What If…? Galactus Transformed Spider-Gwen? #1
Chad Burdette
Recap
One of the most feared beings in all existence is actively recruiting! This January, a new series of one-shots dares to ask the question: What if Galactus turned some of Marvel’s best and brightest heroes into his new cosmic heralds?
Comic Watch Review:
- What If…? Galactus Transformed Hulk? #1: Hulk Smash Galactus?
- What If…? Galactus Transformed Gambit? #1: Cosmic Cajun
- What If…? Galactus Transformed Moon Knight? #1: Phases
- What If…? Galactus Transformed Rogue? #1: You Dare Trick Galactus?
- What If…?: Season 3 First 3
- What If…?: Season 3 Episodes 4, 5 and 6
- What If…?: Season 3 Series Finale
Transformed by the power cosmic and tormented by new purpose in stories delivered by a lineup of superstar talent, including veteran Marvel talent and rising newcomers. These once-familiar heroes will be outfitted with new cosmic looks designed by visionary Silver Surfer artist Ron Lim, and imbued with divine power upgrades from their master that will test their humanity!
Review
Gwen Stacey aka Ghost-Spider aka Spider-Gwen takes center stage in the final installment of this What If? series of oneshots focusing on Galactus and his Heralds. Like a few of the the other stories that proceed it, this story finds Gwen willingly offering up her services to take over as Galactus’ servant in order to save the former Herald who has caught the World Devourer’s ire.
Gwen begins here search for an uninhabited planet, only to find and befriend the locals and help them against dragons. As Gwen continues her relationship with the inhabitants of the planet, Vasquez draws a parallel between Gwen’s history with her Peter and one of the natives who also lost a friend to the dragons, in order to further draw Gwen into being sympathetic and eventually joining the battle against Galactus, the final page splash of the issue.
The overall story feels like a amalgam of Dungeons and Dragons meets Avatar, which works, but likely misses the mark for fans of Ghost-Spider but is entertaining enough for the causal fan of the What If? storytelling device.
The art and color work are good and work well with the alien world setting in which the story is told. Gwen’s Herald design, an inversion of the black and white, which the Cosmic Power webbing which adds some needed color and contrasts well with the heavy dark parts of her costume.
Final Thoughts
What If…? Galactus Transformed Spider-Gwen? #1 ends this installment of What If stories with a run of the mill story that doesn't really cover new ground for Ghost-Spider or push any creative boundaries which will probably work for casual readers, but not for the die-hard fans.
What If…? Galactus Transformed Spider-Gwen? #1: Ghost Spider in Spaaaaaace!
- Writing - 7/107/10
- Storyline - 7/107/10
- Art - 8.5/108.5/10
- Color - 8.5/108.5/10
- Cover Art - 8/108/10
