9 Famous Spider-Man Comic Book Moments That Will Never Happen In The Movies
2. Mephisto Now Pronounces You Divorced
Peter Parker's marriage to Mary Jane Watson had been a point of contention within Marvel's hierarchy for decades. Many saw the union as nothing but a sales-driven stunt concocted by former Marvel editor-in-chief Jim Shooter. Some thought it was unrealistic for an anti-social wallflower like Peter to land a supermodel like MJ, while others argued that married superheroes just dont work, because creators inevitably have to age the characters by depicting them growing old together, having children, etc.
Still, despite the front office dissention, Peter and MJs marriage stayed in place for more than 20 years, with intermittent interruptions (MJ was apparently dead for a bit in the early 2000s and, after she was found very much alive, she ended up taking a break on the West Coast for a handful of issues). But, by 2008, then Marvel editor-in-chief Joe Quesada finally came up with a way to pull the plug on the Peter/MJ marriage in a way that was so final, and so definitive, there would be no clear path for future creators to backtrack.
As part of the One More Day storyline, Marvel's version of the devil, Mephisto, makes an offer to Peter that he shockingly does not refuse. In exchange for saving the life of his Aunt May, who is in critical condition after being shot by a bullet meant for Spider-Man, Peter and MJ's marriage is magically annulled.
Readers were irate after this storyline was published, damning Marvel for not only undoing more than 20 years of continuity, but for having Peter - not a saint by any stretch, but still a good, moral person, make an actual deal with the devil to make it all happen.
For many fans, One More Day was the straw that broke the camel's back, and they haven't read the comics since. Meanwhile, Marvel has stood by its decision, but that doesn't mean any production studio would ever dare to adapt One More Day as a film for risk of fans bringing rotten fruits and vegetables into the theatre and pelting the screen once Peter says I do to Mephisto.