Editorial mandates and restrictions

[Matt Linton]

Saying "Every relationship story is actually the same because they will all ultimately end" could just as easily be "Every marriage story is actually the same because Peter and MJ will ultimately stay together".

[GDB]

Saying "Every relationship story is actually the same because they will all ultimately end" could just as easily be "Every marriage story is actually the same because Peter and MJ will ultimately stay together".

Except you (generally) want a relationship to go somewhere. It can't here. You generally want a marriage to go somewhere (as in staying together). It happens here. Well would you look at that?

[Matt Linton]

Except you (generally) want a relationship to go somewhere. It can't here. You generally want a marriage to go somewhere (as in staying together). It happens here. Well would you look at that?

I want to read fiction with interesting conflicts. In the case of Spider-Man, I'm more interested in seeing how the various relationships end, and the ways in which Peter's life is different based on who he's with than I am in seeing how he and MJ go through and overcome conflicts together. I'm pretty much in the Roger Stern camp of finding MJ a far more interesting character as a friend/girlfriend/ex-girlfriend than as a wife.

[Mister Mets]

Which is not stated fact but really just ones personal opinion.

I think a single Spider-Man merely gives the impression that there are more stories to tell, when in fact there is really only one place that the relationship can conceivably go before its sent to the dumpsters. Like Stillanerd mentioned a while back, most of Peter's relationships with women outside of MJ always end because there is a built in flaw in the relationship that will ultimately end it- be it the death of Betty's brother, Deb Whitman deducing Pete's secret ID, or Black Cat's instability and dislike of Peter's personal life. It just SEEMS that there is more diverse material, when in reality it is merely the same thing over and over again, just with a twist here and there to make it seem different. Its much easier to rehash old storylines, but give it a new twist here and there to make it seem like its brand new.

And that's not even getting into the whole thing about MJ being promoted as "Spider-Man's girl..."

Amongst other things, the stories you get when Peter Parker is in a relationship with Mary Jane will be different from the stories you get when Peter Parker is in a relationship with Felicia Hardy, which will be different from the stories you get when Peter Parker is in a relationship with Carlie Cooper, which will be different from the stories you get when Peter is in a relationship with Sabra, which will be different from the stories you get when Peter is in a relationship with Betty Brant, which will be different from the stories you get when Peter is in a relationship with Randy Robertson's ex-wife, which will be different from the stories you get when Peter is in a relationship with Ursula Ditkovich, which will be different from the stories you get when Peter is in a relationship with an entirely new character.

Well, as you've sometimes pointed out, Marvel shouldn't necessarily take the wishes of individual fans into account when they are writing their characters.

I was unaware that a significant percentage of Spider-Man fans wanted Mary Jane flirting with Lobster Man stories.

[Mister Mets]

Except you (generally) want a relationship to go somewhere. It can't here. You generally want a marriage to go somewhere (as in staying together). It happens here. Well would you look at that?

Nah. You generally want decent stories. And interesting and characteristic conflicts for the protagonist.

Incidentally a relationship that ends in heartbreak still goes somewhere.

[Endless Flight]

Amongst other things, the stories you get when Peter Parker is in a relationship with Mary Jane will be different from the stories you get when Peter Parker is in a relationship with Felicia Hardy, which will be different from the stories you get when Peter Parker is in a relationship with Carlie Cooper, which will be different from the stories you get when Peter is in a relationship with Sabra, which will be different from the stories you get when Peter is in a relationship with Betty Brant, which will be different from the stories you get when Peter is in a relationship with Randy Robertson's ex-wife, which will be different from the stories you get when Peter is in a relationship with Ursula Ditkovich, which will be different from the stories you get when Peter is in a relationship with an entirely new character.

Do you honestly believe that Marvel is going to pursue most of those? I think Marvel's just waiting to find the right time to clumsily insert MJ again as Peter's girlfriend.

[Mister Mets]

Do you honestly believe that Marvel is going to pursue most of those? I think Marvel's just waiting to find the right time to clumsily insert MJ again as Peter's girlfriend.

And when that happens, it's not going to last forever.

[Jim Thompson]

Nah. You generally want decent stories. And interesting and characteristic conflicts for the protagonist.

Incidentally a relationship that ends in heartbreak still goes somewhere.

Originally Posted by GDB Except you (generally) want a relationship to go somewhere. It can't here. You generally want a marriage to go somewhere (as in staying together). It happens here. Well would you look at that?

Haven't you both just defined your personal views here, and nothing more?

[Mister Mets]

Haven't you both just defined your personal views here, and nothing more?

I was unaware that anyone didn't want interesting stories and conflicts for the protagonist.

[Jim Thompson]

I was unaware that anyone didn't want interesting stories and conflicts for the protagonist.

Would depend on whether or not a reader would find the conflict you've outlined interesting, wouldn't it?

[Endless Flight]

And when that happens, it's not going to last forever.

Spider-Man's not going to last forever either. What's your point?

[Jim Thompson]

Spider-Man's not going to last forever either. What's your point?

Spider-Man might not be around forever, but I do think he has attained the status of "American God" -- chances are he'll be around for a good long while!

[Endless Flight]

Spider-Man might not be around forever, but I do think he has attained the status of "American God" -- chances are he'll be around for a good long while!

Yeah, I was teasing.

As an aside, is there a chance that Marvel and DC heroes could become public domain in the next hundred years? I'm not totally up on copyright law.

[Jim Thompson]

Yeah, I was teasing.

As an aside, is there a chance that Marvel and DC heroes could become public domain in the next hundred years? I'm not totally up on copyright law.

Not if the companies renew their copyrights to the characters.

[Endless Flight]

Not if the companies renew their copyrights to the characters.

Yes, but wasn't Disney trying to get copyrights extended because they were worried about Mickey Mouse becoming public domain? Surely he makes more money than Spider-Man, or any other Marvel character.