Picture this: a beloved storybook romance between Spider-Man and Mary Jane Watson, one that captured the hearts of fans for years, suddenly wiped clean from existence as if it never occurred. That's the raw angst still simmering in George R.R. Martin, the mastermind behind 'Game of Thrones,' over Marvel's infamous 'One More Day' storyline. But here's where it gets controversial...
George R.R. Martin isn't just a novelist; he's a passionate comic book enthusiast whose love for the medium even influenced his epic fantasy series. For instance, a Marvel comic directly sparked ideas for 'Game of Thrones,' showing how deeply intertwined his worlds are with superhero narratives. And while he openly shares his thoughts on comics, he also reveals a romantic side when it comes to character arcs—especially when they're tampered with in ways he finds unforgivable. He's still fuming about J. Michael Straczynski and Joe Quesada's 'One More Day,' a tale that's widely panned and rarely makes anyone's top lists of the greatest Spider-Man comics.
In this divisive story, Spider-Man strikes a bargain with the devilish Mephisto to spare Aunt May's life, only to have his marriage to Mary Jane erased as the price. After all, deals with demons rarely come without a hefty cost, right? This plot twist is anything but universally loved, and Martin stands firmly among its critics. In an interview with Popverse, he expressed his deep irritation:
"I do have frustrations with it, too, I have to admit. I sometimes [...] I don't like retcons. I don't like reboots. You know, I'm watching, I'm following a character or a superhero or something for years, sometimes decades, and then they come and say, 'Oh, no. None of that stuff happened. We're just going to start the whole thing over again.' That always annoys the hell out of me."
For those new to comics, a 'retcon'—short for retroactive continuity—is when creators change or ignore past events to alter a character's history, often to reboot the story. Martin's dislike echoes the widespread annoyance with this practice in comics, movies, and beyond. 'One More Day' might not grace many fans' favorites, but Marvel had what some see as solid motives for dissolving Peter and Mary Jane's union.
And this is the part most people miss: the business side of storytelling.
Marvel Comics had a clear goal with 'One More Day': to strip back Spider-Man to his core and boost sales. Joe Quesada, who helmed Marvel as editor-in-chief during its release, argued that tying Peter permanently to marriage made him seem too mature, potentially alienating younger readers. He envisioned Spider-Man as eternally youthful, a web-slinging icon that could endure across generations. In a 2009 chat with The Times, Quesada explained:
"I knew that for a year or two we'd be dealing with online chatter, but realistically, the story hasn't hurt sales. If anything, Spider-man is a more viable publishing entity today than ever before. But that's part of the job of being a caretaker of these characters and making sure that they are there for the next generation."
You don't have to adore the storyline, and Quesada's vision was to keep Spider-Man free from the ties of a spouse, preserving him as the adventurous, youthful hero fans adore rather than a settled adult. Yet, the outrage from Martin and legions of fans highlights a potential misstep—retconning might have backfired, tarnishing the arc's legacy forever. Since then, Peter's had other romantic interests, with occasional hints of reuniting with M.J., but their wedded bliss remains a thing of the past.
Here's the controversial twist: was Marvel right to prioritize sales over sentiment? Some argue it was a savvy move to keep the character fresh and marketable, while others see it as a betrayal of longtime relationships that enriched the lore. What do you think—does resetting a character's history for a broader appeal justify erasing fan-favorite moments, or does it unfairly disregard the emotional investment of dedicated readers? Share your thoughts in the comments; I'd love to hear if you're with Martin on this or if you defend Quesada's choices!
