What caused Gwen Stacy's death?

[Gilda Dent]

I was looking for an image to use for the avatar contest, and stumbled across the Wikipedia page on Gwen Stacy. It says that there is a controversy regarding what was the actual cause of her death, the "shock of the fall" or Spider-Man's web causing her to stop too suddenly, breaking her neck.

Is there really any doubt that it was a broken neck caused by the webline catching her? I know that there are going to be those who say "yes", but is this view really prevalent enough to call in a controversy? There's even that little "snap" sound effect at the crucial moment.

Yes, Green Goblin says a little later something like a person would die from a fall from that height before hitting anything anyway, but that doesn't even make sense in context, and he's hardly a reliable witness here.

Why do you think?

[Arilou]

The writer actually comments that he has *no idea* why he added the snap sound effect: He hadn't *planned* It that way.... He just added it last during the last minute.

Incidentally, I prefer the fact that it was Spidey's web-line that broke her neck. Makes it so much more poignant.

[Edward J Cunningham]

I was looking for an image to use for the avatar contest, and stumbled across the Wikipedia page on Gwen Stacy. It says that there is a controversy regarding what was the actual cause of her death, the "shock of the fall" or Spider-Man's web causing her to stop too suddenly, breaking her neck.

Is there really any doubt that it was a broken neck caused by the webline catching her? I know that there are going to be those who say "yes", but is this view really prevalent enough to call in a controversy? There's even that little "snap" sound effect at the crucial moment.

Yes, Green Goblin says a little later something like a person would die from a fall from that height before hitting anything anyway, but that doesn't even make sense in context, and he's hardly a reliable witness here.

Why do you think?

When he wrote the story, Stan Lee thought that the fall alone would kill Gwen Stacy before she hit anything. If that were true, many paratroopers who jump at heights much, MUCH higher than the Brooklyn Bridge would die before their chutes opened. It's clear that Spidey inadvertently killed Gwen with his web when trying to save her life. Since she would have died if he HADN'T shot out his web, it is probably more accurate to say that he was unable to save her.

Eddie Cunningham

[Dark Soul # 7]

When he wrote the story, Stan Lee thought that the fall alone would kill Gwen Stacy before she hit anything.

Stan Lee didn´t write the story. Gerry Conway did.

[Crimson]

When he wrote the story, Stan Lee thought that the fall alone would kill Gwen Stacy before she hit anything. If that were true, many paratroopers who jump at heights much, MUCH higher than the Brooklyn Bridge would die before their chutes opened. It's clear that Spidey inadvertently killed Gwen with his web when trying to save her life. Since she would have died if he HADN'T shot out his web, it is probably more accurate to say that he was unable to save her.

Eddie Cunningham

Paratroopers are trained for... the average person thrown of that bridge, I'd say a few would probally die before they hit the floor.

Personally, I think we've never meant to know. To decide on one takes away from the guilt Spider-Man has had for years and the doubt readers have as well, did he or didn't he?

[Sean Walsh]

I always thought GETTING THROWN OFF THE BRIDGE caused her death. ;) :p

[Edward J Cunningham]

Paratroopers are trained for... the average person thrown of that bridge, I'd say a few would probally die before they hit the floor.

Nope. The average person might lose consciousness during free fall, but unless there is no air to breathe, nothing is going to kill that person UNTIL THEY HIT THE GROUND. Stan Lee (through the voice of the Green Goblin) was arguing that Gwen was killed by the act of falling itself. If that were the case, then Ron Howard was putting the lives of the cast of Apollo 13 in jeopardy when he filmed scenes of them weightless.

Eddie Cunningham

[Edward J Cunningham]

Stan Lee didn´t write the story. Gerry Conway did.

Then it was Conway who was wrong.

Eddie Cunningham

[Starkicker]

The way I've always understood it was that Spidey's webline snapped her neck, but Peter didn't know that.
He was told the shock of the fall killed her. He blames himself but doesn't think of himself as a murderer. When in fact she died directly because of his actions.
The readers know the truth but Peter doesn't.

[Violently Apathetic]

The way I've always understood it was that Spidey's webline snapped her neck, but Peter didn't know that.
He was told the shock of the fall killed her. He blames himself but doesn't think of himself as a murderer. When in fact she died directly because of his actions.
The readers know the truth but Peter doesn't.

Actually, he does know it was his fault, that's why in Millar's MK Spidey run when Norman tossed Mary Jane off the bridge Peter was so careful when it came to HOW he webbed her up. In fact, grabbing the issue he says;

'Played this over in my head a million times. The SINGLE strand is what snapped Gwen's neck. Just not enough support. Oh, God make it work.'

And he goes on to say how important it is that he catches every major joint.

I'm such a nerd.

[Totoro Man]

The "snap" wouldn't have been Gwen doing or not doing anything but Spidey pulling her up too hard too fast is my only guess. Personally I think neither the fall itself nor spidey's webbing are adequate explanations. Gobby slamming into her with the glider WOULD produce enough internal injury to acccount for her death, though, and the panels are drawn in such a way as to make that a perfectly legitimate interpretation. GObby claimed the fall would do the job but remember, folks, Normie is not playing with a full deck at that point (like he ever generally was).

[Chinchalinchin]

She was dead before Spider-Man got there.

That's the only explanation that works. Like Gerry Conway said, that sound effect was never meant to be there and the fall itself could in no way kill her.

[Agentum]

As noone young and with a healthy heart will die of fear, she maybe could have passed out for a while but not die, it's all stupid.
The best answer(if it stated true that she was still alive when SM arrived?) would probably be that GG injured her before Spider-man came and when he catched her fall with his web she couldn't take that added injury so she died.
I will mean that GG is responsible for her death.

[Gilda Dent]

She was dead before Spider-Man got there.

That's the only explanation that works. Like Gerry Conway said, that sound effect was never meant to be there and the fall itself could in no way kill her.

But it isn't the only explanation that works. She was alive but onconscious and had her neck broken by the shock of the sudden stop is supported by what is shown on panel. That works also, and IMO, better.

And the 'snap' was intended to be there. It couldn't have appeared for no reason. Conway may have decided at the last second to add it, but it was meant to be there. Editor Roy Thomas said a few issues later that it was the shock of the webline stopping her that killed her.

What's more, I think the story works better with the character if it is the webline that is the immediate cause of death. It adds more guilt at not saving a loved one and thus more motivation to Peter to use his power responsibly, even if he wasn't the person actually responsible for her death.

Gilda

[Starkicker]

'Played this over in my head a million times. The SINGLE strand is what snapped Gwen's neck. Just not enough support. Oh, God make it work.'

That totally changes the scene in my head and how it affected Peter. Thanks.