10 Little-Known Comics Industry Facts That Shocked Fans

1. The Big Two's Bizarre Anti-Marriage Policy

Marvel and DC have a weird thing with the status-quo, but that never used to be the case. Characters grew all the time, to the point where certain figures even aged and got married. Spider-Man and Mary Jane, Lois Lane and Superman and others all eventually tied the knot, but it was a trend both publishers came to bizarrely dislike as the Modern Age wore on.

It was Peter Parker and MJ who found themselves first on the chopping block. In a storyline dubbed 'One More Day', Peter decided to sacrifice his marriage and future with MJ in a deal with Mephisto in order to preserve the life of his elderly aunt. Writer J. Michael Straczynski was reportedly reluctant to helm the storyline, and it has since gone on to be reviled by much of the Spidey fandom.

DC, meanwhile, found themselves embarking on a similar course of action with the New 52. Several marriages found themselves retconned from existence as a direct consequence of the 2011 reboot, including Supes and Lois', Mister Miracle and Big Barda's, and Barry Allen and Iris West's too.

Then, midway through the reboot, DC caused a major controversy when they refused to allow creative duo W. Haden Blackman and J.H. Williams III to marry protagonist Kate Kane with love interest Maggie Sawyer. The reason why? Superheroes have too much baggage to be married, apparently, but also apparently just the right amount of baggage to all be eligible bachelors. What gives?

Both publishers have slowly begun to backtrack on this approach, but it was still an incredibly weird policy to hold onto.