Comics Back in Black & Aunt May

[Lebeau]

I just finished reading Stazcynski's Back in Black arc of ASM and thought I'd get other peoples opinions on Aunt May. I don't know about you, but after having read Spidey off and on for ten years, I'm just about done with Peter trying to keep a corpse out of the ground ad nauseum.

Back in Black in particular drove me nuts since it was clearly not a good time to be supporting the lady on life support for that duration of time. It felt to me like it lost all the poignancy that was supposed to have been generated from the situation by the plain and simple fact that it was time for her to go. I couldn't get past the fact that they were still threading the same plot line 40 years on from it's debut, which of course, isn't new in the comic books world.

While I'm on the topic, what did people think of Back in Black? I'm a big fan of what Strazcynski did with Thor, so assumed I'd really like this...but I found it very predictable, cliche'd and dull. The Kingpin run almost took the Daredevil film script and repeated verbatim.

End rant...

 

[Themanofbat]

First of all, Aunt May is an important character in the spidey mythos... not just some dumb "corpse"... but as important to Spider-Man as Alfred is to Batman... so if you don't get that, maybe you should read other books than Spider-Man...

Secondly, JMS' run on ASM was boring as hell once Civil War kicked in... hence the "very predictable, cliche'd and dull" storyline...

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

First of all, Aunt May is an important character in the spidey mythos... not just some dumb "corpse"... but as important to Spider-Man as Alfred is to Batman... so if you don't get that, maybe you should read other books than Spider-Man...

Secondly, JMS' run on ASM was boring as hell once Civil War kicked in... hence the "very predictable, cliche'd and dull" storyline...

Gwen Stacy is an important character in the Spidey mythos... however, she's still dead!

Aunt May served her purpose when Peter needed guidance and a heavy dose of guilt as an adolescent during his high-school and college days. I think Aunt May has outgrown her use. We've moved beyond Peter's guilt over her constantly ailing condition and the comedy of her doting over him. She has also had so many high-drama medical emergencies that it's become a tired cliche.

Honestly, DeMatteis had the right idea when he gave her a graceful exit. I never missed her once in the three subsequent years she was gone from the books.

And TMOB I like you, but I think you're a bit harsh on the OP for suggesting he "read other books" just because he doesn't agree that Aunt May should still be around. Many of us around here feel that same exact way.

 

[Lebeau]

First of all, Aunt May is an important character in the spidey mythos... not just some dumb "corpse"... but as important to Spider-Man as Alfred is to Batman... so if you don't get that, maybe you should read other books than Spider-Man...

Secondly, JMS' run on ASM was boring as hell once Civil War kicked in... hence the "very predictable, cliche'd and dull" storyline...

So you'd happily sit through another several years of storylines involving Aunt May needing medicine that Peter can't collect because Kraven is running rampant in the Central Park zoo? C'mon man...yes, of course I know that Aunt May is an important part of the Spider-Man mythos, but there comes a point where you can't keep relying on the mythos that was created five decades ago.

It's the evolution of a character and their story over such a long period of time that makes comics such an interesting medium; for that to work you can't remain constantly reliant on something that has come before you. Eventually you have to move on from what once represented the character and shift into a storyline that hasn't been done before, which a lot of writers seem to struggle to do these days.

 

[imdaly]

So you'd happily sit through another several years of storylines involving Aunt May needing medicine that Peter can't collect because Kraven is running rampant in the Central Park zoo? C'mon man...yes, of course I know that Aunt May is an important part of the Spider-Man mythos, but there comes a point where you can't keep relying on the mythos that was created five decades ago.

Aside from Back in Black, I don't think I can think if any example since May's return in the late 90's where anything remotely like this happened.

It's the evolution of a character and their story over such a long period of time that makes comics such an interesting medium; for that to work you can't remain constantly reliant on something that has come before you. Eventually you have to move on from what once represented the character and shift into a storyline that hasn't been done before, which a lot of writers seem to struggle to do these days.

That crazy Aunt May, always going off and getting married over and over and over again. I agree, that just gets tiring after about the 10th time she's gotten married...

 

[Spider-Gnome]

That crazy Aunt May, always going off and getting married over and over and over again. I agree, that just gets tiring after about the 10th time she's gotten married...

I believe this only May's second marriage. The first was to Ben. Her "wedding" to Doc Ock was foiled and I don't know if Nathan ever proposed, but they never married (killed by the Vulture).

 

[imdaly]

I believe this only May's second marriage. The first was to Ben. Her "wedding" to Doc Ock was foiled and I don't know if Nathan ever proposed, but they never married (killed by the Vulture).

Exactly.

 

[Themanofbat]

So you'd happily sit through another several years of storylines involving Aunt May needing medicine that Peter can't collect because Kraven is running rampant in the Central Park zoo? C'mon man...yes, of course I know that Aunt May is an important part of the Spider-Man mythos, but there comes a point where you can't keep relying on the mythos that was created five decades ago.

"needing medicine" is one thing... "getting shot" is another...

I can't remember the last time I saw Spider-Man in a rush to get Aunt May's medicine, yet be foiled by a villain... in the late 70's maybe?

It's the evolution of a character and their story over such a long period of time that makes comics such an interesting medium; for that to work you can't remain constantly reliant on something that has come before you. Eventually you have to move on from what once represented the character and shift into a storyline that hasn't been done before, which a lot of writers seem to struggle to do these days.

And if you'd be reading the books, you'd see some nice evolution to May's character... she's long been the "sick caretaker" to Peter... she's a great character with lots of gumption and spunk and personality to stay on this book for a long time... in my opinion.

 

[Themanofbat]

Gwen Stacy is an important character in the Spidey mythos... however, she's still dead!

Gwen is regarded as an "important" character BECAUSE she's dead and the way she died...

In my opinion, she became very two-dimensional after Stan killed her father in ASM #90...

Aunt May served her purpose when Peter needed guidance and a heavy dose of guilt as an adolescent during his high-school and college days. I think Aunt May has outgrown her use. We've moved beyond Peter's guilt over her constantly ailing condition and the comedy of her doting over him. She has also had so many high-drama medical emergencies that it's become a tired cliche.

Honestly, DeMatteis had the right idea when he gave her a graceful exit. I never missed her once in the three subsequent years she was gone from the books.

See my previous post about what I think about Aunt May... and like it's been mentioned, when was the last time we've seen May in a "high drama medical emergency" besides BnB? It might have been a cliché in the early 80's, but I think Marvel moved on with that... and yes, I agree that her "death" in ASM #400 was a perfect end for a great character... but as we all know... things change in comics... and if they never brought her back, then we wouldn't have had those fabulous JMS issues when she discovered his identity... she's forgotten that stuff now, but again, it's comics, and it doesn't take away the fact that a good writer can write May properly and useful in the books... and I'm enjoying her role in the books now... so I don't really think she's outlived any "purpose" just yet...

And TMOB I like you, but I think you're a bit harsh on the OP for suggesting he "read other books" just because he doesn't agree that Aunt May should still be around. Many of us around here feel that same exact way.

That's cool... and I like you as well... (can I actually like an "ulcer" )... and I respect your opinion... I guess we'll just have to disagree on May's role in the books...

Cheers...

 

[Spider-Gnome]

and yes, I agree that her "death" in ASM #400 was a perfect end for a great character... but as we all know... things change in comics... and if they never brought her back, then we wouldn't have had those fabulous JMS issues when she discovered his identity...

I agree with the above statement!

she's forgotten that stuff now,

And again, another problem I have with BND.

 

[Jennifer Walters]

The only about May dying and keeping not dying I've not liked is it's created to terrible storylines. OMD and the fake genetic actress plot. Other than that everything else has been pretty much said already above.

And yes, those issues where she found out Peter was Spider-Man were great, too bad they've not happened or changed...god, I hate OMD/BND.

 

[masteryoda]

As a character Pete needs Aunt May around. Just like Superman needs Lois, Batman needs Alfred, Holmes needs Watson and Larsen needs lessons. They may go away for a while but those characters are way to important to the mythology. And Gwen could have easily gone the way of Betty Brant had she not died the way she did.

 

[TheWrathOfGod]

MJ could have functioned as Aunt May.
All the guilt and responsibility could simply be transfered.
Once again Joey Q is worse than "Seduction of the Innocent".

 

[Themanofbat]

It would be nice if you could just shut up... guess we can't get what we want...

 

[TheWrathOfGod]

No, but we can at least destroy everything we don't have.
Joey Q will answer for his blasphemy, speech is free but you have to accept the consequences. 2.5 years of no Spidey, thats a hefty bastard of acceptance.

 

[masteryoda]

I'd rather see Aunt May function as MJ.

 

[Themanofbat]

Once you go 95, you never come back...

 

[mre]

I donno... I think I have to agree with the original poster. I'm not saying I want Aunt May gone, I think she was really interesting when JMS was writing. But Back in Black was ridiculous. She should have not gotten shot, because Peter fighting so hard to keep her alive when she was so obviously doomed to die was silly. The fact that Peter could not accept this and move on was immature. She was OLD! And to save her so she could live another... what? 5 years tops? And now post BND Aunt May is not interesting anymore. I don't particularly care about her love life.

I'm sorry, but it would have made more sense - on so many different levels - if MJ was shot instead, and to keep her from dying Mephisto took their marriage.

 

[Jennifer Walters]

Really? I really like the J.Jonah Sr/Aunt May relationship, granted I loved the idea of her and Jarvis more, but it's been years since Uncle Ben's death. Aunt May deserves a little romantic happiness.

 

[WOLVERINE25TH]

I think May shoulda stayed dead with #400. Not only was her return the most poorly conceived contrivance, but until JMS' stuff her presence was utterly pointless.

I support the stance that if you got the balls to kill a character, have the balls to keep them dead (unless the death was an ACTUAL plot element always intended in the story for misdirection purposes...always the exception to the rule).

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

No, but we can at least destroy everything we don't have.
Joey Q will answer for his blasphemy, speech is free but you have to accept the consequences. 2.5 years of no Spidey, thats a hefty bastard of acceptance.

Oh boy... I hate to play this card, but you sound like you really need a girlfriend. "Blasphemy"? "Bastard"? Dude, he's a comicbook editor not some genocidal African warlord. Get a grip. Your posts sound scary... and that's coming from someone who sorta agrees with your view (not the nutty stuff about Joe Q, but about the fact that Aunt May isn't needed).

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

Once you go 95, you never come back...

What about... "Once you go 95, you feel alive"?

 

[Themanofbat]

What about... "Once you go 95, you feel alive"?

That is just awesome...

 

[Jennifer Walters]

At least Back in Black was better than Back in Black Cat. That was horrendous and took Black Cat's character back a decade.

 

[kguillou]

I dont think Peter needs aunt may anymore. Aunt May served her purpose of raising and shaping Peter into man (or manchild) he is today. Aunt May and Alfred are two completely different things. Batman will always need Alfred because he is a complete loner who would probably go crazy if he didnt have Alfred to talk to and keep him sane. Peter Parker has a plethora of friends who could support him and be there in his time of need.

In fact i would go so far as to say Aunt May is holding Peter back from becoming a man. How many times is Peter gonna go back to living with her and eating wheatcakes? Spider-man is supposed to be a book about a boy's journey through the natural trials of life from boyhood to manhood. Part of being a man is not being dependent on your elderly aunt and supporting yourself. I swear, Marvel has no idea what to do with this character.

Oh and personally I loved Back in black. Because for once, Peter Parker showed that he was a force to be reckoned with. I really really wish marvel didnt retcon that, it would've been cool to see the aftermath of the Kingpin beatdown.