Well, Gwen’s dead. Gwen’s death was an albatross around ASM’s neck in 1971, as Peter couldn’t very well just go back to normal like nothing happened, but the book kind of wanted him to, while also making the famously funny character wallow in misery for a good long while. And comics didn’t produce anywhere near as realistic and nuanced takes on their characters back then as Bendis does in this series. One would assume sad times are coming. One might be surprised. But first…
…we are back with the series’ original teen leads for the first time in a good long while. Flash has gotten a much better haircut.
Now that we’ve established the Breakfast Club of it all, we flashback to yesterday, and more specifically, to the principal letting Peter & MJ into Gwen’s locker to clean it out. He offers some words of sympathy, and then leaves them to it. Liza comes by right as they’re getting the locker open.
Flash really is a class act. Back in the present, MJ wants to know why. She asks him why he’s still acting like a jerk despite the death of someone he knows. Flash initially won’t give in to admitting he has feelings, but she slowly breaks him down. Which, if you think about it, is such a delightful reversal of the Mary Jane stereotype from the classic comics. It was MJ always pretending nothing was wrong back when the original Gwen died, and now we have her trying to force Flash to stop doing the same.
You tried your best, MJ. Three hours later, Kong notes it seems like Flash isn’t coming back, and Liz says that’s good. Kong tried to defend his friend, and Peter finally speaks up, saying he’s known a lot of bad people, and Flash is a bad person.
Peter says he’s nothing, and without thinking, MJ says, “What about Spider-Man?” Peter is so shocked he stands up and runs out of the room. Mary Jane rushes after him. Liz and Kong wonder if they could just leave, too. MJ runs down the hall, barely catching a glimpse of Peter going out a window, and barely avoiding being caught by the assistant principal. She runs up to the roof, but the door is locked.
It’s a pretty realistic portrayal of someone in his position, at his age, I think. The other Peter was at least 20-something when his Gwen died, but this one’s still 15, and he just keeps losing people. Leaping around the rooftops, Peter inevitably encounters a mugging. He tries his best not to get involved, but it’s pretty serious down there.
And that’s Gwen’s requiem, more or less. Next issue… well, next issue is something else.