as some of if not the best "Spider-Gwen" content there is. But seeing as it's the conclusion... I can't do that. I wish McGuire got a proper conclusion, or gets a new series that can use Gwen and give her a proper conclusion, to round it out. Because her voice for Gwen is fantastic! The mix of humour and drama is great! The ever-increasing rogues gallery and supporting cast for Gwen is fantastic! The artists are able to capture everything perfectly, from the human drama to the superhero action scenes. It's a very good series that unfortunately goes nowhere.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think, if they stopped jumping Spider-Gwen...Ghost-Spider...Gwenom (whatever she goes by now) between multiple Earths, they could have a solid basis for their stories. As it is, they use residual Spider-verse elements to keep her bouncing back and forth between universes.

And this character has their series cancelled how many times??

Bonus: a cameo by "The Maker" aka Reed Richards and teen genius Reed Richards from Gwen's universe.

[Alex Sarll]

A fairly inconclusive conclusion to Spider-Gwen's last solo series to date, or at least I think it was, because who could keep track of Marvel relaunches even before the various Event-induced hiatuses? Sure, it leaves us with reasons she might be lying low for a bit, both in her home world and on the main Marvel Earth, but neither is particularly satisfying, both amounting to one or another flavour of letting the gits win, which isn't really what superhero comics are for unless they're consciously playing against type in a way this never feels like it is. And that's before we get into the various teases of a character from yet another timeline, Ultimate Reed Richards, foreshadowing something which never seems to arrive. There are some lovely bits along the way, even if they don't always bear too much thinking about – it's taking the casualisation of interdimensional travel to new levels to have Gwen and friends hopping worlds just to see alternate versions of bands they like, but Nightmare! At The Nightclub and Anxiety! At The Art Studio still amused me*. And there's definitely a solid emotional core, with Gwen and her dad, both characters we know to be long dead on Earth-616, each worrying about the other's safety in dangerous jobs, even as they clearly respect each other. Albeit with a certain degree of intergenerational confusion in the mix too, exacerbated by the whole interdimensional superhero weirdness: "Sometimes if I think too hard about your life, I can't form thoughts anymore." But as I've said before, I think the thing I most miss in this run is the gorgeously toxic look Earth-65 had in Gwen's first solo series, which had they built on it, could have reflected off another parallel world Peter Parker love interest and been the foundation for Marvel's answer to Euphoria.

*I did pause for a moment at these exact names, given Panic! At The Disco doesn't alliterate, but superhero worlds were always heavier on alliteration than ours, so I reckon it's plausible variance.

[Vail Chester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Multiversal what-if shenanigans continue as we find out what's going on with the Storm siblings when there is no Fantastic Four.
Short answer: they suck

Due to events in another book, there's a ban on "underage" superheroes going on, so lot less reason for Gwen to pop into 616 regularly. Instead, she's called out by Johnny & Sue Storm to team up and punch bad guys in the schnoz. That works out pretty well...until it's revealed while Doctor Doom DID take the two and give them their superpowers, their own ambitious desires led them to kill the ruler of Latveria and rule in his stead, and now they have their amoral sights set on New York.
And as to where the other possible Fantastics are? Apparently in this universe, Reed is a 12-year old boy who likes playing chess with people in Central Park and no idea where Ben Grimm is.
Looks like a drummer with a clingy costume is the only thing standing in these conquerors' way!

[Thea (All About Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Aisling · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Ehe · Rating 2 out of 5]

ABI ÇOK KÖTÜYDÜ DALGA MI GEÇİYORSUNUZ. HİÇBİR SEYIN HICBIR SEYLE BAĞLANTISI YOKTU HER ŞEY ASIRI HAVADAYDI HİÇBİR PLOTUN ÖNEMI YOKTU HIÇBIR PLOT TAM OLARAK BITMEDI HER ŞEY YARIM YAMALAKTI DAHA SAYABILIRIM???????

[FrontalNerdaty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Taken as a collective run of 20 issues Seanan McGuire’s Spider-Gwen really improved as it went on. It’s a shame it got bogged down in going back to no 1s.
This is probably the most enjoyable run of the 4 volumes with Gwen finally given some more substantial characterisation and better yet actual motivations. It’s a shame that just as things heated up it finished.

3/5

[Jaye Berry]

Go girl give us nothing!!

After the first volume ends with the Jackal from 616 coming over to Gwen's universe... we don't follow up with that at all and he is mentioned once and never again. Now we are dealing with Sue and Johnny Storm from Gwen's universe where they are social media influencers who disappeared on a trip to Latveria only to come back four years later with superpowers.

The plot here was kinda ehhh like I never like influencers and the "are they evil or not" really didn't hit when I just assumed they were evil anyway lmao. Their supposed origin story was shown but it just flips by with absolutely no explanation to what actually happened there. Then we have Reed Richards aka the maker in another universe watching or something and that was completely unexplained and didn't go anywhere either.

Gwen doesn't go to class as much in this volume but when she does, she learns about some new law in universe 616 stopping minors from being superheroes and I thought it was so wild how upset she was by it when she wasn't even superheroing in that universe much anyway?? LIke girl this isn't even happening in your world why are you so mad. 💀

Begging for a scrap of explanation about the symbiote suit but I gotta say that thing is cool as shit. I loved the symbiote version of the suit taking over when she was getting mad and when it was protecting her.

I love Gwen's relationship with her father like those moments between them were some of the best in here. But I really hate how the story played out because it didn't even? Like the volume ends and oh this run is over too so we never get any answers and nothing is even resolved. Big shame because there was just so much going on in here that needed to be dealt with smh.

I LOVE the art so much though like the art is gorgeous with gorgeous colors and I have nothing but good things to say about it. I wish all comics looked this pretty with those colors.

[Daniel Butcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. I like the idea of these Bizarro Storms but the payoff isn’t quite there.
M

[Laina SpareTime]

Cross-posted from my blog where there's more information on where I got my copy and links and everything.

Half the stuff in this summary is barely touched on and a bunch of it is started and then left with no conclusions. Is this just the “disappointing end to series I really liked” post? And to be clear I don’t blame the creative team here. I think Seanan McGuire especially really understands Gwen Stacy and is probably one of the best writers for her there is. She gets her in a way that no one else I’ve seen does.

But Marvel just fucked Gwen over. There are so many reboots and stops and starts, and being tied so tightly to all these events like Spider-Geddon and whatever this Outlawed thing that’s going on with this one is. Gwen just has absolutely no room to shine and they clearly have no faith in her. It’s such a shame.

And this volume is fun! I will say the art style in this one is different from the Dog Days Are Over issues, and sometimes things just looked weird? Like these faces are just odd. I’m not a big fan of this artist.

But the story is fun. I actually liked the Johnny and Sue Storm story and if this had been leading into like 8 more issues on this plotline, I would have been having a really fun time. It’s a good story, and it’s well-written. And seeing Venom!Gwen, especially as she goes a little feral, is really cool and I’d love to see more of that. But it’s a shitty way to say goodbye to Gwen. Her finale is like two pages long. There’s no exploration of the emotional impact or anything.

I’m not that interested in the Carnage mini-series, honestly, so this is probably where I get off the Gwen Stacy train for now which is sad. I love this character. I wish Marvel did, too.

[Adam Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghost-Spider is a fun character who also has a lot of depth to her. Combining the human and lighthearted youthfulness of Miles with the action and occasional rage of Venom (from her symbiote) with the writing style of Seanan McGuire, this comic is just well thought out and put together.
Highlights:
This Volume really primarily covers: 1) Her relationship with her dad. and 2) The introduction of Earth-65 Sue and Johnny Storm.
1) As a cop, Gwen's dad understands the risks that come with being a hero. But from the other side, he's also a dad and feels the need to protect his child. He does make sure the cops work with her and not always against her, as Ghost-Spider's intentions are easily shown. There is a particularly close moment between them when Gwen hears about the "Outlawed" storyline back in Universe 616, she just needing the reassurance that can only come from a father.
2) When Sue and Johnny Storm, socialites and "beautiful people" go missing for years and then suddenly return, with no recollection of where they went, but that they have powers, they seek out a partnership with Gwen. Turns out that they have secretly gotten their abilities from Doctor Doom and they now want Gwen to leave the city to them. With her past as a criminal, and them having overwhelming social presence, PLUS them knowing her secret identity (which puts her father at risk) they are able to drive her off... for now.
Really interested to see how they handle all this and what step-up with Gwen we will get to see...
Recommend.

[Carrie (brightbeautifulthings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is orders of magnitude better than Dog Days Are Over. McGuire mercifully passes on picking up The Jackal as a villain and takes it in a new direction. One of the things I love about reading Spider-Gwen is all the tweaks on the standard Earth-616 superhero world. On Earth-65, Captain America is Samantha Wilson, Eddie Brock is Elsa Brock, and Matt Murdock is Kingpin. It’s kind of like the best sanctioned fanfiction AU. In this volume, we get to see Earth-65’s version of Sue and Johnny Storm, and I’m so here for it. I love giving them a different origin story and seeing where it goes, and they make for compelling additions on the page.

I don’t think Land’s artwork is a good fit for this character though. It’s not that it’s bad, but its grittiness doesn’t fit the more light-hearted nature of the story. I preferred Miyaza’s cleaner lines with the bright color palette. I also absolutely hate the design for Gwen’s Venom costume, which has its origins further back in the Latour run but is badly in need of an upgrade. The spikes around her head look more like a goofy hoodie than a mouth, and for some reason her tongue goes all… the way… down… her body… at all times. Just why, my dude? Granted, Venom’s tongue is really long, but it’s not constantly hanging out of his mouth for no reason. It’s weird.

I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.

[Ashe Catlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The ending was pretty good but the rest of this was kind of boring, Sue and Johnny Storm reappear after being missing for few years. As most characters in Gwen's universe they're evil! Though they don't really do much with it, their most evil deed was their origin. That's about it, it's pretty tame. It does lead to a good confrontation between them and Gwen at the end, but due to this series being cut short I can imagine them retconning it or ignoring it completely.

I know there is a follow up mini series King In Black: Gwenom vs. Carnage #1, judging by the synopsis, it doesn't really follow on from this story. There was a whole bunch of the Outlawed event that got crammed into this as well, even though it really didn't add anything to the story. Besides a tantrum from Gwen saying she isn't allowed to be a superhero as a teenage, blah blah blah.

I expected a bit more fun from this title, being it's subtitle is party people. There was no party, just a whole lot of whining and bitchiness.

[Lesley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. This second collection of Ghost-Spider took what seemed like forever to be released, only for me to find out this ‘arc’ is now finished. I’m starting to get a bit frustrated with Marvel, particularly with the Spider-Gwen series, as it seems to be rebooting every few issues. A story was started in the first collection of this run, ending with a cliff hanger, only for it to be... completely forgotten and discarded for a new, very abrupt, super disjointed story that last all of 5 issues. Honestly, Marvel needs to figure out their big picture, and actually stick with something, because these brief, empty attempts aren’t doing them any favours whatsoever.

At least the art was sort of pretty?

[Nicole Westen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really hope they're going to continue this, even in a different series. Because if not, that ending was bullsh*t.
Also, Gwen missed the biggest argument against Susan and Johnny. The siblings say that they need to be the superheros because there isn't enough social media bandwidth for three. Like are you f*cking kidding me? You argument for who saves people and fights crime and the occasional super villain is based around social media presence? Gwen isn't doing it for the likes, so those two could've had the social media. Plus Gwen would've had more time for school and the band. Like there was seriously a whole other avenue that could very easily be explored that was completely ignored. Although to be fair, I don't think Susan would've gone for it. She has a few screws loose.

[sunkissedmiranda · Rating 1 out of 5]

1/5 stars.

The fact that Seanan McGuire went from a compelling, introspective story in the previous Spider-Gwen: Ghost Spider series to whatever the hell THIS is, is baffling. Gwen's world feels so empty and the Storm twins do nothing except depict the most milquetoast criticism of influencer culture I've ever seen. Doesn't help that, after reading Gwenverse, I know this plot will resolve unceremoniously off-panel. There was virtually no point to this arc other than its weak justification for keeping Gwen semi-permanently in Earth-616 for the godawful Kindred arc. So really, no point in reading it at all.

[Abigail Pankau · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Gwen Stacy’s dimension, Sue and Johnny Storm disappeared five years ago when visiting Latveria. But now they have returned, and Gwen will have to find out whether these Storm siblings are heroes like their counterparts in other dimensions or not. Meanwhile, in the dimension where she’s going to school, they just outlawed teenage superheroes. Will Gwen still be able to be Ghost-Spider and help people?

This was OK. Again, it plays out much like a “What If…?” storyline, and that was interesting, but still just OK.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

COLLECTS GHOST-SPIDER ISSUES #6-10

This volume brings this particular run of "Ghost-Spider" to a close, however there are a lot of loose threads left to be tied up, and there are promises that the title will return in the future. As I write this on October 15th, 2021, that promise is yet to be kept.

This volume features the introduction of the Earth-65 versions of Sue and Johnny Storm, and they will continue to play a role in future "Ghost-Spider" stories. Earth-65 Reed Richards also makes an appearance, as well as the Maker.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

In most universes, Johnny and Sue storm are heroes. In Gwen's, they were influencers who disappeared for four years and have reappeared---saying they are heroes. This was weird and creepy, and I am fascinated by Sue and the potentials. Less thrilled about the stupid Kamala's law creeping into Gwen's story and impacting it--boo, Peter. Boo.

[Elias Medrano · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending here…not a big fan. But we’ll see how it goes. Gwen’s relationships with her symbiote suit and with her father come more into focus. The art is good, the writing is consistent.
Really enjoying Gwen’s story. I want to see her graduate and get more confidence as the solo leader of New York.

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was kind of torn on this volume - I love the themes about Gwen being aware of the different universes, but I didn't like the Storms plot. It just seemed really out there to me, like they're cartoon villains that weren't written well. Who wants a straight villain?

[Kris Ritchie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded down. Just when it seems the series is starting to build up steam, the series abruptly ends with Gwen leaving her dimension for an undisclosed period of time. Did Marvel Editorial step in and finish this one? Sigh.

[darrin france · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great dimensional spin

Great content, end of volume leaves you hanging and looking for more. Black outfit Gwen is an interesting wrinkle. Would like to see the realization that it is connected to her emotions.