With the release of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, one of the film’s key characters once again represents the principles of social justice that have guided characters from Superman to the X-Men. Superheroes have long been used as allegories for societal issues. Many Across the Spider-Verse fans concur that the movie’s version of Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) is clearly coded as transgender, and they couldn’t be more confused about it after viewing the character’s arc and detecting several additional signs throughout the movie.
In its second-largest opening weekend of the year, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse brought in more than $120 million at the box office. The 2018 animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse received positive reviews from both fans and critics, confirming the franchise’s status as an animated film dynasty. While the fans loved the movie, they might not like the political side of it.
Gwen’s trans narrative is revealed by style and subtext
The movie Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse doesn’t declare Gwen Stacy to be transgender, but there are plenty of strong inferences to that effect. In addition to having a trans pride flag with the words “PROTECT TRANS KIDS” inscribed on it hanging above her bedroom door, Gwen’s universe of origin is frequently depicted in hues of pink, white, and blue that correspond to the trans pride flag.
The character of Gwen is totally depicted in those colors, with even her hair taking on the hues of the trans pride flag as she returns to her original planet and ultimately has a heart-to-heart with her father. Her father can be seen sporting a trans pride patch over his police badge in the same scene. And it should be pointed out that Gwen confesses to her estranged father that she has struggled with keeping a part of herself hidden from him as she pours out her emotions to him.
Read more: Black Panther Star Wants to Team Up With Ant-Man 3 Actor for Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse
Spider-Verse Fans prefer the animated superhero film to not get political
Although it’s nice to see a superhero franchise support the social causes of real life, Spider-Verse fans believe it’s best their fantasy superhero does not get involved too much in politics. A lot of these fans quickly took over Twitter to get their opinions heard and looks like the viewers don’t like their movies and politics get intermixed.
Some users believe, even though the representation is good, it might not be fully done
This is not to AT ALL take away from the representation those within LGTBQ+ are experiencing with her story, nor is it to validate squeamish transphobic bigotry against the idea. Just obvious the films will never explicitly address it. It’s purposely interpretable suggestion.
— Sam Gavin (Sam’s Channel) (@SamuelGavin) June 11, 2023
Some looked at the character as more of an ally
My brother and I don’t think she is, we wouldn’t mind if she was though because it’d be interesting to see how they’d go about it, personally when I saw the trans pride flag, I took it as she’s an ally, which is just as good in some cases
— Lion El’Jonson (@SpaceKnoxer) June 12, 2023
Some believed that the colors on her expressed her feelings
Not really considering that those colors are her color scheme and have been a part of her since her inception. Just like every Spider-Man has their own color scheme because it’s animated. They’ve gone the emotional route and whenever there is an emotion in a scene and she is…
— Dingani Alexander (@Dinganialex) June 11, 2023
Some believed its better to look at it as another layer
It’s the type of thing where it should be recognized as being an intentional layer that’s been added without mistaking that for outright representation. Need to give exactly the right amount of praise for it.
— Parth Marathe (@MaratheParth) June 11, 2023
Another user believed its better not to get our hopes up
Exactly my stance on it. It could be the creators way of getting a message across. U til.theres some form of confirmation don’t throw your hopes and dreams behind it. We don’t need to hear about how Sony is bigoted if they never commit to her being trans.
— Eric Micke (@Foxhound2931) June 12, 2023
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, the first Spider-Man film, won recognition for portraying minority cultures when it was initially released. Even the central Spider-Man in this dimension, Miles Morales, is Afro-Latino, and director Peter Ramsey described the representation in the movie as a “need being fulfilled.” Looking at this, no one can really confirm with the film’s producers had any minorities to represent from Gwen’s character.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is currently playing in theatres worldwide.
Read more: “Silk”: Into the Spider-Verse Producer Phil Lord Gives Huge Update on Upcoming Spider-Man Spinoff
Source: Twitter
