In 2015, Marvel Comics had some fun with Gwen Stacy by featuring her on variant covers across multiple issues, reimagining the beloved Spider-Man character in various roles. This trend was sparked by the popularity of Spider-Gwen (aka Ghost-Spider), whose cool design and alternate-universe backstory had quickly won over fans. One of the most memorable of these covers appeared on Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars #2, featuring a pink-and-white-clad “Gwenpool.” At the time, this was just a visual gag—Gwenpool didn’t exist as a character in any story yet—but the cover’s striking look and the growing enthusiasm for mashups led to something more.
Unlike Spider-Gwen, who hails from an alternate dimension, Gwendolyn Poole was introduced as a completely different kind of character—a girl from the “real world” who suddenly found herself inside the Marvel Universe. Aware she was in a comic book, she treated her new reality like an adventure, believing that nothing she did had real consequences. With no powers, no training, and a heavy reliance on improvisation, Gwenpool quickly carved out a niche as a chaotic yet lovable anti-hero. Her popularity skyrocketed, leading to her own series, The Unbelievable Gwenpool, where she developed into a more complex character. Over time, her backstory was reworked to give her a permanent place in Marvel continuity rather than just being a meta-fictional outsider.
Much like Deadpool, Gwenpool regularly breaks the fourth wall, engaging directly with the audience and manipulating the comic book medium in ways other characters can’t. Her unique abilities include jumping between comic panels, erasing characters from existence by tearing apart pages, and even peeking ahead at future events.
In recent years, Gwenpool has also emerged as an asexual icon, with Marvel confirming her asexuality in the Love Unlimited: Gwenpool digital series. This development has further endeared her to fans, solidifying her as one of Marvel’s most unconventional yet beloved characters.
Gwenpool Comics Reading Order
Gwendolyn Poole, better known as Gwenpool, is still a relatively new character in the Marvel Comics Universe and doesn’t have an extensive comic book history just yet. However, most of her adventures—from her debut series to the Gwenpool Strikes Back miniseries—have been collected in a massive Omnibus edition, packing over 1,000 pages of her chaotic, fourth-wall-breaking escapades!
- Gwenpool Omnibus
Collects The Unbelievable Gwenpool (2016) #1-25; Rocket Raccoon And Groot (2016) #8-10; Champions (2016) #5; Edge Of Venomverse (2017) #2; West Coast Avengers (2018) #1-10; Superior Spider-Man (2018) #7-8; Gwenpool Strikes Back (2019) #1-5; Material From Howard The Duck (2015b) #1-3; Gwenpool Holiday Special (2015) #1, Gwenpool Holiday Special: Merry Mix-Up (2016) #1 And Secret Empire: Brave New World (2017) #1.
The Gwenpool Solo Comics
After her first appearance on the cover of Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars #2 made her famous (drawn by Chris Bachalo), Gwenpool needed a place to start and this was in Howard the Duck (vol. 6) #1. Don’t worry about finding this three-part storyline as I did, Marvel collected it in one issue, The Unbelievable Gwenpool #0 with the Gwenpool Holiday Special that followed the Howard the Duck storyline. All of this is in the first book collecting her first solo series written by Christopher Hastings – also the best comic book featuring Gwenpool.
- The Unbelievable Gwenpool: Believe It
Collects The Unbelievable Gwenpool #0–4. You don’t need to track down Howard the Duck and other stuff, everything is in this TPB. - Rocket Raccoon & Groot Civil War II
Collects Rocket Raccoon & Groot #7-10. During the Civil War II event (reading order here), Gwenpool appeared in issues #8-10. - The Unbelievable Gwenpool: Head of M.O.D.O.K.
Collects The Unbelievable Gwenpool #5–10. - Gwenpool Holiday Special: Merry Mix-Up
After issue#8, you can read this special (also collected in volume 3: Totally in Continuity), then jump into Champions! - Champions Vol. 1: Change The World
Collects Champions (2016) #1-5. Gwen appeared in issues #4–5 and kind of decides to join the team by herself, explosions follow. Also, you don’t need to read issue #4, she’s just at the end with a little teasing for the next issue. - The Unbelievable Gwenpool: Totally in Continuity
Collects The Unbelievable Gwenpool #11–15 and the Holiday Special. - Secret Empire: Brand New World #1
Set during Secret Empire (reading order), there’s a really short and optional story in that book. - The Unbelievable Gwenpool: Beyond the Fourth Wall
Collects The Unbelievable Gwenpool #16–20. - Gwenpool, The Unbelievable: Lost in the Plot
Collects The Unbelievable Gwenpool #21-25.
Other notable but out-of-continuity stories
- Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe Again
Collects Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe Again #1-5. Gwenpool is part of #2-4. - Edge of Venomverse #2
After nearly being killed, Gwen merges with the Venom Symbiote in the second issue of the event series. The story continues in Venomverse, but Gwenpool is only in issue #4 of the 5-part story. - Not Brand Echh #14
Gwenpool in the West Coast Avengers Comics
A new era kicked off for Marvel’s West Coast heroes with the launch of West Coast Avengers (2018), written by Kelly Thompson. This fresh take on the classic team brought together an eclectic mix of heroes: Kate Bishop (Hawkeye—yes, the fan-favorite one), Clint Barton (the original Hawkeye), America Chavez, Kid Omega, Gwenpool, and newcomer Fuse.
One of the most memorable moments from this run came when Gwenpool discovered an adorable baby land shark and decided to keep him as a pet, naming him Jeff.
- West Coast Avengers Vol. 1: Best Coast
Collects West Coast Avengers #1-6. - West Coast Avengers Vol. 2: City of Evils
Collects West Coast Avengers #7-10.
- Superior Spider-Man Vol. 2: Otto-Matic
Collects Superior Spider-Man (2018) #7-12. In issues #7-8, Otto Octavius teamed up with the West Coast Avengers during War of Realms.
Gwenpool Retconned!
Seeing limited long-term potential for Gwenpool in her original form, Marvel Comics launched the Gwenpool Strikes Back miniseries in 2019, aiming to redefine her place in the Marvel Universe. The series leaned heavily into her meta-awareness, with Gwen fighting to stay relevant and avoid comic book oblivion by trying to establish herself as a major hero. Later, she was integrated into the X-Men mythos by making her reality-warping abilities the result of a traditional X-gene. Despite this potential new direction, she primarily made cameo appearances during Jonathan Hickman’s Dawn of X era rather than taking on a central role. While she hasn’t yet become a major player in the mutant storyline, her unique fourth-wall-breaking abilities continue to make her an unpredictable presence in the Marvel Universe.
- Gwenpool Strikes Back
Collects Gwenpool Strikes Back #1-5. - M.O.D.O.K.: Head Games
Collects M.O.D.O.K.: Head Games #1-4. Gwenpool guest-starred in #2-3, but really in #3. - Love Unlimited Infinity Comic #43-47
Digital Comic Series available at Marvel Unlimited. - Marvel’s Voices: Pride (2023) #1
- Venom War: It’s Jeff #1
It’s 2025, Gwenpool is finally back in her own comic book series featuring the real Gwen Stacy! Coming soon…