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George Stacy

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George Stacy
Captain George Stacy as seen in interior artwork for The Amazing Spider-Man #56 (January 1968).
Art by John Romita Sr.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceThe Amazing Spider-Man #56 (January 1968)
Created by
In-story information
Team affiliationsNew York City Police Department
Supporting character ofSpider-Man
Spider-Woman

George Stacy is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, primarily in association with Spider-Man. He is Gwen Stacy's father and the police captain from the New York City Police Department. Stacy is a strong supporter of Spider-Man, often defending the superhero when others accuse Spider-Man of criminal acts, and thus serves as a foil personality to another Spider-Man related character, J. Jonah Jameson. Stacy's death in The Amazing Spider-Man #90 (November 1970) has been described as a turning point in the Spider-Man saga, signaling to readers that permanent changes could happen in the story, and that the supporting cast was not safe.[1] Stacy was resurrected in a cloned body by Ben Reilly in Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy (2016–2017), with the embodiment of Death herself confirming in Ben Reilly: The Scarlet Spider (2017–2018) that all clones Ben created of deceased people had their souls intact on being brought back, before Stacy was killed again by the Carrion Virus.

The character has been adapted from the comics into several forms of media, including animated series and feature films. In live-action, the character was played by James Cromwell in the film Spider-Man 3 (2007), by Denis Leary in Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man film duology (2012–2014), and by Shea Whigham in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) and Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse (TBA).

Publication history

George Stacy first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #56 (January 1968), created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Romita Sr.[2]

Fictional character history

Little did Peter Parker know, after falling in love with Empire State University classmate Gwen Stacy that her father was Captain George Stacy, one of the most respected former police members in the NYPD. He is also the husband of Helen Stacy and the brother of Arthur Stacy. But even in retirement, Captain Stacy kept up with the happenings at the department - and had taken a keen interest in Spider-Man.[3] It was not long before John Jameson called Captain Stacy out of retirement to assist in the return of a device called the Nullifier - which could render any electrical or mechanical apparatus inoperative - that Doctor Octopus had tricked an amnesiac Spider-Man into stealing.[4]

After safely securing the weapon, Captain Stacy interviewed Peter, believed to have been held captive with Doc Ock and Spider-Man. After the interview, Captain Stacy revealed to Peter that he had spent time studying the career of Spider-Man, and that he was glad to have met Peter, known for photographing the wall-crawler on numerous occasions.[5]

Identifying himself as a strong supporter of Spider-Man, Captain Stacy wished to see the wall-crawler redeemed in the public eye. He also took an instant liking to Peter, and openly encouraged the growing bond between the youngster and his daughter Gwen. Shortly thereafter at a dance club which employed Mary Jane Watson, Captain Stacy was put under a hypnotic trance through a rigged camera operated by Mary Jane who took photos of him unaware that these actions were aiding Wilson Fisk (aka the Kingpin of Crime). Stacy was compelled into a backroom where he underwent additional brainwashing by the camera's inventor, Dr. Winkler.[5]

Despite Spider-Man's efforts, George returned programmed to follow the Kingpin's directions. As such, Captain Stacy later stole police records for the Kingpin while Spider-Man's automatic camera captured the theft. Peter gave the photos to J. Jonah Jameson, hopeful that this apparent betrayal of the Stacy family would actually help expedite a discovery of the captain's innocence. While George and Gwen attempted to flee, they were kidnapped by the Kingpin's men and held captive at one of Norman Osborn's labs where Dr. Winkler worked. The Kingpin intended to eliminate the Stacys once they were used to lure Spider-Man into his crushing hands. While Spider-Man battled the Kingpin, Osborn arrived and tackled the Kingpin's henchmen holding the Stacys at gunpoint. Though the Kingpin fled, and Winkler was apparently killed, the Stacys were rescued. Osborn's testimony to the police exonerated Captain Stacy.[6]

Captain Stacy started to suspect Peter and Spider-Man were the same person. After a feverish Peter admitted to being Spider-Man before his friends including Captain Stacy, Parker asked the Prowler to imitate Spider-Man so Peter and the web-slinger could be seen together,[7] however, Captain Stacy could not be fooled. Called into action one night, Captain Stacy watched Spider-Man battle Doctor Octopus on a rooftop high above the city. A crowd had gathered nearby to watch the confrontation. As the two fought fiercely, chunks of concrete began to dislodge from the roof and rain on the spectators below. Spotting a child standing under the falling masonry, Captain Stacy leapt to shield the boy - and paid for his act of heroism with his own life.[8] Abandoning the assault, Spider-Man swung down in time to hear Captain Stacy's final words, "Be good to her, son! Be good to her. She loves you so very much", referring to Gwen.[9][10][11]

During the "Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy" storyline, Ben Reilly (a clone of Peter) resurrected George Stacy along with Gwen to convince the latter to work with him as his business partner at New U Technologies,[12] with the embodiment of Death herself confirming to Ben in Ben Reilly: The Scarlet Spider that all clones he created of deceased people he had brought back (including George and Gwen) had their souls intact on being brought back, while clones of living people (like Ben himself) had unique souls of their own. When Doctor Octopus pulls a switch which activates the Carrion Virus in all of the clones and causes them to start rapidly decaying, including George and Gwen,[13] George starts to deteriorate in Gwen's arms. He tells his daughter to keep Spider-Man safe while she can before dying once more.[14]

During the "Last Remains" arc, Kindred visited the cemetery where George Stacy and Gwen Stacy were buried. He exhumed their bodies and placed them around the table at his hideout while awaiting for Spider-Man to find him.[15] When Spider-Man finally confronts Kindred, Gwen and George's corpses were sat around a dinner table alongside the exhumed bodies of Ben Parker, Flash Thompson, J. Jonah Jameson Sr., Jean DeWolff, and Marla Jameson.[16]

Other versions

1602

In Spider-Man: 1602, Captain Stacy is the leader of the merchant vessel the May Flower and a former member of the Navy. When he and his crew set sail for England, they allow Peter Parquagh to come on as a powder monkey. Though his crew turns on Peter when they discover his powers, they accept Peter when he rescues them from pirates Wilson Fiske and The Bull's Eye.

House of M

Chief George Stacy in the House of M timeline. Art by Salvador Larocca.

In the timeline of the "House of M" storyline, George Stacy is a former police chief, and a personal friend of the rich and successful Peter Parker. This goes sour when Peter experiences a mental breakdown. Part of this manifests as diary filled with morbid imaginings. George Stacy reads an account of his Earth-616 death, along with the fate of his daughter.[17]

Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane

In Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane Gwen Stacy mentions George Stacy in Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane #9 as being the reason she moves to Queens. In this version he is not a fan of Spider-Man and views him as a vigilante getting in the way of real police work.

Marvel Adventures

In Marvel Adventures Spider-Man, George Stacy is given a hint from Emma Frost in issue 53 by the arrival of his daughter Gwen, who is a new student of Midtown High. In issue 54, George makes his full debut as a slightly younger character with light brown hair. He recently discovered that Peter is Spider-Man when he accidentally yelled a quote that George knows. With his identity now known, George now calls him, requesting support on some of his cases. He later feels he should not use Peter, but Peter allows George to call him if he needs help, which pleases George.

Ultimate Marvel

The Ultimate Marvel version of the character is named John Stacy. Much younger than his mainstream counterpart and with brown hair, he is more athletic and carries his own gun, and is not a fan of Spider-Man but admires the young hero's vigilante work. He has trouble handling his teenage daughter Gwen Stacy and has a troubled marriage.[18] He is first seen arriving at the warehouse where a criminal is hiding out when Spider-Man catches up, and then investigates a house being attacked by Doctor Octopus while finding out that Gwen caused trouble by bringing a knife to school. He has been contacted by Daily Bugle reporter Ben Urich about his investigations.[18]

Stacy was also critical of Urich removing the Kingpin from control of New York as it led to a disorganized and chaotic scramble to gain the Kingpin's territory. His marital problems reach a conclusion when his wife abandons their family, leading Stacy to ask May Parker to watch over Gwen while he is away at a conference. During the "Public Scrutiny" story arc, he is killed by a bank robber posing as Spider-Man, as the criminal robs an armored truck and throws a bag with a bomb in it onto a nearby child. Stacy sacrifices his life to save the child.[19] Stacy's death causes Gwen to develop a grief-stricken hatred for Spider-Man, which continues even after her father's killer confessed. May Parker eventually invites Gwen to live with the Parkers,[20] though Gwen's animosity towards Spider-Man eventually subsides and comes to learn of Peter's secret identity.

Spider-Gwen

In the Spider-Verse storyline, Earth-65's version of George Stacy ends up in the pursuit of Spider-Woman's arrest following the death of Peter Parker unaware that his daughter Gwen Stacy is Spider-Woman. When George is alone with Spider-Woman following the assassin's defeat with the intent to arrest Spider-Woman. Gwen ends up unmasking which surprises her father. A shocked George tells Gwen to run before he changes his mind.[21]

After the attack, Stacy was relieved from the command of the NYPD's Special Crimes Task Force by Mayor J. Jonah Jameson who feared Stacy would undercut him. George remained in an advisory capacity helping Foggy Nelson and the District Attorney's office until the Vulture would be caught, later arresting Matt Murdock's patsy Kingpin, Wilson Fisk.[22]

Spider-Geddon

The Spider-Geddon storyline features different versions of George Stacy:

  • The Earth-91918 version of George Stacy is a bartender whose establishment was saved by Spider-Ben who brings up his story to him.[23]
  • An alternate reality version of George Stacy gained Spider-Man's powers and wears a black homemade suit with white stripes on them. As "The Spider", Detective Stacy goes against Captain Lincoln's orders by using his powers to aid the police in capturing the criminals before they arrive. He saved Betty Brant from Shocker.[24]

In other media

Television

  • A character loosely based on George Stacy named Ned Stacy appears in Spider-Man, voiced by Len Carlson. This version is Mary Jane Watson's uncle.
George Stacy as seen in The Spectacular Spider-Man.
  • George Stacy appears in The Spectacular Spider-Man, voiced by Clancy Brown.[25][26] This version possesses his Ultimate counterpart's youth, athleticism, and skill with firearms. Later in the series, he joins Midtown High School as an instructor for a criminal justice class to get close to his daughter (or to keep a closer eye).
    • In Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023), The Spectacular Spider-Man incarnation of George Stacy is revealed to have been killed sometime after the events of the series, dying in Peter's arms in-line with the Spider-Verse's "canon" — that a police captain will die in each version of Spider-Man's arms.
  • George Stacy appears in the Ultimate Spider-Man episode "Return to the Spider-Verse", voiced by Robert Clotworthy. This version is from the same reality as Kid Arachnid and the deceased Peter Parker, but is unaware that his own daughter operates as Spider-Woman. Additionally, he utilizes robots to help the police deal with vigilantes. Later on, he learns of Gwen's identity and comes to approve of her.
  • George Stacy appears in the Marvel Rising franchise, voiced by Steven Weber.[27]
    • George Stacy appears in Marvel Rising: Initiation. When Gwen's Inhuman friend Kevin is murdered, George blames Ghost-Spider and leads a manhunt on her where he even enlists Daisy Johnson and Patriot to help apprehend her.
    • George Stacy appears in Marvel Rising: Chasing Ghosts. He is still pursuing Ghost-Spider over what happened to Kevin. George and the police catch up to Ghost-Spider when she and the Secret Warriors are fighting Victor Kohl and Sheath with the latter having been the one who murdered Kevin. When Victor Kohl and Sheath are defeated, both of them are handed over to the police with Daisy Johnson supporting Ghost-Spider's proof that Sheath was the one who murdered Kevin.
  • George Stacy appears in Spidey and His Amazing Friends, voiced by Scott Porter.[28]

Film

  • George Stacy appears in Spider-Man 3, portrayed by James Cromwell.
  • George Stacy appears in The Amazing Spider-Man, portrayed by Denis Leary.[29] This version is younger, does not approve of Spider-Man and considers him to be a menace. In the film, Stacy's top priority is the arrest of Spider-Man, regarding the web-slinger as a vigilante on a private mission ignorant of wider issues, such as trying to find potential culprits that might be suspected to be Uncle Ben’s killer. Once Stacy discovers Spider-Man's identity and realizes that Peter is on his side and can save Gwen Stacy, he changes his opinion. After being mortally wounded by the Lizard while buying time for Peter to release the antidote, Captain Stacy makes him promise to stop seeing his daughter to keep Gwen safe from his dangerous double life, before he succumbs to his wounds. Peter initially agrees to the promise, but later decides against it, knowing that there are some promises that cannot be kept for good reasons.
    • Denis Leary reprises his role in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Throughout the film, Spider-Man hallucinates him telling him to stay away from his daughter. This impacts their relationship throughout the film, with Gwen breaking up with Peter and remaining platonic as she was adamant that it was not up to her father to decide. However Peter and Gwen eventually reconcile, though this is short-lived as Gwen is killed by the Green Goblin.[30]
    • In July 2015, Denis Leary said that he was attached to reprise his role as Captain Stacy in The Amazing Spider-Man 3 as a storyline had Spider-Man somehow resurrected Captain Stacy as well as Gwen, albeit as Carnage.[31][32]
  • George Stacy makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
    • George Stacy appears in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, voiced by Shea Whigham. His Earth-65 variant is Gwen's father who leads a manhunt on Spider-Woman for the murder of Peter Parker, whom Gwen had accidentally killed after Peter transformed himself into the Lizard. After Gwen reveals her secret identity, George still attempts to arrest his daughter until he is stopped by Miguel O'Hara, who takes in Gwen to join the Spider-Society. After Gwen is sent back home, she makes amends with her father after George reveals he's resigning as police captain out of love for her and encourages her to help Miles Morales. Additionally, when Miguel explains to Miles how "canon" events work to stabilize the multiverse, one example he brings up is how Spider-Man is unable to save a police captain's life in multiple universes and shows him several variants of Stacy's death, including the original Earth-616 comic, The Amazing Spider-Man film and The Spectacular Spider-Man animated series.[33]

See also

References

  1. ^ Sacks, Jason; Dallas, Keith (2014). American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1970s. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 26. ISBN 978-1605490564.
  2. ^ Manning, Matthew K.; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2012). "1960s". Spider-Man Chronicle Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging. Dorling Kindersley. p. 42. ISBN 978-0756692360. In The Amazing Spider-Man #56 fans met retired police Captain George Stacy, father of Gwen. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Wells, John (2014). American Comic Book Chronicles: 1965-1969. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 197. ISBN 978-1605490557.
  4. ^ The Amazing Spider-Man #56. Marvel Comics.
  5. ^ a b Lee, Stan (w), Romita Sr., John, Heck, Don (p), Espoito, Mike (i), Artie Simek (let), Lee, Stan (ed). The Amazing Spider-Man, vol. 1, no. 59 (April 1968). Marvel Comics.
  6. ^ The Amazing Spider-Man #59–61. Marvel Comics.
  7. ^ The Amazing Spider-Man #87. Marvel Comics.
  8. ^ Brevoort, Tom; DeFalco, Tom; Manning, Matthew K.; Sanderson, Peter; Wiacek, Win (2017). Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History. DK Publishing. p. 129. ISBN 978-1465455505.
  9. ^ The Amazing Spider-Man #90. Marvel Comics.
  10. ^ "Stacy, George - Marvel Universe Wiki: The definitive online source for Marvel super hero bios". marvel.com. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  11. ^ Manning "1970s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 55: "Captain George Stacy had always believed in Spider-Man and had given him the benefit of the doubt whenever possible. So in Spider-Man's world, there was a good chance that he would be destined to die."
  12. ^ The Clone Conspiracy #1. Marvel Comics.
  13. ^ The Clone Conspiracy #4. Marvel Comics.
  14. ^ The Clone Conspiracy #5. Marvel Comics.
  15. ^ The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 5 #50. Marvel Comics.
  16. ^ The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 5 #51. Marvel Comics.
  17. ^ Spider-Man: House of M #1-3 (2005). Marvel Comics.
  18. ^ a b Bendis, Brian Michael (w), Bagley, Mark (p). Ultimate Spider-Man #5. Marvel Comics.
  19. ^ Ultimate Spider-Man #31. Marvel Comics.
  20. ^ Bendis, Brian Michael (w), Bagley, Mark (p). Ultimate Spider-Man #32. Marvel Comics.
  21. ^ Edge of Spider-Verse #2. Marvel Comics.
  22. ^ Spider-Gwen #1. Marvel Comics.
  23. ^ Edge of Spider-Geddon #3. Marvel Comics.
  24. ^ Vault of Spiders #2. Marvel Comics.
  25. ^ "Clancy Brown on TV.com". TV.com. Archived from the original on 25 November 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
  26. ^ Director: Mike Gogue; Writer: Nicole Dubuc (July 13, 2009). ""Growing Pains"". The Spectacular Spider-Man. Season 2.
  27. ^ Cheng, Susan; Flaherty, Keely (December 7, 2017). "Marvel's Launching A New Franchise Of Wonderful, Diverse Superheroes". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  28. ^ "Second Season of Disney Branded Television's Web-Slinging Preschool Series "Marvel's Spidey and His Amazing Friends" Premieres Friday, Aug. 19" (Press release). Disney Branded Television. July 15, 2022 – via The Futon Critic.
  29. ^ Kit, Borys (November 17, 2010). "Denis Leary to Join Spider-Man Reboot". The Hollywood Reporter. Nielsen Company. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
  30. ^ Vejvoda, Jim (3 June 2013). "Amazing Spider-Man 2 Set Photos Reveal Surprise Returning Character". IGN. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  31. ^ "Denis Leary Reveals What Could Have Happened in Amazing Spider-Man 3 - Comic-Con 2015". IGN. 11 July 2015.
  32. ^ http://www.denofgeek.com/us/movies/spider-man/248933/the-amazing-spider-man-3-what-would-have-happened
  33. ^ Burlingame, Russ (June 13, 2022). "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Casting for The Vulture, Captain Stacy Revealed". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
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