#;Gwendolyn Poole

[demilypyro]

So I reread Gwenpool Strikes Back and I think I actually like her "616 mutant origin" more now than I did before. Because I didn't fully get what they were doing before.

The inciting incident that starts the miniseries is Gwenpool discovering a new ability. It isn't very well explained in the moment, but it boils down to this: she can imagine things happening before or in-between the panels of the story, and if she then "flashes back" to them in her thoughts, they will retroactively become real events that really happened.

The best way to explain this is using the battle royale she organizes in issue 3: she imagines having set this up off-screen, and it became retroactively true. She initially didn't have a prize in mind, but just has to imagine that Tony Stark donated a bunch of money to be a cash prize, and suddenly it's like that happened. It became true retroactively. She seems to be able to just decide things happened off-screen, and the universe will agree.

As far as abilities go, this is absolutely King Crimson levels of convoluted, and this definitely makes Gwenpool a ridiculously powerful character, but for the purpose of the story, sure, let's say she can do that now.

Now, as we all know, at the end of the miniseries, Gwenpool has a conversation with Ms. Marvel. Kamala doesn't believe Gwen's claims that the Marvel universe is a comic book, and suggests an alternate theory: she may actually just be a mutant with amnesia.

We the audience know this is not true, and so does Gwen. She IS from the real world, and Kamala simply can't comprehend Gwen's perspective on her universe.

But what matters here is that while listening to Kamala's theory, Gwen imagined it. While unintentional, she used her power. She had a "flashback." Which made it real. Retroactively real.

Entirely by accident, there are now two truths:

Gwenpool is from the real world, and is a normal person

Gwenpool is from the Marvel universe, and is a mutant

Though this wasn't Gwen's intention, these statements are now both equally, irreversibly true, and always have been. And so, the Krakoan gate opens. The universe now considers her a mutant.

It's not just that she was accepting Kamala's version of events. She WASN'T a mutant. But now she is. Her powers changed the past. She accidentally retconned herself into being a mutant. Gwen and the audience both know that her 616 mutant origin didn't really happen, but as far as the universe is concerned, it did. Her power made it true.

I feel like they could have done a better job explaining this, but they probably didn't have all the pages in the world to spend on exposition. Either way, I like GSB more now that I properly understand what they were going for.

[kaneidae]

Gwenpool!!!!

[kijcilic]

Gwenpool piece I did for fun

[k233-0]

THE UNBELIEVABLE GWENPOOL 💗☆

redraw of that one manga tribute illustration :3

[aresonist]

[mymilkhasice]

It is with great pleasure that I inform you all that today is the most Wednesday-ist day of the year

[snakes4pool]

Cutie Patootie oh my gawddd she is the most fun to draw

[rariatoo]

[atomikats]

no way bro

[madzzzz]

Gwenpool💥

[chaossmith2]

Don't keep scrolling without saying "hi" first!

EDIT:

This is starting to gain some traction, so please consider also sharing and donating to this GFM that’s over halfway to its goal!

[spideypooloser]

[jewelianism]

gwenpool #1 redraw!

[acesincomics]

Marvel character Gwendolyn “Gwen” Poole aka Gwenpool has been confirmed aromantic and asexual!

Gwenpool will come to terms with her sexuality in next week’s issue of Love Unlimited: Gwenpool, her current series which is made by an acespec creative team.

Acespec creators Jeremy Whitley @jeremywhitley, Bailie Rosenlund @bailiesartblog, Kelly Fitzpatrick, Alanna Smith @alannawrites and Kaitlyn Lindtvedt discuss Gwenpool’s asexuality and aromanticism in this new interview for Marvel.

It’s a really great interview, highly recommend reading it!

“Acespec people aren’t often shown in media and when they are, it’s often shown as a trope of being a broken thing that needs fixing. The more diversity and stories we can tell, the better.” -Kelly Fitzpatrick

Love Unlimited: Gwenpool is available now from Marvel Unlimited. The concluding issue of this 6 part limited series will be out next week.

Check out this reading list for Gwenpool if you’d like to read more of her comics!

Gwenpool is the second Marvel character to be confirmed asexual this year, although she will be the first to have her asexuality shown on-page.

Morgan Red was confirmed asexual back in March and his asexuality will be addressed in New Mutants Lethal Legion #5, out in July.

[aresonist]

little bit more gwen from earlier today

[atypical-snowman]

Love Unlimited #47

Gwenpool #5