Created by Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema, the acerbic Jean DeWolff had been a supporting character in the "Spider-Man" comics since her first appearance in "Marvel Team-Up" #48 (August 1976), and was familiar to readers as one of Spider-Man's few allies in the police force. According to Peter David, "The Death of Jean DeWolff" came about at the behest of Jim Owsley, at that time editor of the "Spider-Man" books: "I was going to be started on "Spectacular Spider-Man" and editor Jim Oswley wanted to shake up Spider-Man and the fans. He wanted to see a story in which Jean DeWolff was killed and there were all sorts of cover ups in the police department. So in answer to the second most-asked question I get at conventions, the answer is – Owsley wanted to kill her. Not me. I actually had storylines planned with her alive."