Doomed Affairs

Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson had attempted to see each other in their respective homes in New York and Los Angeles to try and work on their marriage.[1] Unaware that they had the same idea they returned home about ready to call it quits when both of their flights were diverted to Denver. When they realize what had happened they had a laugh over the typical Parker luck. Sitting down to talk, Mary Jane tells Peter that she didn’t realize how much she still cared for Peter until Shanthra went on the news and claimed that Spider-Man was her lover.[2] It made her realize that living with someone who has a secret double-life is hard as she has often wondered if Peter will ever grow bored of her and seek someone more exciting. Seeing a far-off look on Peter’s face, Mary Jane asks him if she is listening. That’s when he points out that Doctor Doom, whose own flight was diverted, is being escorted onto the terminal by airport security. Doctor Doom considers this an insult on top of an insult as his country has been invited to a conference on how to deal with climate change, something that is mostly the fault of the United States in his mind. The only reason why Doom has even considered joining the conference is because it will take all of the United Nations to tackle the problem.

That’s when Peter’s spider-sense goes off and he tells Mary Jane that there is going to be trouble, but it’s not about Doctor Doom. That’s when a man rushes up to Doom and starts chanting Latverian resistance slogans before opening his coat to reveal that he has strapped himself with explosives. As the man presses down the detonator, Peter pushes Mary Jane to cover. The blast was right in front of Doctor Doom and causes serious damage to the terminal. Rushing to the aid of one of the security guards, Peter is surprised to see Captain America’s costume under his shredded security uniform. He pulls Cap to safety and quickly puts on his Spider-Man makes before Captain America wakes up. Captain America tells Spider-Man that the danger is more serious than it appears. Suddenly, a man in a suit of battle armor comes crashing in to finish off the job the suicide-bomber failed to do. Before the man in the battle armor can kill Doom, Spider-Man leaps in, not believing he is actually saving Doctor Doom’s life. As he fights the resistance fighter, Spider-Man tries to convince him that killing Doctor Doom is not the right way to deal with the tyrant and he won’t stay back and allow someone to murder him.[3] The freedom fighter refuses to listen and is about to blast Spider-Man with one of his onboard weapons when Captain America comes to his aid, smashing the attacker with his indestructible shield. Although the combatant is down, Captain America warns Spider-Man that there are more coming. With rescue crews trying to dig through the rubble on the other side, Cap tells Spider-Man that their job is to make sure that the other trapped passengers stay safe.

With a moment to rest, Spider-Man takes a seat on the floor next to Mary Jane. That’s when Mary Jane says that he never introduces her to his friends. She says that this has made her feel more like Peter’s mistress than his wife primarily because his secret identity prevents him from acknowledging he knows her when he’s in costume. She understands why Peter keeps his identity a secret and why it’s important but she still feels that way nonetheless. It’s one of the reasons why she doesn’t feel like she fits into his life. She doesn’t think it’s good enough when Peter says she fits because he loves her. Unfortunately, their conversation is cut short when Peter’s spider-sense begins going off alerting Spider-Man that the freedom fighter’s reinforcements have arrived. Spider-Man and Captain America defeat the three new arrivals in rapid succession, allowing Peter to get back to his conversation with Mary Jane. She can’t believe that they’re having this discussion in the middle of a super-villain battle. When Peter makes a joke, she tells him to be serious with her and that they need to talk to each other face-to-face. They then go to somewhere secluded so Peter can unmask and tell her how he really feels. Peter says that he doesn’t just lover her, but he needs her in his life. That he can only do what he does because Mary Jane believes in him and that when she’s there he feels like he can do anything. Since she’s been gone he feels that nothing is right. Hearing all this makes Mary Jane cry because before they split up she thought that she couldn’t do anything to help him in his life, that she didn’t think he needed her. What he just told her was what she’s wanted to hear for quite some time. Hugging Mary Jane, Peter tells her that he needs her and he’s nothing without her and asks her to please come home. She tells him that she will.

That’s when rescue crews begin getting through to everyone trapped in the terminal and begin evacuating people. It’s then that Doctor Doom wakes up from being caught in the blast earlier. He has heard that Spider-Man and Captain America saved his life and that he owes them. Spider-Man tells Doom to forget it, saying he can’t wait for the day Doctor Doom is put before a jury in the Hague.[4] Doom decides to spare Spider-Man this insult and is soon ushered to another part of the airport so he can resume his flight. With everything over, Spider-Man decides to introduce Captain America to Mary Jane. After introductions, Captain America deduces their relationship and has some advice for Spider-Man. He tells him that while the wall-crawler’s mask hides his face, he should never let it hide his heart. With that, Spider-Man tells MJ to book them a return flight to New York while he looks for somewhere to change out of costume. Meanwhile, Doctor Doom runs afoul of airport security when his suit of armor sets off the metal detectors.

Later, Peter Parker and Mary Jane are enjoying a day together in the wilderness. Peter is so happy he welcomes her home.

Recurring Characters

Spider-Man, Mary Jane Watson, Doctor Doom, Captain America

Continuity Notes

1. Peter and Mary Jane have been separated since Amazing Spider-Man Annual 2001. They are referred to as husband and wife here. However, not long after this, their marriage is erased from existence by Mephisto in Amazing Spider-Man #545. As such, they should be considered a common-law couple here.

2. Spider-Man was hunted by a spider-wasp creature called Shanthra in Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 2) #46-48. Taking on human form, Shanthra went on the news and made a number of salacious claims about Spider-Man in order to draw him out of hiding.

3. Yes, yet another reference to the murder of poor Uncle Ben. Amazing Fantasy #15.

4. Spider-Man specifically says he can’t wait for the day he turns on CNN and sees Doom on trial. This should be considered a topical reference per the Sliding Timescale of Earth-616.