Gerry Conway: Spider-Man, Punisher, and 50 years of Remarkable Comics

Posted on May 4, 2026

by Eric S

It’s basically impossible to talk about Marvel Comics in the ‘70s without mentioning one of its greatest writers, Gerry Conway, who died this week at the age of 73. A comic fan from an early age, Conway’s first story was published in the pages of DC’s House of Secrets when he was still only 16 years old. At Marvel, he’d make a name for himself writing horror titles Werewolf by Night and Tomb of Dracula, although he’d truly leave an impression on The Amazing Spider-Man.

Not only did Conway introduce the character of The Punisher, a violent antihero whose influence on comic characters has been incalculable, but he also wrote the infamous story “The Night Gwen Stacy Died” in 1973’s Amazing Spider-Man #121 and #122. The death of Spider-Man’s girlfriend at the hands of the Green Goblin, shocking for readers at the time, marked a loss of comics’ innocence, while also anticipating the trend of darker, more cynical comics in the ‘80s. Of course, Conway left his mark on many other characters over the years as well, with beloved runs on The Legion of Super-Heroes, Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Justice League of America, Firestorm, Wonder Woman, and countless others.

Unfortunately, Conway marks the third major comic creator we’ve lost so far in 2026 (after Tatjana Wood in February and Sam Kieth in March), and he leaves behind a substantial and influential body of work. In his nearly 50-year career, Gerry Conway impacted American superhero comics in ways that I suspect we’re only starting to truly understand and appreciate. With the new Spider-Man film coming up in July — featuring none other than Conway’s Punisher character in a supporting role — take a moment to check out one of the major comic book architects without whom these kinds of movies could never be made.

For more great comics, make sure to check out the offerings of your local branch as well as the hoopla app.