By Ivan Pereira
Spider-Man, aka Peter Parker, ended his marriage to his college sweetheart and neighbor Mary Jane Watson in last week's issue of “The Amazing Spider-Man” comic. In the conclusion of the controversial story line “One More Day,” Peter made a deal with the villain Mephisto to have his marriage erased from existence in exchange for the life of his dying Aunt May.”You two will no longer be married. Because you two will never have been married. It simply never happened,” the demonic villain told the couple, who both grew up in Forest Hills in the comics.In addition to losing his wife, the wall crawler also lost his ability to shoot organic webs from his wrist, which he gained in a 2004 story, but regained his secret identity, which he had revealed to the world in an later story line in 2006. Fans across the world were in shock over the decision to end Spidey's marriage, which began in 1987 with a special wedding issue, and let out their criticisms on Internet discussion boards.”You could have easily put back in the supporting cast without this abysmal story, you didn't need to make Peter single again to do it…and who cares about the web shooters…the organic ones always made sense,” said Internet poster “shadowchaser” on the comic book news Web site Comic Book Resources. Marvel Comics Editor in Chief and Jackson Heights native Joe Quesada, who drew the four-issue story arc, defended his decision to alter Peter's love life, stating the move made the hero more accessible to new readers.”Will everyone be happy with the decision? No, of course not, but that's what makes it a horse race,” Quesada told Comic Book Resources in an interview Friday. “At the end of the day, my job is to keep these characters fresh and ready for every fan that walks through the door, while also planning for the future and hopefully an even larger fan base.”Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson first met in the now famous 1966 issue of “The Amazing Spider-Man”. Her first words to her future husband are forever ingrained in pop culture history.”Face it Tiger…You've just hit the jackpot,” she told a mesmerized Peter.The two dated off and on in the comics and got more serious in the '80s when she revealed to Peter that she knew his superhero secret. Their wedding in 1987 was such a big event in the comic world that Marvel held a live action re-enactment of the wedding at Shea Stadium with actors playing the famous couple.The duo's relationship's end began after Spider-Man revealed his identity in a live TV press conference during the Marvel “Civil War” story line in 2006. Soon after revealing himself, a hit man hired by the Spider-Man villain known as the Kingpin shot Peter's Aunt May.Peter's beloved aunt was in a deep coma and was not going to make it before Mephisto gave the troubled hero the controversial offer.Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 146.
