Gwen Stacy returns as Spider-Gwen, and people are loving it

Before Mary Jane there was a different love interest for Peter Parker (aka Spider-Man). If you've seen The Amazing Spider-Man films, you probably know who I'm referring to — Gwen Stacy. Aside from being Parker's first love interest, or "one true love" interest depending on who you ask, Stacy is probably best known for her death in The Amazing Spider-Man issue #121. It was an iconic moment for comic books, though I'm sure a certain group of particular people would argue that Stacy was being used as nothing more than a plot device, but I digress.

Today, well technically yesterday, Gwen Stay returns — as a different kind of character. No longer is she some damsel in distress. As of yesterday's release of Spider-Gwen, a new Marvel Comics series by writer Jason Latour and artists Robbi Rodriguez and Rico Renzi, Gwen Stacy is now a parallel-universe Spider-Woman.

The new series takes place on Earth-65 (regular Spider-Man exists in Earth-616), a world where the radioactive spider that gives Spider-Man his powers bit Gwen instead of Peter. Technically, Stacy had a major role in the recent Spider-Verse crossover storyline, but this is her first official standalone comic. And she appears to be a hit. Reviews for the first issue of Spider-Gwen are rolling in and most of them praise the new superhero. Here are some review:

IGN: "Spider-Gwen new comic gets off to a solid start thanks to a hip tone, strong characterization, and vibrant artwork."

Comic Book Resources: "It's only February, but Marvel gives readers another very strong offering for 2015 with "Spider-Gwen" #1. The story is fun, familiar, energetic and invigorating, the art is engaging and the character has nothing but potential to offer. "Spider-Gwen" #1 is more than just a comic with something for everyone; it's a comic with everything for everyone. "Spider-Gwen" #1 is solid enough that even your parents may just dig it too."

Nerdist: "I guess I just wish that with a book as important as this one, I wanted it to feel a little bit weightier. I wanted to feel a need to come back for issue #2 because the story is so compelling, but instead the story is just good enough."

Comic Vine: "Gwen Stacy may be a classic and beloved character but Jason Latour has taken a great character and made her even more fascinating. Robbi Rodriguez's art and Rico Renzi's colors gives this book a fresh and unique feel that just looks so dang good."

Admittedly, I'm not the biggest reader of comic books, but for those of you who are, what do you think of Spider-Gwen so far?