Marvel’s Infuriating Obsession with Spider-Man’s Hated Character Paul: Why It Matters

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Loving Spider-Man isn’t always a breeze, particularly in more recent times. The repercussions of “One More Day” on Marvel continue to be substantial, and fans who cherished the relationship between Peter Parker and Mary Jane felt sidelined until Ultimate Spider-Man (Vol. 3) came out at the end of 2023. However, many Spider-Man enthusiasts believe this is one of the most challenging periods to be a fan due to a single disliked character: Paul, Mary Jane’s new husband. Marvel has shown little regard for Spider-Man/Mary Jane fans since “One More Day”, but Paul has escalated this disregard. Paul is broadly detested by readers, yet Marvel persists in promoting the character, resulting in his current role in All-New Venom, teaming up with Mary Jane as Venom.

The affection Marvel holds for the character Paul seems unusually peculiar. While debatable figures can generate income in the comic world, Paul appears to be an exception. Fans find it puzzling that Marvel continues to keep Paul in their stories, even seemingly elevating him to a high position, which some perceive as disrespectful towards fan opinions. Some fans have expressed disapproval of Paul ever since. The question remains: What is it about Paul that Marvel finds so captivating? Why do they persist in promoting his significance? And are the fans misjudging Paul’s character?

Paul Is One of the Most Infuriating Marvel Characters Ever

At a point when many Spider-Man enthusiasts anticipated an improvement in their beloved series, Paul unexpectedly entered the scene, causing a significant shift in the storyline’s momentum and positive sentiment. The new run of The Amazing Spider-Man, penned by Zeb Well, was highly anticipated due to his previous successful Spider-Man stories and the success of his work on Hellions for the X-office. Fans were eager… but Paul changed everything. This single character seemed out of place within Marvel’s universe, leading fans to speculate that he was a character created specifically to antagonize them. The implication being that Marvel had no plans to revive the marriage between Mary Jane and Peter Parker.

Paul’s portrayal consistently positioned him as superior to Peter Parker in both personal and marital aspects, fueling fan frustration. There were even rumors suggesting that Paul was a self-insert for writer Zeb Wells, which further intensified the backlash against Wells and Spider-Man editor Nick Lowe online. In wrestling terms, one could describe Paul as a ‘heel’ – a character designed to provoke intense dislike from the audience, much like a villain in a wrestling match who serves to generate interest by antagonizing spectators. This seems to be Paul’s sole purpose within the comics; Marvel likely kept him around because controversy drives sales. In other words, Paul exists as a character primarily to stir up controversy, as it appears that he lacks depth or intrigue.

Paul is a villainous wrestler, who’s supposed to provoke audience dislike, which is known as “heat” in wrestling jargon. There are two types of heat: good heat, where fans pay to watch the heel bully others, or bad heat, where fans hate the heel so much that they don’t want to see them at all. Paul has the bad kind of heat – fans really dislike him. This has negatively impacted sales of books featuring Paul. He seems to be created solely to stir controversy. The best way to get rid of a character like Paul is for fans not to buy his books and stop discussing him. Essentially, ignoring Paul and Marvel is the only way to “defeat” them, as they seem to enjoy the negative attention.

Paul Will Go Away When Fans Realize They Have the Power

As a dedicated moviegoer and comic book enthusiast, I’ve been quite vocal about Marvel’s approach with Spider-Man, which has sparked much debate for quite some time now. Initially, this approach proved successful, as the Amazing Spider-Man comics were a massive hit until the introduction of Ultimate Spider-Man. It seems Marvel prioritizes sales over fan feedback and criticism, and Paul embodies that stance perfectly. Frankly, there’s nothing redeemable about Paul – he’s barely even a character. His unpopularity is not an exaggeration; he’s despised by many fans, save for Nick Lowe (the writer of All-New Venom) who seems to delight in belittling Paul.

If you’re among those who share my disdain for this character, take action! Vote with your wallet. Refrain from purchasing any comic books that feature Paul. Silence your complaints about him. Marvel thrives on outrage, so the best way to counteract their strategy is to deny them what they seek. They’re trolling us, so let’s not play along. Don’t fuel their fire – withhold your support.

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2025-05-30 22:40