Earlier today,
CBR reported that Marvel released the above image, the cover of
Amazing Spider-Man #545 (part of the upcoming and much balyhooed "One More Day" event), accompanied only by the ominous text, "The end of an era."
I'm trying to decide what I think releasing the image so early is trying to say - it's obviously some kind of tease, but to what? Is Quesada saying "Gasp! What will become of Pete and MJ? Read and find out!" or is he saying, "Haha, I'm going to bludgeon this concept that I hate so much to death and there's
nothing you can do about it, bwahaha"?
I've
speculated before about what may come of the Spider-marriage after Strazynski's run on the title has wrapped. Since we can safely assume the characters won't divorce and that Mary Jane
probably won't die (despite that "one of these will die!" teaser image that popped up not too long ago and suddenly can't seem to find). That said, I can't help but wonder if perhaps Quesada's "fix" for this problem lies not in natural means, but instead in the mystical.
We know that Dr. Strange plays a role in the upcoming events. Quesada has also mentioned that once Mary Jane is written out of the books (should such a thing happen), all it takes to "start over" is simply not mentioning her at all. Quesada has also said that this doesn't necessarily write off any chance at a relationship for the two at a later date; Mary Jane could easily come back into the picture years down the line and the two could date, with no mention of their past together (this is supposedly all hypothetical). This has caused some within the online community to speculate (or perhaps a better term would be "jump to the conclusion") that this evidence indicates that perhaps, going into "Brand New Day," Peter and Mary Jane may not even be
aware that they were ever married. I don't know if I would expect Marvel to go quite that far - even these days - but it saddens me to admit that I can't completely rule it out.
I just can't help but wonder if maybe the bigwigs are in fact simply pulling the wool over our eyes, only to reveal a marriage stronger than ever by the time Strazynski leaves the title. I would hate to see this year's fantastic
Sensational Spider-Man Annual seen as little more than a fluke in the history of the character, rather than an example that the marriage isn't so much a bad idea as much as it needs someone who knows how to write realistic and interesting people who
happen to be married.
The closer the story approaches, the more apprehensive I become. Whether or not I continue reading the adventures of my favorite hero depends on the outcome of this "event" and it's execution. I hope that my reasons for loving the character will be valdiated instead of shattered, but with the way things are going these days, I'm not hopeful.
At this point, I guess there's really nothing left but to wait and see what happens...
...that, and pray, I suppose.
-M
