As The Only Mutant in Marvel

When something that once brought happiness turns into a source of frustration and pain, the first question people ask themselves is whether to keep going.

That was exactly how Gwen felt.

She wasn't sure if she liked being a superhero because it made her feel good or because it made others appreciate her.

If it was the latter, she knew she should probably quit now.

There were far more people criticizing her than thanking her.

Gwen didn't understand why.

She thought she was doing the right thing—helping people and making a difference.

But people didn't seem to remember the good she did.

Instead, they latched onto the moments when she wasn't there.

Take the recent fire at the Plin Te Apartments, for example.

Two days ago, around 9 p.m., a fire broke out in the seven-story apartment building in the Bronx. Over a hundred people—mostly Black and Hispanic residents—lived there.

The blaze was later confirmed to be arson, but the damage had already been done. Several people died, and the tragedy quickly captured public attention.

At first, the focus was on catching the arsonist.

But then the narrative shifted.

People started asking why Spider-Woman hadn't shown up to help.

Suddenly, accusations of racism flooded social media.

They called her a bigot who ignored the lives of minorities.

The backlash spiraled out of control.

The irony was that Gwen hadn't even known about the fire.

That night, she'd been across the city, stopping an armed robbery.

But none of that mattered to the internet.

The accusations stung.

Gwen had never considered herself a racist.

Sure, she wasn't particularly close to Black people, but she didn't hate them.

And yet, overnight, she became the internet's latest target for cancel culture.

"I'm not a racist! I didn't even know about the fire until the next morning!"

Gwen's voice trembled with frustration.

Lance looked at her calmly.

"So what? Are you going to quit?"

Gwen hesitated.

The idea had crossed her mind.

She hadn't always dreamed of being a superhero.

She didn't have the whole "with great power comes great responsibility" mantra drilled into her like other Spider-Men.

But once she put on the mask, it felt good—almost addictive.

It reminded her of the thrill she got performing with her band.

That feeling of standing on stage, hearing the crowd cheer—she loved it.

And now?

It felt like the entire world was booing instead.

"I don't know," Gwen admitted.

"I'm tired of being hated for doing the right thing."

Lance leaned against the railing, arms crossed.

"You don't really want to quit."

Gwen frowned.

"How do you know?"

"Because you're here, asking for advice. If you really wanted to quit, you wouldn't be wrestling with it—you'd just stop."

Gwen fell silent.

"Listen," Lance continued, "if you want to keep being a superhero, you need to learn to block out the noise. You can't please everyone. No one can."

He glanced at her.

"You think Captain America didn't have haters? The Avengers have critics too. You know what they all have in common?"

Gwen shook her head.

"They didn't let it stop them."

Gwen bit her lip.

"I get what you're saying, but it's hard to ignore. These people—what if they're right? What if I'm not doing enough?"

"You can't save everyone," Lance said firmly.

"And you shouldn't try to."

Gwen looked at him.

"Help the people you can. If you want to help, then help. But don't let strangers on the internet decide how you live your life."

He paused.

"To hell with them."

Gwen blinked.

"The greater the ability, the greater the desire."

"Desire?" Gwen repeated.

"That's right," Lance said. "You want to help people, but it has to be on your terms—not theirs. As long as you aren't hurting anyone, do what makes you happy. That's enough."

Gwen stared at him for a long moment.

Finally, she nodded.

"You're right. I let them get to me."

She straightened her back, her eyes clearing.

"I can't save everyone, and I don't have to. I just have to do what I can."

Lance smiled.

"Now you're getting it."

Gwen laughed softly, some of the weight lifting from her shoulders.

"You're surprisingly good at this, you know that?"

"What can I say? I give great advice."

Gwen shook her head, but she was smiling.

"Thanks, Lance."

"Anytime," he said, holding out his hand.

Gwen took it.

"So, Spider-Woman fights crime… out of interest?"

Lance grinned.

"Exactly. No guilt, no pressure—just you doing what you love."

Gwen nodded.

"I like that."

She swung off the terrace, her movements lighter than before.

Lance watched her go.

Superhero or not, Gwen was still just a kid trying to figure things out.

But at least now, she had a better idea of what kind of hero she wanted to be.

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