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Spidey Dumps Mary Jane

Split, meant to entice younger readers, riles longtime fans

By Marcia Greenwood, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 11, 2008 10:53 AM CST

(Newser) – After 20 years of togetherness, Peter Parker and his beloved Mary Jane are kaput, and he's locking lips with a new mystery woman, according to the latest issue of the Amazing Spider-Man series. Longtime fans of the Marvel Comics classic aren't any too happy about the split, Newsweek reports. "This is an admission of a lack of ideas," said one disgruntled fan.

But it isn't the breakup itself they take exception to—it's the unrealistic explanation for it. Peter and MJ allowed the devil-like villain Mephisto to wipe out all record of their lives together so that Peter's aging aunt can live, and they forget about each other. Marvel says it was necessary to return Spidey to his carefree, bachelor days to attract new, younger fans.

[Images (2)]

[Videos (1)]

An early Spider-Man painting from the collection of Stan Lee. (KRT Photos)

Tobey McGuire and Kirsten Dunst play Peter Parker and Mary Jane on the big screen. (Getty Images)

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Spider-Man original television cartoon theme song. (omimon (YouTube))

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Spidey Dumps Mary Jane