Three Years Later, Mary Jane’s Biggest Spider-Man Twist is Still Tearing the Fanbase Apart

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Marvel’s Spider-Man comics introduced Paul Rabin three years ago, a character who became significant in the ongoing story of Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson. For nearly 20 years, Marvel has kept Peter and Mary Jane apart since the divisive “One More Day” plotline, leaving fans wondering if they’d ever reconcile. Eventually, Mary Jane started a new relationship with Paul Rabin, but as with many comic book storylines, their connection wasn’t straightforward.

Okay, so the story with Mary Jane is wild. Basically, she got stuck in this alternate dimension where time moves differently. By the time Spider-Man finally reached her to save her, four years had passed for her! In those four years, she’d built a whole life with Paul, even adopted two kids – which, being comics, turned out to be…complicated. Paul ended up becoming the most disliked character in Spider-Man history, and just when Marvel decided to write him out, it caused a huge uproar all over again. It’s honestly a really messy situation!

Marvel’s Desperately Trying to Fix the Mary Jane Mess

Following the death of the character Paul, Marvel Comics wanted to move the story forward. This included a conversation between Peter and Mary Jane, shown in issue #258 of Venom (where Mary Jane is currently bonded with the Venom symbiote). Paul’s funeral served as a chance for writer Al Ewing to address the complicated history of their relationship, and he handled it well. The story portrayed Paul in a very positive light, which is typical for a funeral, as people often remember the best qualities of those who have passed away.

Ewing offered a sensible explanation for why MJ accepted Peter’s absence. After being stuck in another dimension for two years, she concluded he must have died, allowing her to grieve, heal, and rebuild her life. This is a clever way to fix inconsistencies in the story, particularly those surrounding her initial relationship with Paul Robin. However, this explanation introduces a significant and troubling twist, raising serious questions about Paul’s character and the entire history of their relationship.

Spider-Man Fans Know the Story Better Than Marvel Do

In the comic Venom #258, it’s revealed Mary Jane wasn’t aware that time moved differently for Spider-Man. However, this contradicts earlier parts of the 2022 storyline. Paul Rabin, a character established as a scientific expert, clearly hints at time dilation throughout the story. It’s implied he understood why Spider-Man hadn’t returned immediately to save Mary Jane, but he deliberately kept this information from her. This omission is presented as the core reason Mary Jane eventually moved on and started a relationship with him. Fans have reacted negatively to this retcon and perceived inconsistency.

When asked about a recent comic book detail on AiPT Comics, Marvel editor Jordan D. White admitted the creative team overlooked something. He explained they didn’t intend to imply Paul was keeping a secret from anyone, and simply forgot that his character already knew that information. White also pointed out that time travel is often inconsistent in comics – places can speed up or slow down unexpectedly. The idea is that time isn’t fixed, so anything can happen when dealing with time differences.

The recent change to Ewing’s backstory is clever and mostly resolves the issues with the Mary Jane storyline. However, it creates problems with Paul Rabin’s character, suggesting a core dishonesty in their relationship. Unsurprisingly, fans who already dislike Paul are upset, viewing this as further proof of his negative traits. Many want the story to acknowledge this deception, with Mary Jane discovering it so she can react in a way that mirrors their own feelings.

It’s possible we’ll see more of this storyline, but it’s more probable Marvel will drop it. Paul will likely be forgotten, just like the unpopular plotline about Norman Osborn and Gwen Stacy having children. Issue #258 of Venom feels like a deliberate attempt to wrap things up so this idea isn’t revisited – and unfortunately, that might be a good thing, considering how poorly conceived it was.

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2026-06-05 17:11