The Unbelievable Gwenpool #5 Review
Welcome back to Gwenpool everybody. For those new to the sight, here’s the recap. Gwen is naïve and slightly hyperactive comic-book fan girl who, through intentionally vague circumstances, found herself in the fictional world of Marvel comics. And when one finds oneself in a world of superheroes, naturally, one’s first instinct is to try and become a superhero. Possessing no actual powers, Gwen got by through sheer luck, as well as her knowledge of the comic book world. However, when she got lucky and killed one of M.O.D.O.K.’s top mercenaries, M.O.D.O.K. sought to force Gwen to take his place, killing her friend Cecil when she laughed in his face. After going on a few missions with M.O.D.O.K.’s team, Gwen finally managed to defeat the super villain, bringing Cecil back as a ghost and taking control of the mercenary team in the process.
We join our hero in a good mood, having been reassured that she is, in fact, the hero of her own comic book. However, there’s still the matter of meeting with the mysterious individual who had hired M.O.D.O.K.’s agency. After much deliberation, the team nominates Gwen as their representative.
Meanwhile, Gwen has a nice reunion with Cecil. It’s a touching moment, but it’s not without it’s humor, particularly in the part when Gwen gives Cecil a book of tips and guidance for those in Cecil’s unique situation and Cecil being unable to open it due to his incorporeal nature.
Meanwhile, we join Miles Morales, aka, the new Spider-Man fighting off some monsters. Realizing he’s going to be late for school, he bolts for the subway where he happens to run into Gwen. Gwen, knowing who Miles is due to her meta-fictional knowledge, is star struck and lets slip that she knows his secret. Miles, suspecting foul play leads Gwen outside the train and, using his webbing to dangle her over the side of the train, demands that she tell him how she knows her secret. Thinking that Miles likely won’t believe the truth, she makes up a story about gaining ultimate knowledge from a dying watcher or something. Miles believes her and Gwen assures him that his secret is safe with her. However, when Miles gets to school, he finds it on fire and he and Gwen work together to help save everyone.
Later that night, Miles returns home to find Gwen waiting for him, excited at the prospect of teaming up with Spider-Man. Meanwhile, back at the mercenary base the team finds out that Gwen missed her appointment and to make matters worse, the squid-like aliens from the first issue start attacking the base.
What Works:
The humor is very much on point as it always been with this title. I particularly liked Miles’ aversion to working with someone named Gwen as Spider-Men don’t really have a great track record with young women of that name. Also, adding Miles Morales to the mix is a cool choice.
What Doesn’t: Okay, here’s the big problem with this issue. When the first issue came out, I praised it for demonstrating the darker side to being a superhero that fans don’t always think of. As a result of Cecil’s death, Gwen was made to realize that her actions had consequences and being a “main character” wouldn’t protect her in this new world. However, now that she’s defeated M.O.D.O.K. and gotten Cecil back, a lot of that character development seems to have regressed.
Overall: 4.5/5
Even though this is the first issue not to receive a perfect score, I still cannot recommend this series enough.