I really like how the writers illustrate Peter’s PTSD flashback over Gwen’s death and his determination to prevent that kind of death from happening again (ASM #127):
I like little things like this, even though are really brief. Peter so overwhelmed and driven by feelings of guilt and failure that he talks to MJ as though she is Gwen by calling her Gwendy, which speaks volumes of Peter's guilt and trauma over Gwen's death. A very similar thing happen when Peter has to save a falling man (ASM #207):
It’s a really good illustration of how self improvement is a theme in Spider-Man stories. A very similar thing happen when Peter has to save a falling woman dropped by the Hobgoblin (ASM #275):
Gwen’s death was a serious blow to Peter’s life and self esteem for many reasons. This is partiallu because Peter technically killed her. Peter inadvertently killed Gwen through the whiplash effect. Peter used the wrong method to try saving her and ended up causing Gwen’s neck to be snapped by the whiplash effect of his webbing. So Peter ended up killing Gwen when he was actually trying to save her. What reinforces this is that in the same story Gwen dies. a cop accuses Spider-Man of killing Gwen, another cop scolds the other cop because he knew that Spider-Man was in pain over Gwen’s death and he even respected Spider-Man, but Spider-Man actually ends up confessing that he killed Gwen (ASM #122):
What's so tragic about this is that although Peter did technically kill Gwen through the whiplash effect, it was an accident. He didn't mean to kill her. Peter didn’t have to tell the police that he killed her, especially when considering that he already has a shaky relationship with the police and general public, but he chose do it because he was overwhelmed by guilt and failure. Peter tortures himself for inadvertently causing Gwen’s death. Peter's guilt and trauma over Gwen's death drives him to not make that mistake again and save people in a much safer fashion. It's such a great illustration of how self improvement is important to Spider-Man's character. Gwen Stacy's death is one of Spider-Man's greatest failures and it nicely compliment's Uncle Ben's death. Uncle Ben died because Peter didn't use his powers. Gwen Stacy died because Spider-Man used his powers.
It's the usual comic trope. When they first appear, new threats are challenging and seemingly all powerful. Then as time goes by, especially as they start interacting with the wider universe, they start getting jobbed.
Unless they're Constantine, whose stock really rose when he started interacting way more with the DCU.
