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Spider-Man, single again

Started by Count,

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Spider-Man, single again

 

Newspaper Scan....Thanks to nerfherder-3 (thumbs u

 

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.

FIND MORE STORIES IN: Peter | Parker | Spider-Man | Tobey Maguire | Kirsten Dunst | Marvel Comics | Stan Lee | Mary Jane Watson

 

"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."

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Wally's Comics

Wally's Comics

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I know - wonder if Leno or Letterman will say anything about it?? I would bet money Conan mentions it in his monologue somewhere.

 

come on you know, just as well as I do that this stuff is begging for some late night gags...

 

Q. Why did Spiderman and his wife split up?

 

A. Because the devil (Mephisto) made him do it...

 

 

or something like that.

 

 

 

:insane:

 

 

 

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bronzilla

bronzilla

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Just another reason I gave up on Nearly all Moderns, Got tired of all the disrespect The big two have shown for their iconic characters and thus their loyal long time fan base. Just my opinion maybe it works for most, but not for me.

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Wally's Comics

Wally's Comics

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The thing that really shocks me is that aunt may is still alive???? What up wit dat!

 

That's what I'm sayin'...

 

He gave up that fine assed booty for that old wench???

 

If it were up to me and that choice - aunt may would be deader than fried chicken!

 

 

 

:grin:

 

 

 

 

 

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He11blazer

He11blazer

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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGHHHH!

 

(that's better)

 

Look, I haven't read Spiderman since about issue 360, but didn't Auny May die already? Wait, let me guess, that was a clone. If Aunt May is still alive then THAT is the problem with the title that they need to sort out. Peter's marriage is a GOOD thing for the title. .

 

Aunt May must be about, what, 140 minimum? KILL HER.

 

I thought the whole point of 'Ultimate Spiderman' was to provide a rebooted series for the younger generation. They don't need to reboot classic Spidey as well!

 

How much more interesting to let classic Spidey age gracefully? Why does he have to remain caught in a timewarp for 50 years? I want Spidey to grow old with me (wow that sounds gay). I mean I want to see what a superhero does with his life as he gets older. What kind of adventures might a 50 year old Spidey have? THAT is FAR more interesting than this Peter 'Pan' Parker rubbish!

 

Joe Quesada, you are wrong. This is not a statement of opinion, it is scientifically verifiable fact. You're fired.

 

rantrant

 

 

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Wally's Comics

Wally's Comics

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Let's see here is the crazy nutweed things that has been happening in the

ASM title alone in the past decade with mighty Joe at the helm...

 

- ASM gets it's number set to #1

- Green Goblin never died (which makes ASM 122 worthless)

- Spidey gets corny new iron man suit in civil war

- Aunt May is not dead (makes ASM 400 a waste)

- Spidey joins the Avengers

- Spidey twins show-up out of nowhere and are offspring of Norman Osborne and Gwen Stacy

- Spider man reveals himself as Peter Parker on national TV

- Aunt May (who's suppose to be dead) gets shot and we're suppose to care

- Spider-man reincarnates himself in a cocoon after a riddiculiously long 2nd battle with Morlun

- Spiderman makes a deal with Mephisto saving Aunt May while erasing the relationship with MJ

- Harry Osborne isn't dead and appears out of nowhere (making Spect 200 more worthless)

- ASM gets it's correct numbering back in issue 500

- Spidey returns to black suit to look cool (only to pump up the Spidey 3 movie I guess)

 

 

did I miss anything?

 

This is just crazy!

 

Maybe I need to write Stan Lee and tell him I will buy more issues

if they get rid of this overbearing clown!

 

 

UUUGGHH!

 

 

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Wally's Comics

Wally's Comics

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I am guessing that now no one knows Peter Parker is Spider-man again???

 

I guess...

 

I tell ya, it makes it even more of a joke to be a fan of this book now

because nothing is EVER definate...

 

and I mean NOTHING!

 

What happened to the Marvel that we knew and loved that had the guts to stand

behind their decisions????

 

When the 121/122 issue happened that a Huge Bomb to the characters and storyline

yet those charcaters remained dead for what 30 years before JQ's brilliance?

 

I tell ya, it almost makes it a joke to own any issues past 300...

 

someone just shoot me.

 

 

:sorry:

 

 

 

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Artboy99

Artboy99

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I found it amusing that the part of this article that bothered me the most was this:

 

"To help emphasize the new start, Amazing Spider-Man will go thrice-monthly."

 

I hope they will go variant covers on all

 

 

Artboy99

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