Parallel Lives by Conway and Saviuk.

[SPJ]

So I recently bought and read this book at one of the comic shops I patronize. :D

With all the talk about whether Peter and MJ are going to make it through the year I thought this is as perfect a time as any to discuss it.

In my mind it was to short. Not to say I didn't enjoy it, because I did, but I would have liked more info about MJ's side of things. Like what she was up to during all the issues in the 70's/80's after Peter's fist proposal, and when he was dating other women. I know she was persuing her career, but I'd like to get more insight. So yeah it skipped ahead way to much.

Another thing I have a problem with is the idea that MJ knew he was Spider-man since day 1. Honestly, I've read some of those old issues when she was dating Harry and I don't think they read like she knew his secret. Especially during the famous drug abuse arc with Harry, when she was tending to Aunt May.

Anyway, despite all that I liked it. Anyone else have any thoughts on it?

[matthewaos]

She didn't know that Peter is Spidey since day one.

[Mister Mets]

She didn't know that Peter is Spidey since day one.
Yeah, it was only before the events of Amazing Fantasy #15. It still didn't gel well with a lot of the moments from earlier runs, and did represent a fairly big retcon when it happened.

I thought the project itself was okay. I didn't care for the retellings of big Spider-Man scenes (thought it was a waste of pages). It did try too hard to make it seem as if Peter and Mary Jane were always destined to be together, which contradicts the original Lee/ Ditko run.

[SPJ]

She didn't know that Peter is Spidey since day one.

Soory, I should have said that she knew he was Spidey since the day Uncle Ben was killed.

I agree with Cyberman it doesn't feel authentic to me. I would have really liked to see some stuff about MJ comforting Peter after Gwen's death, or what MJ was thinking when she was dating Harry.Anyway, it was still a good read.

[Noronha]

Soory, I should have said that she knew he was Spidey since the day Uncle Ben was killed.

I agree with Cyberman it doesn't feel authentic to me. I would have really liked to see some stuff about MJ comforting Peter after Gwen's death, or what MJ was thinking when she was dating Harry.Anyway, it was still a good read.

Yeah my thoughts precisely i liked the idea and parts of the story but it felt a bit rushed!

A lot of things left unexplored and since MJ didn´t have a thought ballon for a long period it would´ve been nice to know what she was thinking!

[Eye Doc]

I think Parallel lives was a bad idea. It really doesn't jive with the revealed history of the comics. But then again, Marvel seems to make it a habit of retconning/rewrtting/revising their history. In the long run it really didn't do any harm to the series, nor did it help it.


That said, it could've been a much better story if it had been longer and/or addressed some of the issues you guys have already pointed out. No need to worry about it now though. Once Quesada and company establish the fact that Pete and MJ never married you can bet MJ will have no memory of seeing Peter sneak out of the Parker house in his Spidey garb after the burgular killed Uncle Ben.

[matthewaos]

Soory, I should have said that she knew he was Spidey since the day Uncle Ben was killed.

I agree with Cyberman it doesn't feel authentic to me. I would have really liked to see some stuff about MJ comforting Peter after Gwen's death, or what MJ was thinking when she was dating Harry.Anyway, it was still a good read.

Wow, really sorry for what I said, I thought parallel lives had a very different story. Didn't knew that it had to do with this...