Marvel wants everyone to forget aboutSpider-Man’smarriage despite all the fanfare that went into it. The premise of “One More Day,“Spider-Man’s most infamous storyline, allowed Marvel to hit a hard reset on Peter Parker and Mary-Jane Watson’s relationship. But Marvel has yet to revive it. In fact, for all intents and purposes, it seems as though Marvel’s pause on this romance will remain permanent, with no plans to undo it.
Unfortunately for Marvel, Spider-Man and Mary-Jane’s wedding from 1987’sThe Amazing Spider-Man Annual#21 and the couple’s ensuing 20-year marriage before 2007’s “One More Day” hadtoo big of an impacton the world to be forgotten or ignored. To understand just how important this singular comic book moment was, look no further thanthe swarm of publicity that their wedding had inspired in the 1980s.
That one moment carried a wave of momentum that progressed into the 21st century and a marriage that lasted two decades. Marvel can’t possibly expect fans to move on so soon.
The Amazing Spider-Man’s “The Wedding!” Was an Iconic Moment in Worldwide Pop Culture
“The Wedding!” by David Michelinie, James Shooter, Paul Ryan, Vince Colletta, Bob Sharen, and Rick Parker fromThe Amazing Spider-Man Annual#21
The year that Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson got married inThe Amazing Spider-Man’s"The Wedding!” issue,a publicity stunt produced by Marvelwas held at Shea Stadium in the real-life Queens. To promote the issue that was releasing the following week, and moments before the New York Mets faced off with the Pittsburgh Pirates, actors playing MJ andSpider-Man were wed in front of 45,000fans in attendance. Holding the event at Shea Stadium was an inspired choice, seeing as Spider-Man has mentioned being a Mets fan in his comics. Furthermore, the live wedding was officiated by none other than Spider-Man’s creator, Stan Lee.
“We Stopped Trying”: If You Want to Know Why Spider-Man and Gwen Didn’t Work Out, Stan Lee Has the Answer
According to Spider-Man creator & Marvel legend Stan Lee, Gwen Stacy was meant to be Peter Parker’s true love, but plans changed, and so did her fate.
To highlight just how extravagant this spectacle was, MJ’s dress was designed by Willi Smith, cited by theCooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museumas"the most commercially successful Black American designer of the 20th century and a pioneer of ‘street couture.'“MJ’s wedding dress was the fashion designer’s final project before his death. Widespread attention for the comic moment didn’t stop there, asSpider-Man and Mary Jane’s nuptials were covered extensively in the mediain both the build-up and the aftermath. The only comic moment to rival such worldwide publicity wasThe Death of Supermanfrom DC Comics.
Spider-Man’s Wedding Can’t Be Forgotten, and Maybe Marvel Should Accept That
At This Point, Marvel Is Just Being Needlessly Cruel to Spider-Man
Everything from the positive reception to the mass publicity was undone bySpider-Man’s deal with the Devil, Mephisto, in exchange for his marriage in “One More Day.” At least, that’s what Marvel wants. In Marvel’s current age, despite pushback from fans, Marvel thinks keeping MJ separated from Spider-Man is best for business, butbusiness seemed to boom with Spider-Man’s wedding,judging from the publicity it received. Fans have felt as if Marvel has been needlessly punishing them by killing off their favorite romance, no matter how much they express their displeasure.
Keeping the two separated is one thing, but to act like neither characters in-universe nor people in real life should remember Spider-Man’s wedding sounds cruel for the sake of cruelty.
Worse, it feels as if Marvel is needlessly punishing Spider-Man-the-character. In changing history so that their marriage never happened, Marvel’s new timeline has canonized that the two still dated, but through a series of events - best illustrated in the sequel, “One Moment in Time” - the two just didn’t work out. Keeping the two separated is one thing, but to act like neither the in-universe characters nor people in real life should remember Spider-Man’s wedding sounds cruel for the sake of cruelty. It leaves one to wonder ifSpider-Man’swedding is too historically significant for Marvel to ignore any longer.
Source:Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is the name given to several individuals who have employed a spider-moniker throughout Marvel Comics. Typically gaining their powers through a bite from a radioactive spider, the different Spider-Man heroes employ super-strength, agility, and intellect while utilizing webbing to swing and tangle up their foes. The most notable of these Spider-Men is Peter Parker, who remains one of the most popular superheroes throughout the world.
