Well, this is it, guys. After the events of Venom #258, I feel like it's the end of the line for me and ASM. Props to anyone who's sticking around, but my journey with this run ends here.
The promise that Peter and Mary Jane are "endgame" has turned into the biggest narrative trap in Marvel history. Even though the Spider-Office keeps pushing the idea that they’ll end up together eventually, the actual comic book timeline is telling a very different story. Peter and MJ are already in their thirties. MJ is likely even older now after the trauma of being stuck in Rabin’s dimension. The biological clock for major life milestones, like actually building a family and having kids, is running out fast. Keeping this "happily ever after" tucked away for some indefinite future is a cowardly strategy. It ignores the fact that these characters are aging and runs the risk of giving us a reunion between two seniors who missed out on their best years together.
What’s even more frustrating is that Marvel is ignoring the fact that this formula was already tested and worked perfectly for decades. The marriage between Peter and MJ wasn’t some experimental phase. It was the foundation that allowed Spider-Man to evolve from a struggling kid into a responsible man. It worked because it added layers of maturity that readers loved and are still waiting to see again. Keeping the couple in this endless loop of breakups and flirting makes no sense. If the ultimate goal is to have them together, why sabotage what we already know works? It’s disrespectful to a fanbase that has been waiting years for the return of a dynamic that should never have been scrapped for a stagnant status quo.
Beyond just the timing, the integrity of their relationship has been pushed to a total breaking point. The Spider-Office claims they can reunite them without the marriage, but after years of back-and-forth, narrative betrayals, and the constant shadow of OMD, the bond between them has decayed so much that a simple "talk" feels shallow and fake. We’ve reached a stage where the story is so saturated with unresolved trauma that even the best writing in the world couldn't fix the damage naturally. If Marvel actually wants to fulfill that "endgame" promise, they need to admit the current path is a dead end. We either need a total continuity reboot or the definitive undoing of the Mephisto pact to restore what was lost.
Since we're celebrating today, I wanted to shout out the one thing we’re all dying to see in the main 616. We really need more of Peter and MJ as parents! While the main timeline keeps us waiting, these other stories have given us some top-tier versions of the Parker family.
I honestly can't believe this actually got published. For those who don't know: this isn't Peter, it’s Doc Ock masquerading in Peter’s body while his soul is "trapped" watching. Watching Otto use Peter's face and memories to trick MJ into this is beyond disgusting. It’s not just a "body swap" trope; it’s a straight-up violation of consent that felt way too dark for a Spidey book. Honestly hard to read.
Praying he doesn’t show up in any of the stories, otherwise it’ll be such a letdown and completely ruin the experience for me.
What is this? An MJ anniversary book that is written by writers who actually LOVE her?!
Is this the same Marvel we have right now?