Comic book creator Gerry Conway has passed away at the age of 73.
Marvel announced the news on behalf of Conway’s family. No cause of death has been revealed.
Conway is best known as one of the key writers of Marvel’s Bronze Age and as the co-creator of The Punisher, one of the company’s most popular and violent antiheroes. He also wrote one of the most famous Spider-Man stories ever published, “The Night Gwen Stacy Died,” which still shapes Peter Parker’s comic book history decades later.
Marvel remembers
“Gerry Conway was a gifted writer. He was thoughtful, deeply attuned to the emotional and moral core of storytelling, and a wonderful and articulate advocate for comics and creators. His writing has inspired all of us at Marvel, and will continue to inspire generations of writers, readers and fans to come,” Dan Buckley, President of Marvel Comics and Franchise, said, via Marvel.com.
“From Spider-Man to the Avengers, Iron Man to Captain Marvel, Gerry Conway has deftly written almost every character in the Marvel Universe,” said Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski. “He thrilled us with new characters like the Punisher and broke our hearts in emotional tales like ‘The Night Gwen Stacy Died,’ a story that affects Spider-Man to this day. Gerry Conway’s legacy has made an undeniable and indelible impact on the Super Hero stories we know and love.He will be dearly missed.”
“Gerry Conway brought real stakes to his writing, able to weave together sensational super heroics with the human and relatable, and in doing so created some of the most memorable stories and characters of all time,” said Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige. “His writing has been hugely impactful across our comics, but it has also inspired so much of what we’ve done on screen, from Werewolf by Night to Daredevil to Spider-Man and Punisher. Gerry was a wonderful collaborator and friend to so many and will be dearly missed.”
Gerry Conway Helped Shape Marvel And DC Comics
Conway broke into comics as a teenager and went on to write for both Marvel and DC, leaving a long list of major credits across both companies.
At Marvel, Conway worked on Spider-Man, The Avengers, Iron Man, Captain Marvel, Fantastic Four, and other major titles.
Over at DC, his credits include Justice League of America, Batman, Firestorm, Power Girl, Vixen, Killer Croc, and Jason Todd.
The Punisher Legacy Continues On Screen
Conway’s death comes as The Punisher is about to get another major push in live-action.
Jon Bernthal returns as Frank Castle in The Punisher: One Last Kill, a Marvel Television Special Presentation streaming May 12 on Disney+.
The one-hour special arrives before Bernthal’s next big-screen appearance as The Punisher in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is currently set for release on July 31, 2026, with Tom Holland returning as Peter Parker. Bernthal is confirmed to reprise Frank Castle in the film, bringing Conway’s most famous creation back into one of Marvel’s biggest franchises.
Gerry Conway’s Impact Is Still Being Felt
The Punisher first appeared as a Spider-Man antagonist before becoming one of Marvel’s most recognizable characters. Frank Castle’s skull logo, military background, and brutal war on crime turned him into a controversial but enduring figure across comics, movies, television, animation, and video games.
Conway’s Spider-Man work also changed the direction of superhero comics. “The Night Gwen Stacy Died” remains one of the stories most often cited as a turning point for Spider-Man and the wider Marvel Universe.
Conway’s work helped push mainstream comics into darker, more mature territory. His characters and stories are still being adapted today, with The Punisher now headed into another major MCU chapter.
