Posted on 01/10/2008 12:33:03 PM PST by pgyanke
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."
1) In a society with so few marriages lasting, can't we let kids of broken homes have any examples of working marriages... even in fiction?
2) The characters make a deal with the devil to "rend asunder what God has joined." Welcome to the brave new modern era where good doesn't always triumph.
3) The writers admit they've been trying to break up Peter and Mary Jane for years... but they couldn't do it... because the fans wouldn't go for it? Why do they think they will go for this?
I read many years ago that the best writers write about characters... they follow them and report on their story. The worst writers force the story to unfold as they want it to. You can guess what I think of these writers...
How about how the nerdy Peter Parker had to lose his glasses almost immediately in the Spider-Man movies?
Don’t look to the popular culture for role models.
And I’m sure that Steve Ditko (original artist and co-creator of Spider-Man) has to be dismayed to see his creation used by Marvel and the UN to push the United Nations’ propaganda to school children. Steve Ditko’s own political views are more alligned with Ayn Rand’s Objectivism.
Some years ago, a big name science fiction writer (might have been Jerry Pournelle) commented that a good writer is very careful about how he treats his characters ... especially considering how well armed most of them are.
Dibbs on Mary Jane!!!
So much for reading Spidey. Pretty much, there’s nothing MARVEL worth reading anymore. Cap was killed. Spidey is re-written. . . is nothing sacred ?
At least DC keeps its’ heroes. . .
Back in the mid '90s, they were using Batman to push gun control. All the bad guys in Gotham City were getting their guns in Virginia, or some such rot.
Im a single “frivolous” young dude, but Superman being married to Lois Lane, that didnt bother me at all. It just shows Superman has his priorities straight..that’s why he’s Superman.
Marvel, being operated by a lefty (Quesada) opts to screw up everything for the sake of sales. Spidey is an icon. No wonder I have never bought a single Marvel comic in 6 months. The last <Marvel comic I wanted to buy was Thor # 3, but was sold out. Marvel opted to COMBINE 1, 2 and 3 for the 2ND printing, which didnt sit well with me because i already had THOR 1 and 2. Freakin idiots at Marvel.
First Civil War’ where the heroes have to join the govt OR DIE (communist crapology) then the UN comics. No more marvel for this dog.
the three rings of marriage:
Engagement Ring
Marriage Ring
suffer ring
If you want to see Ditko’s Objectivism fully realized in comic form, see: http://www.dialbforblog.com/archives/297/
Oops, posted the link before seeing the image in your later post — looks like you’re already acquainted with “Mr. A.”
I always knew Spidey was a homo.
Y’know... that’s probably next.
And didn't he give Monica an overpaid job in one of his companies to shut up during the Paula Jones trial?
I swear, I’ve never seen the dude before...
Fast is this sounds like the sort of cheap theatrical trick that “writers” with a block use to meet deadlines. The saving grace (albeit an extremely irritating and insulting one) is that they usually couple it to the scene where Spiderman wakes up and realizes he was only dreaming.
Pathetic!
Does Stan Lee still do this? Maybe they could bring in Hillary/Bill/Peter Paul-like characters???
They Killed Jean Grey.
Then brought her back ten years later as Phoenix.
Anything is possible in Comic Books.
Continuity is always a problem, trying to keep stories current, while characters have been living in times for more than 40 years.
My bet will be that this storyline with Mephisto will eventually end up being a bad deal. The “Deal with the Devil” seems like a good idea for Peter and MJ, but maybe not in the long run.
The man who was the original Captain America is Dead.
But Bucky will take the costume.
So the man is dead, but the ideal lives on.
The NEW Cap carries a Gun.
The REAL Cap was manly and skilled enough not to need one: his physical combat prowess, superhuman strength, and shield were sufficient. . .
Superheroes don’t need guns, that’s why they’re SUPERheroes. . .
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