Why Marvel Will NEVER Let Spider-Man be Happy

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[@GilmerEricSmith]

Personally I’ve found Superman more relatable over the last few years, Spider-Man is now laughably unlucky

[@TheComicsPals]

Yeah Superman has become one of my favorite characters because of the last few years of work, particularly PKJ’s Superman.

[@bluespaceman7937]

Spider-verse already proved people can handle more than one version of Peter Parker running around.

[@SnapquesterMage]

Also proved that Spiderman being unhappy is a core element to the development of his character.

[@TheComicsPals]

That's certainly true to a degree. I'm not sure how that would apply to mainline continuity though. I don't think people are interested in two Peter's in 616. Ultimate Spider-Man seems poised to give readers what they've been asking for, but many Spider-Man fans aren't happy with it because it's not THEIR Peter.

[@bluespaceman7937]

@@SnapquesterMage I'd frankly wonder about that, since the Spider-verse trilogy is not over yet. I think the whole point of the third film will likely be to turn such expectations upside down, rather than reinforcing them.

[@bluespaceman7937]

@@TheComicsPals Right, that's a fairly valid point (although it's still tempting to look back and long for a different ending to the clone saga in that respect). It's true that not everyone will be interested in Ultimate Spider-Man, because it's perceived as just an "imaginary story", but if the sales are strong enough we could have that whole line around for a significant amount of time. As for me, I agree with Alan Moore's quote about said imaginary stories from when he wrote the "last" pre-Crisis Superman tale, which isn't in continuity with modern comics yet remains a creative masterpiece. There is still value in that effort, regardless of whatever happens next.

[@ahmedbinbakr2198]

One of the reasons spider-man, like the x-men, was popular with young readers was the fact that he was a teen going through teenage drama. he grew in real time with a generation of readers through college and marriage... In 06 quessada wanted to capture a new readership with one more day and introduce them to Peter Parker in his "youthful prime". However, that readership from the late 70s and 80s wanted the logical next step in marriage, kids and dad jokes. Marvel/DC are stuck between an anvil and a hammer! age my universe and lose the essence of my characters or keep them in stagnation. I guess this dilemma is unavoidable if their goal is to publish batman and spider-man indifenatly. Personally, I think new readers deserve to enjoy these characters in their "youth". I think an introvert kid will enjoy reading about love triangles and power fantasy more then reading about a middle aged dad with offspring as sidekicks. the problem is the new readers are not as much in terms of numbers and the older guys that reminisce about the 70s,80s and 90s are so loud and entitled that they might get their way. (I was born in 87. but I had my time with the main continuity and I believe kids deserve their time with these iconic characters as well.)

[@TheComicsPals]

I couldn't agree with you more and this is exactly what the issue is. Older readers want Peter to grow up with them, but that's a very selfish perspective. They took Peter as far as they could possibly take him without doing anything too drastic that they couldn't take back like give him and MJ children.

[@almalone3282]

Because comics and stories as a whole are about struggling. Once the struggle ends the story ends as well. It goes against the "break status quo - restore status quo" cycle comics always had.

[@TheComicsPals]

You’re absolutely right on the money with that, although there are exceptions to the rule.

[@bluespaceman7937]

Peter does not need to have everything, but sometimes it seems like he has nothing. Especially since they haven't given Peter a great relationship to make up for the MJ drama. They let him be married for a long time and it did not ruin the books, so clearly something is weird about this.

[@TheComicsPals]

It didn't ruin the books, but they're absolutely different comics than the ones Marvel was making before Peter was married. Marvel wants to keep Spider-Man a youthful character that attracts young people to comics and in their estimation, a married Pete isn't attractive to young people.

[@bluespaceman7937]

​@@TheComicsPals Do you think that shift has worked? Spider-Man comics sell quite well these days, but I'd argue the bulk of the readers are old men. If anything, most younger people prefer the character's portrayal in other media, such as movies and cartoons. A few of them will pick up an issue or some trades out of curiosity, but those can be from any point in time. Honestly, I don't think the whole bad soap opera with MJ and Paul is all that appealing to young folks either. In fact, they might wonder why MJ and Peter are dating in other media but not in the comics. Don't get me wrong, I'm actually in favor of giving Peter Parker new love interests, but you need to actually commit to well-written relationship drama. Not, well, portraying him as a jealous, incel-adjacent, angry manchild.

[@DesScorp]

It's not just Spider-Man. ALL of Marvel Comics was about teenaged angst. NO one gets a happy ending in the Marvel Universe. Happy doesn't sell. So Peter Parker will never keep MJ long term, bruce banner will always turn into a monster, and Ben Grimm will always be ugly and alone. Angst sells.

[@TheComicsPals]

Good point!

[@UnCagedChristian]

Peter becomes a Mormon and wifes up MJ and Felicia. Take my money :p

[@Bruinsbigestbear]

There seems to be this belief at Marvel that prior to Peter's marriage to MJ that he was always down on his luck and kind of a loser. But that really wasn't the case. Sure, he had times where things were rough for him, but he usually came out of every struggle stronger than he was before. His marriage to MJ also provided him with stability that he didn't have in the past and did wonders for his and MJ's character development. MJ is that ray of hope and stability in Peter's life, she helps him grow to be a better person and a better hero. By ending the marriage, they stripped him of that growth. And at this point it is simply the editors not wanting to give the fans what they want. A marriage between MJ and Peter would sell at least 200,000 issues, and they could do a bunch of tie-ins and whatnot that would also move massive numbers. But they don't care because they don't want to give the fans what they want. Just look at what happened at NYCC where C. B. literally trolled fans at the Spider-Man panel. Keep in mind, that Peter and MJ having kids would provide more responsiblity to Peter, which is the key theme of the character. As Aunt May said in ASM #400, "There’s no greater responsibly in the word than raising a child… shaping a young soul. No greater responsibility.” As for why ASM is selling well; it is ASM, it will always sell well regardless of quality. The same applies to Batman. Also, this idea that the editors contend readers post OMD wont want the marriage back simply isn't true. At NYCC, C. B. got into a debate with a fan who wanted the marriage back, and C. B. said he only wanted it back because that is what he grew up reading, but the fan said that he started reading AFTER OMD. C. B. ended the debate after that. And I'm in the same boat as that fan, I didn't start reading comics till 2012 and I used Marvel Unlimited to go back and read those stories from the late 80s, early 90s and early 2000s and just wondered "why did they get rid of this?" The great thing about Peter is that he grew. He started in high school, then he graduated College, he got a job, and he got married. And readers across generations loved it, even if they weren't married or in high school. This idea that Peter moving forward will alienate readers just doesn't hold water to me since his books have always sold regardless of how much he developed. Kids grew up in the 90s with married Spider-Man and loved it. I'm single and have no interest in having kids but I really want Peter and MJ married with kids. And there are a lot others out there like me. Anyways, that is the end of my rant. Sorry for it being longer than it needed to be.

[@TheComicsPals]

Really sorry I didn't see this comment sooner. I appreciate you adding your thoughts to the discourse. I'm not sure if you'll even see this so I won't elaborate too much, but if a married Peter is what you want I sure hope you're reading Ultimate Spider-Man! Thank you and I hope to see you around here again!

[@Bruinsbigestbear]

@@TheComicsPals Thanks for leaving a comment! And yes, I loved USM. Making Peter Spider-Man in his thirties, but still making him feel like mainline Peter Parker was fantastic. I also hope that it shows Marvel that fans enjoy a married Peter Parker with kids.

[@sandywest4977]

Spider man boy was rich and messed it up. Peter life is drama just don't be dramatic about it.

[@TevyaSmolka]

Personally for me all is peter parker Spider-Man to finally be married again and have his wife Mary jane and they have there two kids mayday parker Spider-girl and Benjy parker alive and kicking and stop holding the character for garbage stories nobody wants to read myself included but that's just my opinion.

[@TheComicsPals]

It's an opinion a lot of Spider-Man fans share.

[@TevyaSmolka]

@@TheComicsPals lol indeed and you're right about that and personally for me now that we have Miles Morales Spider-Man in the mainstream marvel universe, I think the best option now would be for Peter parker Spider-Man to finally grow up and move forward and letting him be married to his wife Mary jane and having his daughter mayday parker spider-girl and benjy parker her two kids learning how to become heroes and being teach by both Miles Morales Spider-Man and Peter parker Spider-Man would be freaking fantastic and amazing for both characters moving forward at least in my opinion.