"And HIDDEN YEARS was Quesada's favorite X-Book and in no danger of
cancelation."

"...and Peter's unmasking was going to be valid for the long haul."

Are you all implying that Marvel is a little flakey?

Scott Tipton was pointing out in his assessment of this "work" that Peter Parker ends up becoming the Ultimate Momma's Boy.

Breaking it down further, Pete is 30, with a marginal career and no money, living with his mother. He lived the dream of the superhero with the hot model wife, and now the dream is over. He "woke up".

For me, I don't blame Q for wanting the old unmarried Spider-Man and web-shooters and everything else. More power to him...and weirdly there's the problem: the guy is more powerful than Mephisto, or Odin, or Galactus. Q could have used any myriad of different ways to solve this "problem" of continuity created BY his editorial policies, mind you. Still, this whole situation REEKS of unprotected sex...Peter Parker has become the phallic hood ornament on the Marvel Editorial, yet malleable as a Bendy Man. Anyone can clownishly apply all sorts of Emo hang-ups onto Peter Parker, and bend him to fit. Whatever silly concept Q has in his mind, he has now creeped out an entire generation of readers who DON'T want to be living with their mothers, who DON'T want to be alone without a love of their own, who DON'T simper and bleat and make shitty deals with the Devil in order to avoid pain. Peter didn't act like a hero, or even a Man, because the creators working on those books see Manhood and heroism as optional...if the emotions are too great, any man will break.

And I for one can't imagine all these Adult readers buying into that. The Marvel Editorial has shown Peter Parker to be a weak-willed. Instead of dealing with Horrible Reality (Aunt May's demise), Pete apparently decides to stop living the 30-something male's dream fantasy, which sounds odd enough...which it is, since his new Reality reflects Joe Q's fantasy about his fan-base. Marvel's one true individual has been subsumed, absorbed, into an altruistic hug-fest of Avengers lore and banal verification of the fanbase's identity. Q has pigeon-holed an entire generation in Marvel Editorial's decade-long handling of their seminal character.

Spider-Man was one of the only true individual superheroes in comics. He grew up before he should have, upon his Uncle Ben's death. He accepted his role as hero because he couldn't shirk his duty to society. He studied hard to get a good job in some indeterminate future, and had Daily Bugle work to support his Aunt's failing health. He did all of this ALONE, accepted all responsibility for his short-comings, and kept going despite everything. Stan Lee's generation understood what that meant...Q's evidently does not. Stan Lee's generation walked on the moon and advanced civil rights; Q's generation advanced selfish choices as paramount and verified the Individual as a shill for higher powers.

What Mephisto gets out ending Peter and MJ's marriage is a win over God. Basically, Mephisto says that the type of love that Peter and MJ have for each other is very rare and comes along every few thousand years. He claims that their love was perfect (which is a load of crap) and that by taking the marriage, which was cemented in the eyes of God (or something like that), Mephisto gets to take something away from God and win one over God.

*****

If it was perfect they would not of made such a deal.

This must be one of the worst story ideas in the history of the world. These guys sound like complete ass...es. No idea whatsoever what goes on in their minds and I really don't care.

Spider-Man cuts a deal with Mephisto to have his marriage forgotten. What a hero! And, concerning a comment from someone a few pages up, yes Mephisto is supposed to be the devil or at least one face of the devil. That's what was shown at least in the pages of the Defenders. Whether he is as powerful as pulling such a trick, I don't know. What I do know, is that the Silver Surfer has beaten him time and again with the purity of his soul. I wouldn't accept any less from Spider-Man.

I certainly won't pay for this stupidity...

According to Joe Quesada, Peter isn't 30, but 25.

Oh, now I'm as old as him, at last!

Peter walks into the Daily Bugle office. One of the reporters waves to
him. "Yo, Parker! How's that foxy wife of yours?"

"Wife?" Peter asks. "What wife?"

To make the marriage disappear, the memories would have to be erased
of everyone who had ever heard of the marriage. And, remember, MJ is
an internationally famous model. Knowledge of her marriage would go
far, far beyond the immediate circle of family and friends. Mephisto
would most likely have to mindwipe the whole human populace of the
planet.

Which is not something he's ever been shown as able to do. Unless, of
course, he's doing it all the time!

Sorry, I didn't make my thinking clear - I agree Mephisto is now shown as having power way beyond what he had in the past but...

If he can change the memory of everyone in the Marvel universe - which in the context of this story he appears to be able to do since everyone has forgotten Peter is Spider-Man (Including MJ who knew from day 1 when she saw him swing out of his window) - why couldn't he do it for the marriage as well. Just make the whole world forget. It's still rubbish but continuity isn't a nightmare.