The current Spider-Man storyline sets a new low in poor taste in how it exploits the greatest tragedy of Aunt May‘s life. This is hardly the first time Marvel Comics sought to shake things up with a shocking storyline. However, despite claims of good intentions in tackling a sensitive subject, the actual execution leaves much to be desired.
The tasteless twist came in Amazing Spider-Man #31, by Joe Kelly and Patrick Gleason. The recent Death Spiral event introduced a new character named Cormac “Mac” Crane. Precisely who Mac was wasn’t clear. However, the serial killer Torment (who had the power to sense bloodline connections) said Mac was Spider-Man’s cousin.
All that was revealed of Mac by the event’s end was that he was rich enough to have a personal assistant start looking into his family history. This led him to seek out Aunt May and start volunteering alongside her. Eventually, Mac revealed himself as the long-lost son of Aunt May and Uncle Ben.
Amazing Spider-Man #31 offers an explanation for how they could have a son they didn’t know existed. May discusses how they tried to have children unsuccessfully for several years. Unfortunately, May’s medical problems made childbirth dangerous and she had three miscarriages.
Her fourth pregnancy seemed like a miracle. This time, May was able to reach her delivery date without complications. However, the baby wasn’t crying after being delivered, apparently suffering from some form of respiratory distress. The baby was later declared dead and Ben and May finally agreed to give up on having children. However, it turned out that their son and another boy in intensive care were mixed up along the way. Their son, Richard Benjamin Parker, was then raised as Mac Crane.
The problem with Amazing Spider-Man’s latest Parker family retcon
In an introduction to the Amazing Spider-Man #31 letter column, editor Nick Lowe discusses the story and the motivations behind it. Reportedly, writer Joe Kelly pitched the idea based on a reference to Aunt May losing a child in 1982’s Amazing Spider-Man #238. Writer Roger Stern later expanded upon this in 2009’s Amazing Spider-Man Family #7.
The subject of miscarriages is one not often discussed, despite 15-20% of pregnancies ending in one. Lowe added that his wife suffered a miscarriage, so the subject was a deeply personal one to him. Given that, he hoped this issue might raise awareness and show that tragedies such as this are not uncommon and not shameful.
However, while Lowe’s and Kelly’s intentions are noble, the way this story unfolds is totally tasteless. Kelly’s revision turns Aunt May’s original singular tragedy into a long line of life-threatening pregnancies. This makes the story seem more exploitative than sympathetic.
Additionally, May’s history is punctuated by cuts to a separate storyline. One where Spider-Man infiltrates a supervillain fight club/auction run by The Vulture. To say that this interrupts the flow of May’s history is a vast understatement.
Beyond the structure of the story, there’s the issue of what larger story function Mac Crane’s introduction serves. Every time some lost Parker relative was revealed in the past (from Peter’s missing parents to a long lost sister) it was in service to some storyline. Suffice it to say, this issue will seem even more tasteless if Mac Crane is destined to become yet another supervillain.
Amazing Spider-Man #31 is now available at comic shops everywhere.