Those who know Spider-Man only from Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst in the movies might be surprised to learn that in the comic book, the web-spinning hero has been married for almost 21 years.
That's why the comic world is in an uproar over Marvel Comics' decision to undo the marriage of Peter Parker and red-haired bombshell Mary Jane Watson, reversing two decades of storytelling.
In Amazing Spider-Man #545 last week, Peter and Mary Jane make a tearful deal with the devil-like character Mephisto: In exchange for saving Aunt May's life, Mephisto erases all traces of the Peter-Mary Jane marriage from memory.
In the issue out this week, subtitled Brand New Day, Peter Parker returns to his roots — young, nerdy and single. Aunt May is alive and well and Mary Jane is again just part of the cast. The marriage never happened.
"People are very upset. They erased a lot of stuff that had been set in stone," says John Newman, manager of Ultimate Comics in Chapel Hill, N.C., on Wednesday as customers came in to buy the opening chapter of Brand New Day. To help emphasize the new start, Amazing Spider-Man will go thrice-monthly.
"We knew it would be a very controversial thing to do," says Joe Quesada, Marvel's editor in chief, who believed so much in the project that he drew the crucial issues himself. "Looking into the future, this is really the right thing to do for the long-term health of the character."
Spider-Man, created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko in 1962, was a hit, connecting with young readers because he was a geeky teenager, shy with girls and uncertain of how to use his powers. But in 1987, Peter and Mary Jane, by then a fashion model, got married. Marvel had instant regrets.
"I remember editors and editors in chief lamenting that a married Spider-Man was not where we want to be," Quesada says. "A married Peter Parker makes for a less interesting soap opera than a single Peter Parker going about his nerdy kind of life."
Writers tried everything: The couple separated for a while. She miscarried. And in a much-criticized story line, Marvel tried to convince readers that Peter Parker had not gotten married, but his clone. That didn't stick, either. Then Quesada took over and insisted the marriage just couldn't continue.
"Nobody wants to read about a married Spider-Man," says Craig Shutt, a columnist for Comics Buyers Guide. "But in the short run, it's a terrible idea. It disrespects the readers by saying everything they read is wrong."
At DC Comics, Superman is married to Lois Lane, disrupting that title's long-standing tensions. DC declined to comment for this story.
Quesada is steadfast that for Spider-Man, the move is the right one: "Ultimately we have to do this to keep this character fresh for this generation and generations to come."
I'm actually happy they went back to his roots. I wasn't alive back when he was a nerdy kid with no idea of girls. All I had was Ultimate Spiderman. Since they went back to his roots, I get a chance to stick with him through it too.
Plus, there's all the other bonuses. This was a great idea.
I have been a lifelong Spider-man fan and collector for over 23 years now. I started reading and collecting Spidey since I was around 8 years old. I have put up with and bought the good AND the bad Spidey stories over the years...but after reading what Marvel is now doing to this iconic character, which I have loved my whole life, I AM DONE!
I am absolutely done with Spider-man FOREVER now. I have NEVER, and I do mean NEVER been more disgusted with Marvel than right now. Do you hear me Marvel??? You have now lost a lifelong Spider-man fan, reader, and collector and I hope legions follow me!!! Thank you Marvel for SINCERELY f**king up a great character and a great comic.
I. AM. DONE.
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Conan, what is best in life? To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and sigs by Beta Ray Howard.
Last edited by Comicbook_kid on Jan 12th, 2008 at 06:14 AM
Soooooooo... how do we know what did happen and what's didn't? Harry's alive, Peter is no longer an avenger and never was one, so all of the avengers stories have never happened. All the marvel team-up and friendly neighborhood stories are no longer canon??? What was the point of that talk with Jameson then? So now he's back at hating Spiderman?
"One more day" is a new definition of word "stupid"...
Marvel has ****ed up before but this is beyond just a simple screw up EVERYTHING that Peter have been through is just gone now. And correct me if I'm wrong but because of this does anyone remember Spider Man unmasking himself during the civil war?
Well apparently she is still dead, so I don't understand how this works anymore, now you have to think about other heroes, like the NA since Spider-Man no longer joined, so there lives have changed, classic and dead villains may return (not carnage, please not him ) so...it's, it's just one big mess.
KMC Community Forums
Jan 11th, 2008 03:09 AM
Because
but it is true 100% true, as I never fail to stop mentioning.
) so...it's, it's just one big mess.
