| 456 | Anonymous | I have been a Spider-Man fan all of my life. I have frequently defended my comic-book habit against numerous assaults, and have, every time, referred back to Spider-Man, and his beautiful, loving, romantic marriage as a real inspirational example that could be followed by any man, and enjoyed by any woman. I have three teenage sisters, who I've introduced to the characters, and they all fell in love with Peter Parker, and his strong morals and dedicated love for his wife. It is Peter Parker, more than his costumed alter-ego, that makes the character, for everyone that I know. My sisters, in turn have introduced several of their friends...most of these have been female, which has surprised me greatly, as I have always assumed comics are mostly for "boys". After talking to many of them, who now shared my love of the iconic web-slinger, I came to realize that the female market isn't as interested in the high-powered super battles as they are in the heart-warming portrayal of such a selfless individual,and his undying love for his red-headed wife. The geek got the hot chick, the simple yet compelling reason why so many love Peter Parker. The reason why I love Peter Parker. The reason why "Beauty and the Geek" drew in more than three million viewers, is the same reason why so many across America have come to love the Web-Head. Now, sadly, I can no longer defend my beloved hero from his naysayers, after thirty years of staunchly standing up for him, and the comic industry as a whole. I simply can't defend the type of person that would make a deal with the devil to selfishly keep an old woman alive at the expense of his sacred marriage. I love the "Ultimate" Spider-Man line and thought it was cleverly and wonderfully written, but as much as I enjoyed it, I no longer can "relate" to a single fifteen year old kid who lives with, essentially, his grandmother. I relate to the married adult who displays uncompromising morals, strive to be like that, and believe him to be an inspiration for young and old. Sorry, but the uncharacteristic decision to throw away a mutual loving marriage to a super-model to keep a melancholy eighty nine year old lady alive, and away from Ben, the love of her life, in Heaven, for another three or four years, is puzzling and seems nearly sadistic. The hero that I have related to for the past twenty years loves his Aunt, but loves his wife more. That he would choose to do such a thing makes him seem like a selfish mama's boy, and that I cannot relate to. In a time when divorce rates are so high, I used to commend Marvel for such a bold, uncompromising portrayal of a romantic marriage of their flagship character. But now I believe the decision to retcon the marriage, in an era where children are exposed to self-indulgent role-models such as Paris Hilton, where positive role-models are practically non-existent, and pretend that it never existed, is downright shameful. I have heard that the decision was made in order to "make the character more relatable". I can only assume this means that a married Peter only gets in the way of immoral trysts and irresponsible "soap opera romps." And so Joe Quesada believes this will make the character more relatable to "new readers", or, in other words....children. A man who throws away the sacred vows, 'Til death do us part, through sickness and health...' so callously, and makes deals with the devil, is a good example for children according to Mr. Quesada. Wow. How unethical.
I, for one, do not watch soap operas.
I think it is a bad decision for Marvel to cast away hundreds of thousands of fans who have invested themselves in Spider-Man, and his marriage for twenty years, because one man, for whatever reason, must apparently hate women. One editor-in-chief against the majority of Spider-Man fans worldwide. Hmm. I'm not a business major, so this is one decision that is simply out of my league.
My children will know Spider-Man as a devil worshipper and will not be allowed to read his comics or see his movies. Ever. Not only has Marvel lost a life-long fan and devoted customer, but also the potential customers of my children, their children etc. Have a nice Brand New Day, Marvel, you will be having it without me. |
| 457 | Anthony Michely | Joe Quesada, you can hate women and can hate true love all you want, but I hate you for destroying Spider-Man. You have succeeded where legions of super-villians, and countless villainous schemes have been failing since August 1962, you have destroyed Spider-Man. I guess that makes you, Joe Quesada, in fact, the most dangerous super-villain in the Marvel universe, above The Super-Skrull, Thanos, Dr. Doom and Galactus. Maybe now you should develop for yourself a more dangerous and properly fear-inducing villain name than Joe. Maybe Editor-in-Doom, or perhaps Satan, but something that will strike proper fear in the hearts of super-heroes everywhere, which you might invariably target next.
Not only has Marvel lost a life-long fan and devoted customer, but also the potential customers of my children, their children etc. Have a nice Brand New Day, Marvel, you will be having it without me. |