When DC and Marvel make huge changes to core characters, as a fan, I kind of expect them to honor those massive changes. I firmly believe one of the main reasons fans didn’t exactly like DC’s “New 52” is that it gutted much of the Superman mythology, especially by having Lois and Clark married. Many years later, not only is their marriage back, but it also makes both characters and the supporting characters stronger.
DC, at least to me, for several years now has given fans what they want (for the most part!) and that filters through to creators, who seem to have an open hand in creating some of the strongest comics from DC in years. Marvel: not so much.
Peter and Mary Jane used to be married for like twenty years. Heck, it was such a big deal that they were married in the comic books and the comic strip (Yes, newbies! There WAS a multi-decade Spidey comic strip!). For good or bad, Marvel stuck with the marriage for the next twenty years. Once Marvel pulled the trigger, as a fan, I wanted Marvel to craft the best stories possible with a married MJ and Peter.
And to give Marvel credit, they did so until 2008’s “One More Day” storyline, which reset much of the Spider-Man mythos, including a way to “erase” their marriage. In a nutshell: Aunt May was dying. Up pops Mephisto with a deal: He will save Aunt May, at the cost of their marriage. And that’s how the marriage was erased.
Over the years, I have had many problems with this “get out of marriage” card. First, from a creative standpoint, I felt it was a lazy and irresponsible way to deal with character continuity. “My Spidey” (and MJ, for that matter) would never make a deal with a Devil. (Then again, “My Spidey” would never forgive Norman Osborn, but that’s for another day!) Lastly, considering the vastness of Mephisto’s power and ties to the other bits of Marvel, why would he even give a rat’s whatever about Spider-Man? It would seem to me that that Particular Devil would have bigger fish to fry.
It wouldn’t be so bad if Marvel wouldn’t keep rubbing it into fans’ faces about the marriage and the possibility of restoring the marriage. The closet that Marvel came to was during Nick Spencer’s Run (2018–2021). Okay, it’s been a few years since that run, but Marvel still toys with fans concerning the marriage. And Marvel seems to be content with the intent not to restore to marriage—even if it is something fans want.
And, that seems to be a big problem with Marvel across the board: not making fans happy. Part of the surge with DC (especially the Absolute line) is catering to the fans. And, isn’t that what comics should do? As a long-term fan, I feel like Marvel doesn’t care what fans think, or at least that’s what many fans think. There are reasons many Marvel titles don’t even make it to a year these days.
I dislike most of what’s going on with Spider-Man these days, and I don’t think I am alone. Many fans read Amazing Spider-Man, because A Spider-Man is better than NO Spider-Man. Remember those times when there were no Fantastic Four comics published?
Unfortunately, the problems with Spider-Man are not isolated. Many Marvel fans dislike much of what Marvel is putting out, and it is starting to show in sales. I dislike spending a whole column ragging on the state of Marvel! As everyone knows, I am usually the biggest cheerleader when it comes to comic books.
But, sometimes a fan’s gotta do what a fan’s gotta do! And, this fan wants and expects more from Marvel. Not just for me, but for all the fans who feel let down by Marvel over the past few years.
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