“I had to “rescue” Gwen”: X-Men Writer Took Extreme Measures to Save a Character From Being Shelved By Changing Her Entire Genetic Makeup
When it comes to creating comic books and the events that unfold in the story, there are times when characters face challenges that define them. The same can be said for Gwenpool too. Gwenpool is a cheerful young woman who is a mercenary and is very popular among readers of Marvel comics. There was a time when she was on the edge of being canceled, but X-Men writer Leah Williams made sure that it didn’t happen.
There are a lot of people who work on a comic book, including writers, artists, and editors and everybody has their own perspective. Marvel is not one to shy away from big risks when it comes to planning what the future holds for its characters. It appeared that the producers had similar ideas for Gwenpool as well.
Gwenpool Was Almost Shelved by Marvel
Gwenpool is a beloved character from the comics and she has starred in many of her own solo runs. However, Marvel was not willing to continue the character. X-Men writer Leah Williams made it her responsibility to ensure her continuity.
Williams shared that Marvel did not want the character because they didn’t see any potential in it. Although the character’s future remains uncertain, in order to secure her future, Williams decided to make Gwen a part of Krakoa by transforming her into a mutant.
In an interview with AIPT, She said,
My genuine, deada** approach to this mini-series was that I had to “rescue” Gwen from getting permanently shelved, so the decision of bringing her into Krakoa was both a bureaucratic and a practical one.
Turning her into a mutant, bringing Gwenpool under the protective umbrella of being an “X-Office” character is what, in my eyes, gives her an open-ended potential future that cannot be taken away no matter what.
This not only helped Gwenpool avoid her fate but also paved the way for new opportunities in the X-Men universe. Speaking to AIPT, X-Office Editor Jordan D. White also confessed that this change has not been done for the character’s growth. It was all about her continuity and future plans.
Origin and Abilities of Gwenpool
Gwendolyn Poole has a very unusual backstory that suits her metafictional nature. In another universe, Gwenpoole was a hardcore fan of superheroes since they did not really exist in her universe. However, when she arrived in the Marvel Universe, she put on a costume and transformed into a mercenary, naming herself Gwenpool.
Gwenpool has no combat training but has a vast knowledge of heroes and villains due to her comic book exposure. Later, she gained skills in fights over the years from her mentor, Batroc, including the use of weapons. However, her true power is breaking the fourth wall to defeat her enemies.
Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing aka MODOK is the main nemesis of Gwenpool while Batroc the Leaper, Mega Tony, and Terrible Eye are her sidekicks. With her outlook and metafictional approach, she may be considered one of the most unconventional characters who constantly challenges the laws of narrative and the reader’s expectations.
For comic book lovers, their favorite characters are not just images drawn on paper but actual living beings. Gwenpool’s evolution from a parody to a hero is a perfect example of how much fans love characters who were not created according to the traditional comic book rules.
