Line #14 ComicBook/TheNightGwenStacyDied


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/caf3043d_f6cf_4c6d_9a87_5cf14da7ec08.jpeg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:[[WhamEpisode Behold: The beginning of the end]] for MediaNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks...]]
3
4	->''"I'm going to get you, Goblin! I'm going to destroy you slowly... and when you start begging me to end it-- I'm going to remind you of one thing. You KILLED the woman I loved! And for that you're going to die!"''
5	-->-- '''ComicBook/SpiderMan'''
6
7	An iconic storyline in Creator/MarvelComics' ''[[ComicBook/TheAmazingSpiderMan1963 The Amazing Spider-Man]]'' series, spanning issues #121-122 (June-July, 1973). It was written by Creator/GerryConway, penciled by Gil Kane, and inked by John Romita & Tony Mortellaro. The two issues have two separate titles: ''The Night Gwen Stacy Died'', (#121) and ''The Green Goblin's Last Stand'' (#122) but it's known by the title of the first issue, which is famous for killing off ComicBook/SpiderMan's girlfriend ComicBook/GwenStacy.
8
9	The year was 1973. For ten years, Spider-Man had been one of Marvel's most popular characters. The patterns of Peter Parker's life were pretty well established. He attended Empire State University, fought creeps like [[MadScientist Doc Ock]], [[ReptilesAreAbhorrent the Lizard]], [[HuntingTheMostDangerousGame Kraven the Hunter]], {{M\|asterOfIllusion}}ysterio, and [[AxCrazy the Green Goblin]], made money by selling pictures of himself in action to the ''Daily Bugle'' and its cantankerous publisher J. Jonah Jameson, and was deeply in love with Gwen Stacy. For the most part, superheroics had been a game to Parker. The closest he'd personally come to dying was being pinned down under a ton of machinery in Doctor Octopus' lair during the "Master Planner" storyline, and he nearly always came out on top in the end. Tragedy had struck when Gwen's father (a retired police captain) died while he was fighting a battle, but that was written as a HeroicSacrifice after he was revealed to have [[DeathBySecretIdentity found out Peter's secret identity]] in 1970. It would be his secret identity being exposed again that would set into motion another series of tragic events. The [[ComicBook/NormanOsborn Green Goblin]] managed to stalk Spider-Man (whose Spider-Sense had been numbed) and discover that his greatest foe [[note]]although this is Gobby in the '60s we're talking about. ''Only'' foe works too[[/note]] was no older than 19 or 20. He successfully captured Parker and in his arrogance revealed his identity as ComicBook/NormanOsborn, the father of Peter's college classmate (and future roommate) Harry. Taking advantage of Osborn's [[BondVillainStupidity inability to shut up]], Spidey eventually broke free of his restraints and battled the Goblin. During the fight, an accident induced LaserGuidedAmnesia in Osborn, making him forget that he'd ever been the Green Goblin. Peter thought that he'd seen the last of the Goblin, until AmnesiacDissonance caught up with Osborn and he started remembering his former identity in short spurts. The second time this happened, it resulted in the also famous storyline ''The Goblin Returns,'' which challenged MediaNotes/TheComicsCode Authority's guidelines on portraying [[DrugsAreBad drug use]].
10
11	After this little relapse, things didn't go so well for Osborn. Harry's drug use had taken its toll on his relationship with Mary Jane Watson, and she broke up with him. Devastated, he had a little relapse of his own, overdosing on LSD. Norman's business wasn't doing so hot either, and the coupled stress of his shattered home life and business life [[SanitySlippage drove him back into insanity]]. He took up the Goblin mantle again and kidnapped Gwen Stacy, knowing that Spider-Man would surely follow. Just to make sure Spider-Man knew it was him, he left one of his pumpkin bombs sitting on Gwen's purse. Spider-Man tracked the Goblin and an unconscious Gwen down to the George Washington Bridge[[note]]although just about any bridge in New York has been used in flashbacks or other continuities[[/note]], where he was given a SadisticChoice: surrender or Gwen shall die. Spider-Man and the Goblin began to fight, and in the midst of the battle, the Goblin threw Gwen off the bridge. Acting quickly, Spider-Man shot out a webline to save her, [[ILetGwenStacyDie only to find her dead when he brought her up]].
12
13	The editors decided that the Goblin could not go unpunished for this, [[LaserGuidedKarma and so he died in the next issue]], [[HoistByHisOwnPetard impaled by his own glider]]. From this point onward, Spider-Man's world (along with the [[MediaNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks comic book industry in general]]) had become [[CerebusSyndrome considerably darker]], forever haunted by the uncertainty of what had actually killed Gwen. Had the Goblin already killed her, or had Peter Parker killed the woman he loved with his webline? [[note]]The initial answer to the question was yes, Peter had inadvertently killed Gwen himself by causing her neck to break via whiplash, hence the "snap" sound effect in initial printings. How much this is stuck to whenever the event is referenced in later comics [[DependingOnTheWriter depends on the writer]].[[/note]]
14
15	The story was adapted into a NoBudget 1992 fan film called ''Film/TheGreenGoblinsLastStand''. The film initially saw little attention, but became further recognized towards the turn of the century, peaking when the film's creator made a "making of" documentary on its production in 2002. Both the original film and documentary were well-received at small film festivals, even garnering some praise from Creator/StanLee. Years later, the 2022 fan film ''WebVideo/SpiderManLotus'' would adapt the story arc alongside an AdaptationDistillation of ''ComicBook/SpiderManBlue'' and ''The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man''.
16
17	On the official side of things, the story line has never seen a full adaptation into television or film, though the iconic death itself has been referenced in [[Film/SpiderManTrilogy the Sam Raimi trilogy]] [[labelnote:SPOILERS!]]in ''Film/SpiderMan1'', which had Mary Jane thrown off the bridge, but she survives, while Norman Osborn ends up impaling himself on his own glider[[/labelnote]] [[Film/TheAmazingSpiderManSeries the Marc Webb duology]] [[labelnote:SPOILERS!]]in ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan2'', which does kill Gwen Stacy off, though ''Harry'' Osborn is the one to do the deed, and he's incarcerated instead of being killed[[/labelnote]], and the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse [[labelnote:SPOILERS!]]in ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'', where Mysterio is shown tossing MJ off the Eiffel Tower in an illusion; the real MJ survives and Mysterio disposes of himself; interestingly, it and ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome'' also adapt a scenario from the ''ComicBook/WhatIf'' adaptation of this story, which showcased what would happen if Spider-Man's secret identity were exposed immediately after the confrontation after he saves the girl; the film also later expanding on the idea by having the Green Goblin successfully kill May Parker, with Peter attempting to kill him but ultimately curing Norman Osborn of the Green Goblin instead[[/labelnote]], as well as episodes of ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries'' (titled "Turning Point", the tagline on the magazine cover) and ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan2012''.
18
19	In a case of WhatCouldHaveBeen, Creator/DavidFincher expressed interest in directly adapting the story on film when Sony were working on the first live-action project, although they turned his pitch down because they wanted a more conventional SuperheroOrigin.
20	----
21	!!''The Night Gwen Stacy Died'' provides examples of the following tropes:
22	* AmbiguousSituation:
23	** Was Gwen already dead when the Goblin threw her off the bridge, or just unconscious? And even if she was alive when he threw her, was it "the shock of the fall" that killed her, or the whiplash from Spider-Man's webline catching her? Though the writers originally stated it to be the latter, there's contextual evidence pointing to both, and Marvel has gone back-and-forth on the matter since the story's release.
24	** Another one is which bridge did Goblin use? Dialogue states George Washington bridge, art is based on the Brooklyn bridge, and later writers such as Creator/ChristopherPriestComics say it was the Queensboro bridge. Some reprints tried to change the dialogue to Brooklyn for consistency but purists insists it's the George Washington bridge. Most notably, during ''The Wedding'' Annual, when Peter and MJ visit the Empire State Building for a private moment, Mary Jane spots the Brooklyn Bridge and stops when calling it the bridge at which Gwen died. Either case it was some bridge.
25	* AmnesiacDissonance: The last time it happens to ComicBook/NormanOsborn actually. After this, he never forgets who he was.
26	* AuthorAvatar: Gerry Conway puts his own real-life opinions about Gwen (namely that she was a bland character who was more interesting dead than alive) right into the Goblin's mouth, when he calls her a "paltry useless female who never did anything more than occupy space", as a way to trigger Spider-Man (as the AudienceSurrogate) to vent his guilt at the author stand-in and allow catharsis.
27	* BackstabBackfire: Not played ''exactly'' straight, since Spidey didn't turn his back on the Goblin at the end. But the Goblin's attack ''did'' come from behind, courtesy of his remote-controlled glider.
28	* BittersweetEnding: While Gwen died, her killer was put down for the count (for a long while, anyway). While this hit Peter really hard, [[YouAreNotAlone the last scene proved that he's not alone and that he will still find love again]].
29	* CharacterDevelopment: This storyline marks the beginning of Mary Jane's transition from shallow party girl, to valuable support and love interest for Peter. It also marks Harry Osborn's descent into villainy, and in the long-term sense it's the end of Norman and Goblin having a split personality, and when he comes BackFromTheDead, there's no more "good guy Norman".
30	* CloseOnTitle: The title doesn't appear [[http://www.geekscape.net/_wp_/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Page4.jpg until the last panel]], in order to prevent readers from discovering too early which character would get killed off.
31	* CurbStompBattle: Spider-Man whacks the ''crap'' out of the Goblin, stopping just short of killing him. This is the beginning of what would become a common feature of Spider-Man stories in the future: genuinely pissing Spider-Man off is probably the single worst personal decision you can make in the Marvel Universe.
32	* DeathGlare: Kane's art draws Peter in ''Amazing Spider-Man'' #122 as he's tracking down Norman into a fixed stare of hatred with sunken cold eyes. It's genuinely upsetting to see on Peter's sweet boyish face, an expression that even [[ComicBook/ThePunisher Frank Castle]] (soon to be created few issues later) would have worries about.
33	* DeathIsCheap: Osborn eventually came back as the mastermind of ComicBook/TheCloneSaga, but Gwen is a perennial example (and one of the few remaining ones, at that) of a character [[AvertedTrope who stays dead]]. Although she was cloned at one point, said clone later died in the prelude to ComicBook/SpiderIsland. An [[ComicBook/SpiderGwen alternate reality Gwen with spider-powers]] does show up doing ''ComicBook/SpiderVerse'' before getting her own ongoing, but it wasn't until ''ComicBook/DeadNoMoreTheCloneConspiracy'' -- which brought back nearly every dead ''Spider-Man'' character -- that the mainstream version of Gwen Stacy would return... but even then, it was still just a clone, albeit one with all her memories up until her death. The story mainly served to [[ForgivenButNotForgotten give closure for Peter regarding her and her father's deaths]], and this Gwen managed to receive [[DefiantToTheEnd a more dignified death scene]] where she stood up to not just a Green Goblin clone, but a Hobgoblin one as well.
34	* DirtyCoward: Rather than accept the wrath that he unleashed by killing Gwen, the Goblin flees Spider-Man in pure terror when he realizes that Spidey is out for his blood. And then he has the gall to throw a tantrum like a child when Spider-Man finally corners him.
35	* DroppedABridgeOnHim: Or rather, dropped her off a bridge. As noted above, Gwen spends most of her final story unconscious before being dropped off a bridge.
36	* DrugsAreBad: LSD makes Harry a nervous schizophrenic wreck who becomes afraid to be alone, and begins wondering whether he even exists.
37	* EndOfAnAge: This story brought the end of MediaNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks as we know it. See InnocenceLost below. In the overall sense of Spider-Man's story, this is often seen as marking the real end of the classic Spider-Man era and his original setting towards a more mature and adult world. The cover announcing "Turning Point" wasn't kidding around.
38	* {{Foreshadowing}}: There are a number of visual clues on the cover hinting that Gwen will be the one to die, not the least of which is the fact that the smaller Spider-Man is standing on her portrait. Also, close inspection of the position of his feet, shoulders and head indicate that he is not actually facing forward, but rather, looking at Gwen. Additionally, she's the only one whose face is not covered by any part of the larger Spider-Man's body.
39	* FromBadToWorse: Like you wouldn't believe. As if Spidey's life didn't suck enough now, this story's events were the direct cause of ComicBook/TheCloneSaga (both of them), Harry becoming [[LegacyCharacter the next Green Goblin]], contracts being put out on Spider-Man that ComicBook/LukeCage and ComicBook/ThePunisher tried to fulfill, and indirectly allowing for [[TheOtherDarrin the Hobgoblin]] to exist. And it got worse from there -- as revealed by ''ComicBook/DeadNoMoreTheCloneConspiracy'', it turns out that [[spoiler:Gwen was conscious for a few moments before her death, and learned that Peter Parker was Spider-Man. Given that she blamed Spider-Man for the death of her father, she died hating the man she loved.]]
40	* GetOut: What a broken and grieving Peter venomously tells MJ at the end of the story. [[YouAreNotAlone She refuses.]]
41	* HeroWithBadPublicity: Spider-Man stops giving a damn about this after he brings Gwen's body back to solid ground. The cops accuse him of killing her, he in his guilt says yes, and the cops try to take him in but he fights them back and swings away as they fire at him. Spider-Man at one point even bitterly admits that he's a menace when the crowd calls him one.
42	* HoistByHisOwnPetard: The Goblin attempts to kill Spider-Man by impaling him with his hovercraft, but Spidey ducks to avoid it and it hits Osborn instead.
43	* HopeSpot: Peter catches Gwen with his webbing... but when he reels her in, she's already dead.
44	* IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim: What stops Spidey from offing Osborn in the end. Osborn ends up doing the job himself, in a failed TakingYouWithMe move.
45	* ILetGwenStacyDie: The TropeNamer. When bringing Gwen's body to a nearby pier, Spider-Man tells the press that he feels as though he killed her.
46	* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: Osborn's fate, which lasted for over 20 years before he was brought back in 1996.
47	* InnocenceLost: For comics as a whole. This was the first instance of a main character's on-screen death since MediaNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks, and, depending on what comic scholars you ask, is often marked as either the definitive end of MediaNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks and the start of MediaNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks, or the effective KnightOfCerebus that would herald the next 12 years of a much more mature and darker Silver Age that would ultimately culminate with the publications of ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'' and ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths''.
48	* KickTheDog:
49	** As if he hadn't already damned himself with causing Gwen's death, the Green Goblin rubbed salt on the wound by calling her a waste of space. [[BerserkButton You can probably guess how that ended.]]
50	** While he's grieving for Gwen, Peter lashes out ''cruelly'' at MJ, accusing her of not really caring about any of them and telling her to GetOut That she stayed with him regardless, [[YouAreNotAlone refusing to let him suffer alone]], is considered the pivotal turning point in both their relationship and her CharacterDevelopment.
51	--->'''Peter:''' ''[with his head bowed and his face in his hands]'' Don't make me ''laugh,'' Mary Jane. You wouldn't be sorry if your own ''mother'' died.[[note]]Particularly cruel as it would later transpire that MJ did suffer emotionally when her mother died.[[/note]] What do ''you'' care about straights like me and ''Gwen?'' Go on -- get ''out'' of here. I know how you hate ''sick beds.'' And ''believe'' me -- I wouldn't want to spoil your ''fun.''
52	* KilledOffForReal: Gwen. She remains one of the few significant comic book characters who died and stayed dead (unless you count the clone with her memories from ''ComicBook/DeadNoMoreTheCloneConspiracy''). Originally the plan with Osborn as well; they eventually brought him back, but it took 23 years - an immense passage of time in comics.
53	* LoveEpiphany: The drawing and artwork confirm it non-verbally and later titles back it up, but the moment MJ chooses to stay with Peter after he lashed out at her in grief, making her cry in anger and sadness before firmly closing the door shut and staying with Peter, is generally considered the moment MJ realized that she was in love with Peter and not merely attracted and flirting with him.
54	* MoralMyopia:
55	** Spider-Man calls the Goblin out on this when he throws a hissy fit for Spider-Man wrecking his glider.
56	--->'''Spider-Man:''' Mister, are we living in the same universe? You killed my woman, Goblin, and you're raging about a '''blasted bargain-basement toy'''?
57	** Earlier when Goblin says his girlfriend is dead, Peter gets enraged at his use of words:
58	--->'''Spider-Man:''' Maybe you've forgotten... but you killed Gwen Stacy! She didn't just die -- you '''killed''' her.
59	* MoralityPet: After Gwen's death, Spider-Man basically swings and walks around in a state of rage, coldly leaving Harry Osborn to suffer in LSD withdrawal and lashing out at Mary Jane (who at that point he wasn't close to), but the only one he is still kind to is Robbie Robertson who helps him find information on Norman Osborn's whereabouts. Peter in gratitude even lapses to his quippy self in a brief moment and says he will buy Robbie a cup of Java next time.
60	* MyGreatestFailure: Some might say it is Spider-Man's ''second''-greatest failure, after the death of Uncle Ben, but in an important way it can be seen as worse. In the words of Gerry Conway: "Uncle Ben died because Peter didn't use his power. Gwen dies as a ''consequence'' of Peter using his power."[[note]]This can be taken to refer to the theory that Peter accidentally snapped Gwen's neck in his attempt to rescue her, but also the the fact his defeats of the Green Goblin led the latter to targeting and murdering Gwen.[[/note]] Notably, when Spider-Man has to catch a falling person after this, he uses his webs to create a series of awnings in order to break their fall instead of just grabbing them with his webbing.
61	* NeckSnap: There is a text that reads "Snap" when Spider-Man catches Gwen as she falls, which is revealed to be Gwen's neck breaking due to the whiplash of Spider-Man catching her.
62	* NeverGotToSayGoodbye: Gwen died before Peter could tell her that he's Spider-Man and sharing more of his life with her.
63	* NeverTrustATitle: It's called "The Night Gwen Stacy Died" but the confrontation between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin happens in daytime and in the morning.
64	* NiceJobBreakingItHero: If you go by the explanation that Peter's webs snapped Gwen's neck then yes, Peter broke her. Even if you don't, Peter not telling Gwen his identity and his friends about the danger Norman Osborn posed to them, and likewise allowing Norman to worm his way back after a bout of EasyAmnesia ultimately counted for nothing since the Goblin spat on his mercy.
65	* NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished: Peter let Norman go after unmasking him in ''Amazing Spider-Man'' #40 when he suffered EasyAmnesia and gave him another chance after he relapsed during the Drug issues by reminding him that his son needs him. This issue has Norman out of grief and worry for his son lapse back into the Goblin and out of insanity, cruelty, MisplacedRetribution, attack Spider-Man by killing the woman he loves, spewing poison on Peter's mercy.
66	* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: Filled whit rage over Gwen's death, Spider-Man gives one to the Goblin, nearly killing him.
67	* NothingIsTheSameAnymore: The ''Spider-Man'' comics claimed this all the time, but this was one story that ''definitely'' lived up to the boast. Gwen died, Norman apparently died for more than 20 years, Harry began to completely go off the deep end, and Peter and MJ began to grow closer together.
68	* NotTheFallThatKillsYou: Subverted - Gwen either died of the whiplash or from shock. The Green Goblin states that a fall from that height would have killed anyone.
69	* OOCIsSeriousBusiness:
70	** This is the arc that first established this as a trait of Spidey's: if he shows up to fight you and he's ''not'' [[YouFightLikeACow cracking jokes]], you better ''run like '''hell'''''. The Green Goblin learns this the hard way.
71	** While looking for Norman, Peter finds Harry in his room tripping on a drug overdose. Harry ''begs'' Peter to stay, but Peter's so focused on {{Revenge}} on Norman he disregards his best friend when he needs him the most. It's heavily implied Peter abandoning Harry during this scene contributed to Harry becoming the second Green Goblin.
72	* PleaseDontLeaveMe: Harry says this when Peter abandons him while he's tripping on an overdose. Peter is so mad with grief and rage, and disgusted with Harry's dependency, that he leaves.
73	* PurpleProse: The narration of Osborn's death.
74	-->So do the proud men die: Crucified. Not on a cross of gold, but on a stake of humble tin.
75	* SadisticChoice: Partial trope namer, as the exact same scenario is where it was named.
76	-->'''Green Goblin:''' It's quite simple, web-spinner. Your presence in this world has been a source of constant agony to me. I wish you to leave it permanently. Or else... Gwen Stacy dies!
77	* SceneryDissonance: Despite the title, Green Goblin kills Gwen on a bright blue morning with clear skies and in public view.
78	* ShockingDefeatLegacy: For Spider-Man, this is the definitive example of his failure as a hero.
79	* SpoilerTitle: There's a reason the title doesn't show up at the beginning of the storyline. When the title is revealed, the writers even note that now they can ''finally'' show what the story was called.
80	* SuddenDownerEnding: The first half of the story ends with Gwen dying for real, right after it seems like Spidey saved her in the nick of time.
81	* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: Perhaps one of the cruelest examples in comic book history. In any normal Spidey story from the past, a quick webline would probably save anyone from a fall. Here? The sudden stop snaps Gwen's neck. Even if it didn't, the water below would have done the job.
82	* SurprisinglySuddenDeath: Gwen Stacy. She's unconscious and Green Goblin throws her off a bridge, and Spider-Man tries to catch her. We hear a 'SNAP!' and she's dead. No last words, no DyingMomentOfAwesome, no closure to her relationship with Spider-Man. She never even learned his secret identity.
83	* TargetedToHurtTheHero: After an unsuccessful attempt at using Aunt May to get to Peter, the Green Goblin killed Gwen Stacy to hurt Peter Parker/Spider-Man. It doesn't end well for either party.
84	* ThouShaltNotKill: The Goblin almost makes Spider-Man break his no-kill rule. After Spidey sees that Gwen is dead, he vows to kill Osborn. However, in their final fight, after nearly beating the Goblin to death, he feels disgusted by himself and backs off, albeit Goblin becomes (for a while) a SelfDisposingVillain.
85	* TonightSomeoneDies: An iconic example. Comics had been promising death to shock the viewers for a long time... but never before had they dared make the victim ''the love interest''.
86	* UnstoppableRage: The Goblin calling Gwen "a simpering, pointless girl who never did more than occupy space" pushes Spidey into one.
87	* VengeanceFeelsEmpty: After the Goblin's skewered by his own Glider, Spidey admits that his death should have meant more.
88	-->'''Spider-Man:''' I thought seeing the Goblin die would make me feel better about Gwen. Instead, it just makes me feel empty... Washed out... And maybe a little bit more alone.
89	* WhamEpisode: A comic book hero never failed so spectacularly before. This storyline is considered one of the signs of the shift from the [[MediaNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] to the [[MediaNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks Bronze Age]]. The death of a main supporting character (excluding [[DeathByOriginStory those killed off at the beginning]]), let alone the {{love interest\|s}}, was unheard of at the time.
90	* WhamLine: Right Spidey's hauled Gwen back up again, and it seems for a moment he's saved the day again, he gave a line of dialogue that told readers beyond a shadow of a doubt that nothing would be the same again.
91	-->'''Spider-Man:''' Who else could save a falling girl from certain dea-- [[PleaseWakeUp Gwen? Hey kid -- what's wrong? Don't you understand? I saved you-- You can't be--]] No! Oh, no, no, no-- Don't be dead, Gwen-- I don't want you to be dead! I saved you, honey...don't you see? [--I saved you...--]
92	* WhamShot: An incredibly iconic one, at least in the original printings: as Gwen plummets off the bridge, a panicked Spidey fires a web to try and save her mid-fall. The webbing streaks out towards her, and a first-time reader in Spidey's optimistic times might even hope that it would work as it catches Gwen... and then their eye wanders over to a single four-letter sound effect that changed the world of Spider-Man forever:
93	-->'''[[NeckSnap SN]][[ILetGwenStacyDie AP]]'''
94	* WhatIf:
95	** ''What If'' #24 deals with what would happen if Spider-Man successfully managed to save Gwen Stacy during the comic (rather than using his webbing to catch her, he jumps down after her so that he's able to cushion her from the impact of hitting the water, Spidey's superhuman physiology better able to take the impact and get her to safety afterwards). In it, Spider-Man reveals his identity to and marries Gwen Stacy, only to have the ceremony be interrupted by the police trying to arrest him due to J. Jonah Jameson learning his secret identity thanks to a message from the Green Goblin.
96	** ''Recap/WhatIfDarkSpiderGwen'' features a dark inversion of this storyline where Spider-Man dies ''instead'' of Gwen, when Spider-Man jumps after her and grabs her, only for the Goblin to cut his web-line and Peter breaks his neck when he hits the bridge while trying to protect Gwen.
97	* WrongGenreSavvy: Peter initially speaks with a superheroic bravado when he webs Gwen to keep her from falling off of a bridge, as if to pat himself on the back for another life he's saved. Then, moments later, he finds out that she's broken her neck and died instantly.
98	* YouAreNotAlone: In the epilogue, Peter tells Mary Jane that she doesn't need to commiserate with him. In fact, let's not mince words, [[KickTheDog he tells her to]] GetOut She considers doing this, but ultimately refuses, effectively invoking this trope.

Context ComicBook / TheNightGwenStacyDied