Spider-Man is no stranger to tragedy, but every once in a while, an iconic character death has world-shattering impact. Popularized by the Spider-Verse film series, Miles Morales finally have a universe where the two can be together in Marvel's Spider-Man: Reign 2, but it’s shortly lived, as the couple is torn apart in a way that alters Gwen Stacy’s original death in the most tragic way imaginable.

In the universe of Spider-Man: Reign 2 #4 by Kaare Andrews, Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy's daughter Katherine shows the future these heroes could have, if the Multiverse allowed. But when Miles leaves as Spider-Man to protect the city from an impending apocalypse, tragedy strikes their family. Gwen and Felicity are separated in the chaos... and Gwen is disintegrated right in front of their daughter’s eyes.

This gut-wrenching scene plays off of Gwen Stacy's original death in a tragic way, not only reiterating a major superhero dilemma, but also inflicting massive consequences that significantly change the other characters' lives.

Gwen Stacy’s New Death is Even Darker Than Her Original Murder

Spider-Man: Reign 2 #4 by Kaare Andrews, Brian Reber, Joe Caramagna

Gwen Stacy's death in Earth-616 is a pivotal moment in comic book history and one of the darkest deaths in Spider-Man lore since the death of Uncle Ben, but the Reign Universe changes the meaning of her death, making it so much more heartbreaking. Uncle Ben’s death taught Peter that he had a duty to help people with his powers, whereas Gwen’s death showed Peter that you can’t always save everyone. Spider-Man: Reign 2 expands on this sentiment by showing how her death affected her daughter and Miles, and the consequences that came after.

Gwen’s daughter is traumatized from witnessing her mother’s end and it acts as her drive to help Peter Parker change the current timeline.

The Reign Universe is a twistedly dark version of Spider-Man's world with Kingpin as the city’s tyrant on top of an apocalyptic hellscape outside the city. Gwen’s death in the latest issue shows how morbid the story is willing to go. Gwen’s daughter is traumatized from witnessing her mother’s end and it acts as her drive to help Peter Parker change the current timeline. Katherine’s sadness regarding Gwen’s death also mirrors Peter Parker’s inability to let Mary Jane go after her ing, this parallel between them is further emphasized when Katherine has a turbulent reunion with her father, Miles Morales.

Gwen’s Death Reshapes Miles & Their Daughter’s Lives in an Unsuspecting Way

Gwen Stacy’s Daughter is Taken In By Black Cat After Witnessing Her Mother’s Death

Gwen’s death causes both Miles Morales' and Katherine’s world to change forever as they are separated from one another and forced to take on drastically different lives. After Miles leaves his family to and Gwen is taken out by a mysterious apocalypse that causes mass casualties, their daughter is taken in by Felicity Hardy and becomes the Reign Universe’s new Black Cat, referred to as Kitty-Kat. Gwen’s ing and Miles’ absence propels Katherine to take a drastically different path and take on the life of a cat burglar.

The Reign Universe has an oppressive essence that brings about a world that is incredibly destructive and above else, morbidly dark, causing the characters to cling on to their once-happy pasts. Unlike Peter and Miles' daughter who are holding on to the past, Miles moves on and starts another family thinking both Gwen and his Daughter died the night he left them. Miles’ actions after Gwen’s ing fuels his daughter to fear and resent him which in turn leads her to place blame on him for Gwen’s death.

Miles & Gwen Stacy’s Daughter Is Now Out To Avenge Her Mother’s Death

Will Miles and His Daughter Be Able To Mend the Hole in Their Relationship That Gwen’s Death Left?

When Kitty-Kat and Miles finally reunite, it’s apparent Gwen’s death and Miles’ duty as Spider-Man in Peter Parker’s absence have hurt their family. Similar to how Peter Parker is haunted by MJ’s death, Gwen’s death still haunts her daughter and Katherine makes it clear she blames Miles for Gwen Stacy’s death and seeks revenge. Katherine attacks her father, seeking vengeance for her mother, but despite his daughter’s anger, Miles tells her that he loves them, which seemingly ends her aggression and indicates that Miles’ love for Gwen and Katherine could mend their relationship.

…the Spider-Man: Reign series takes iconic characters like Gwen Stacy and Miles Morales, and makes their loss a more ingrained part of the heroes' actions and motivations.

Spider-Man: Reign 2 changes Gwen Stacy’s death in the most heartbreaking way imaginable by creating a family for Gwen and Miles only to tear them apart. Loss is something Spider-Man faces in all his variants but the Spider-Man: Reign series takes iconic characters like Gwen Stacy and Miles Morales, and makes their loss a more ingrained part of the heroes' actions and motivations. The series shows how impactful the death of Gwen Stacy is to Spider-Man lore and creates one of the most tragic version of her infamous deaths in Spider-Man's comic book history to date.

Spider-Man: Reign 2 #4 is available now from Marvel Comics!