10 Iconic Comic Book Moments Erased By Stupid Retcons
4. Aunt May Always Knew
Amazing Spider-Man #400 was one of the most touching comics in the life of Peter Parker. Aunt May, who was in her last days, went to the top of the Empire State Building with Peter. There, she revealed that not only did she know Peter was Spider-Man, but that she had always known and that she would have had to be a fool to live under the same roof with him for all that time and never discover the truth. She told Peter she was proud of him, but then her health took a turn for the worse. Peter took her home and he recited lines from Peter Pan (which she always read to him as a child) right up until the moment she died. J.M. DeMatteis crafted a beautiful story and gave May a truly heart-warming send-off. But years later, Marvel hired John Byrne to revamp the sagging Spider-Man titles. Byrne would only agree to write the books if Aunt May were brought back. Howard Mackie then went about writing this story, in which it was revealed that Norman Osborn kidnapped May and replaced her with an actress who had been implanted with Mays genetic matrix. So the touching scene when May reveals shed always known Peter was Spidey and how proud she was of him? The tear-jerking final moments of her life? That was all just some actress. And all because Byrne wanted to go back to telling stories where Peter has to keep his identity secret from his frail old aunt.
Percival Constantine is the author of several novels and short stories, including the Vanguard superhero series, and regularly writes and comments on movies, comics, and other pop culture. More information can be found at his website, PercivalConstantine.com
