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Warning: Spoilers for The Amazing Spider-Man #70!One of the biggest controversies within the Spider-Man community currently is the fact that Marvel refuses to pair Peter Parker and Mary-Jane Watson. The publishing company has been adamant about keeping them separated ever since the infamous “One More Day” storyline derailed the hero and his franchise. Marvel continues to reiterate and double-down on them not being together.
Instead, The Amazing Spider-Man #70 – written by Joe Kelly, with art by Ed McGuiness – continues Peter’s romance with Shay Marken, rekindling their relationship after it was on the brink of collapse during the “8 Deaths of Spider-Man” storyline.
There are plenty of positives to Shay and Peter’s relationship, and when MJ isn’t an option, she’s proven to be one of Spidey’s better suitors of the last decade. Unfortunately, with the publisher already teasing a new lover for Spider-Man, there are signs pointing Marvel being ready to nuke the love affair before they can give it a chance to blossom.
Shay Marken, Spider-Man’s New Girlfriend, Explained
The Amazing Spider-Man #70 – Written By Joe Kelly; Art By Ed McGuinness; Color By Alex Sinclair & Marcio Menyz; Lettering By VC’s Joe Caramagna
Shay Marken originally debuted during Zeb Wells’ infamous run as writer for The Amazing Spider-Man, emerging as the nurse for, ironically enough, Mary-Jane Watson’s aunt, Anna, at the Ravencroft Institute for the Criminally Insane. Anna had suffered bouts of insanity brought on from taking Krakoan pharmaceuticals that were spiked by Orchis. Once Spider-Man helps develop a cure in X-Men #29, he personally delivers a dose to Anna Watson in Shay’s debut. As a token of her gratitude, Anna surprises Peter by setting him up on a blind date with Shay.
Shay Marken makes her first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #45, written by Zeb Wells, penciled and inked by Carmen Carnero, colored by Marcio Menyz, and lettered by VC’s Joe Caramagna.
Shay and Peter try going on a couple of dates, but their turning point comes when they officially become an item in The Amazing Spider-Man #55. This was a turning point not only in developing their relationship, but in solidifying Shay as someone who Spider-Man cares about more than crime-fighting. As always, crime-fighting gets in the way of his date, but as Shay points out, she has to tackle her responsibilities as well. She has to balance caring after mentally disturbing patients whilst trying to maintain a love life. She struggles to make time, but still makes time for Peter.
Peter fails to reciprocate, and without knowing he’s Spider-Man, she’s reasonably slighted, inspiring Peter to make a greater effort to better balance out both his responsibilities to his wants and needs. When Peter traditionally abandons responsibility for his loved ones in favor of his superhero responsibilities, Shay calling Spider-Man out and him being receptive is refreshing. Shay has proven to be kind, personable, and patient to a fault in favor of vocalizing when she feels she’s been disrespected. She holds Peter accountable when necessary and actually convinces him to make change. Shay Marken is good for Peter andSpider-Man.
Spider-Man Has Not Appreciated Shay’s Presence In His Life
Peter Parker’s Romantic Life Is Stymied Again
Sadly, the progress, character development, and learning experience Spider-Man gains from that one date was undone once Zeb Wells’ run was over. Shay and Peter officially become boyfriend and girlfriend at the tail-end of Wells’ run, so he never had the chance to truly explore their dynamic before leaving as lead writer. The consequence of this is that, rather than follow-up and build upon the growth that Peter achieves in issue #55, the new creative team has him back to doing what he does with all his lovers: shirk his responsibilities to his partner in favor of responsibilities as Spider-Man.
Related
Spider-Man Is Staying Single as Marvel Admits the Hero’s Best Version Is Always “Unattached”
Marvel Senior Editor Tom Brevoort firmly reiterated the publisher’s position on Spider-Man’s love life, noting that they prefer the hero “unattached.”
The latest “8 Deaths of Spider-Man” arc doesn’t really give Shay anything to do but be ignored and even further disrespected by Peter as he goes through his depressed emo phase. On the advice of Aunt May, Shay tries to be patient with Peter as much as she can, but when she’s been ghosted and ignored without explanation or so much as an apology one too many times, she advises him to seek therapy before walking away in The Amazing Spider-Man #66. Their romance was seemingly over, but thankfully, in the latest issue, Shay gives Spider-Man a second chance.
Marvel Still Refuses To Let Peter Parker Settle Down, And It Will Cost Him His Relationship With Shay
A New Lover for Spider-Man Is Already Being Teased
It doesn’t seem as though this second chance for Peter and Shay is going to last long, as, in anticipation of a new era of The Amazing Spider-Man, Marvel alludes to “a promising romance” for Peter Parker. This mysterious love interest isn’t named, but if it was his current girlfriend, then Shay would likely have been name-dropped. It would be a shame for Marvel to ruin Spider-Man’s current relationship without giving them a fair shot, especially following such an optimistic ending for them in #70.
If Marvel insists on keeping Spider-Man away from Mary-Jane, then Shay has proven herself to be his best option.
Perhaps this is more of Marvel’s doubling down ofnot wanting Spider-Man to be with MJ or settle down with anyone in an effort to remain relatable. It’s a shame, since Shay shows promise as the best thing for Peter at this stage in his life, and arguably his best girlfriend since MJ. If Marvel insists on keeping Spider-Man away from Mary-Jane, then Shay has proven herself to be his best option. Given their potential, it’d be preferable for Marvel to at least give them some more time for Spider-Man and Shay to grow before separating them.
The Amazing Spider-Man #70 is available now from Marvel Comics.
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