‘Across the Spider-Verse’ Birthed a Controversial Trans Icon

Read more of our Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse coverage HERE.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse isn’t just smashing box office expectations and winning over critics—it’s also generated a ton of conversation. Many viewers remain mesmerized by the animation, which is legitimately groundbreaking, meshing countless styles with a unique and thrilling rhythm. Others are discussing which of the new Spider-People is their favorite. But there’s also a surprising debate going on: whether Gwen Stacy, also known as Spider-Gwen (and voiced by Hailee Steinfeld), is trans.

The common conception is that Gwen Stacy is a cisgender woman, as other iterations of the character have been. But while this version of the character appeared in Into the Spider-Verse as well, the conversation about whether or not she is a transwoman picked up after the release of Across the Spider-Verse. Since June 2, fans have presented a wealth of evidence on social media as to her unstated identity, in support of the “Gwen is trans” theory—much of which, they say, comes from Across Spider-Verse itself.

Read more at The Daily Beast.