Mary Jane Watson and Paul Rabin Split: Is Marvel’s Amazing Spider-Man Poised for a Redemption Arc?

The web of drama in Marvel’s Amazing Spider-Man is about to get stickier, and fans are buzzing with anticipation. The upcoming issue, Amazing Spider-Man #9, penned by Joe Kelly with art by John Romita Jr. and Michael Dowling, promises a seismic shift in the saga of Mary Jane Watson and Paul Rabin—a relationship that’s been as divisive as a symbiote invasion. With whispers of a breakup on the horizon, the question looms: is this the moment Marvel rights the ship, bringing back the iconic Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson romance that fans have clamored for? Let’s swing into the details, explore the fallout, and speculate on whether this is the start of a redemption arc for the series—one that could lure back the throngs of readers who’ve swung away in frustration.

The Introduction of Paul Rabin: A New Player in a Tangled Web

Paul Rabin burst onto the scene in Zeb Wells’ Amazing Spider-Man relaunch in 2022, a bold move that left fans reeling. Introduced in Amazing Spider-Man #1 (Vol. 6), Paul was revealed as Mary Jane’s new partner, living with her and two adopted children in a shocking post-timeskip twist. This wasn’t just a new love interest; it was a gut-punch to fans still nursing wounds from the 2007 One More Day storyline, where Mephisto erased Peter and MJ’s marriage. Paul, a supernatural archivist with a knack for glyph magic, wasn’t just any guy—he was the son of the villainous Emissary, hailing from the alternate reality of Earth-23321.

Trapped in a dimension where time moved faster, MJ and Paul spent four years together, raising two mystical children, Owen and Stephanie, while Peter fought to rescue them. This time dilation meant MJ built a life with Paul, forming a bond so strong that, upon returning to Earth-616, she chose to stay with him over Peter. Paul’s expertise in sigil magic even gifted MJ her superhero identity, Jackpot, with a wristwatch device that generates random powers—a nod to her iconic “Face it, Tiger, you just hit the jackpot” line. But let’s be real: to many fans, Paul was less “jackpot” and more “who invited this guy?”

Paul’s introduction was a lightning rod for controversy. Fans mocked him as a bland replacement for Peter, with some speculating he was a creator’s self-insert or a jab at an actual “Paul.” His presence felt like a deliberate middle finger to the Peter/MJ faithful, especially after Nick Spencer’s run had painstakingly rebuilt their romance. Social media erupted with memes and rants, with one X post calling Paul “the human equivalent of a wet sock.” Ouch.

The Sales Slump: A Web of Discontent

Let’s talk numbers—because in comics, sales are the ultimate superpower. The Zeb Wells/John Romita Jr. run, which kicked off with Peter and MJ’s breakup and Paul’s debut, initially swung high. Amazing Spider-Man #17 (2023) topped the charts as the best-selling issue of its month, proving Spidey’s enduring pull. But cracks soon appeared. Fans, furious over MJ’s new relationship and Peter’s descent into a despondent, jobless mess, began to drop the title. The contrast with Ultimate Spider-Man, where Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto crafted a married Peter and MJ with kids, was stark. Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 3’s trade paperback, Married With Children, consistently ranked among the top three best-selling graphic novels since its 2024 release, while Amazing Spider-Man collections lagged behind.

The fan backlash wasn’t just emotional—it was economic. Readers felt betrayed by Marvel’s refusal to let Peter and MJ’s relationship mature, a criticism amplified by the success of Across the Spider-Verse, which showcased a middle-aged Peter as a father. X posts from 2023 show fans lamenting, “Marvel’s allergic to letting Peter grow up,” with others vowing to skip Amazing Spider-Man until MJ ditches Paul. The vocal “Spider-Marriage” faction, still stinging from One More Day, flooded Marvel with letters (and later, repetitive emails to editor Tom Brevoort) demanding Peter and MJ’s reunion. Brevoort’s response? A dismissive, “I’ve been hearing from a couple of yahoos who send us the same form letter about MJ and Paul every single day.” Yikes, talk about poking the hornet’s nest.

Sales trends suggest the controversy didn’t tank Amazing Spider-Man entirely—its tri-monthly schedule kept it in the top ranks—but the series lost ground with casual readers and longtime fans who craved the Peter/MJ dynamic. The question is whether Marvel can spin this breakup into a sales rebound, or if they’ve tangled their web too tightly.

The Conditions and Circumstances of MJ and Paul’s Relationship

MJ and Paul’s relationship was born under extraordinary circumstances, which makes their impending breakup all the more juicy. Trapped in Earth-23321, MJ and Paul faced Glyphoid monsters and the Emissary’s wrath, adopting two magical children to create a makeshift family. Those four years forged a bond rooted in survival and shared loss, with Paul’s quiet competence complementing MJ’s fiery resilience. Back on Earth-616, their relationship endured, even after their children were revealed as mystical constructs and faded away, a gut-wrenching blow.

Paul’s not a bad guy—let’s give him that. He’s a skilled engineer, crafting MJ’s Jackpot device, and he’s shown genuine care for her, from spa retreats to standing by her during Aunt Anna’s Krakoan pill-induced rampage. But fans argue he lacks the spark that made Peter and MJ’s romance iconic. Their love story, built on decades of shared trauma, banter, and sacrifice, feels universes apart from MJ and Paul’s stable but less electric dynamic. MJ’s choice to stay with Paul felt like a betrayal to some, especially when Peter confessed in Amazing Spider-Man #20 (2023) that his romantic love for her had changed, a moment that had fans throwing their comics across the room.

Recent issues hint at cracks in MJ and Paul’s relationship. In All-New Venom #9, Dylan Brock’s antics test their bond, while Peter’s dark visions in Amazing Spider-Man #65 suggest MJ remains a key emotional anchor for him. The stage is set for a breakup, with Amazing Spider-Man #9 teasing a moment fans have waited three years for—a potential end to MJ and Paul’s romance. But how will it go down?

Will Marvel Kill Paul Off? Turn Him Villain? Or Hope Fans Forget Him?

Marvel’s got options, and each comes with its own drama. Let’s break it down:

• Killing Paul Off: The Amazing Spider-Man #35 (2023) preview showed a dark, Green Goblin-influenced Peter dropping Paul from a height, echoing Gwen Stacy’s tragic fate. Could Marvel really go there? Killing Paul would be a bold move to clear the decks for Peter and MJ, but it risks alienating readers who’ve warmed to Paul’s decency. Plus, MJ’s reaction to Peter killing her boyfriend would be… complicated, to say the least. She’s already lost her kids; another loss might push her to the brink. Still, a dramatic death could spike sales and give fans the catharsis they crave.

• Turning Paul into a Villain: Paul’s ties to the Emissary and his glyph magic make this plausible. Imagine Paul, heartbroken by the breakup, tapping into his darker side to challenge Peter. It’d be a juicy twist, turning the “boring boyfriend” into a credible threat. But it could also feel forced—Paul’s been portrayed as a good guy, and a sudden heel turn might scream “editorial mandate.” Fans on X have speculated about Paul joining forces with a revived Emissary, but others argue it’d cheapen his character.

• Hoping Fans Forget Paul: Marvel could quietly write Paul out, letting him fade into the background like so many supporting characters before him. This feels like the safest bet—send him off to study glyphs in another dimension and call it a day. But fans don’t forget easily, especially when they’ve spent years hating a character. X posts show readers demanding closure, not ambiguity. Ignoring Paul entirely could feel like Marvel dodging accountability for a controversial arc.

My bet? Marvel’s teasing a breakup in Amazing Spider-Man #9 to gauge fan reaction, with All-New Venom #9 suggesting a climactic moment where MJ chooses her path. Killing Paul seems too extreme, and villainizing him risks backlash. A quiet exit, perhaps with MJ realizing her heart’s still with Peter, feels like the most crowd-pleasing move.

Is Amazing Spider-Man Getting Back on Track?

The Zeb Wells run has been a rollercoaster—thrilling for some, nauseating for others. The Paul Rabin arc, while bold, alienated fans who see Peter and MJ as Marvel’s ultimate couple. But with this breakup looming, Marvel’s signaling a course correction. The success of Ultimate Spider-Man, with its married Peter and MJ, proves fans want a mature, committed Spidey. Joe Kelly’s involvement in Amazing Spider-Man #9 is a good omen—his knack for emotional depth could make this breakup resonate without cheap drama.

Will this bring back the readers Marvel’s lost? Possibly. Sales data shows Amazing Spider-Man still performs, but it’s bleeding goodwill. A well-executed MJ/Paul split, paving the way for Peter and MJ’s reunion, could spark a surge in interest. Fans on X are already hyping the issue, with one user posting, “If MJ dumps Paul, I’m buying ten copies!” Hyperbole, sure, but it shows the passion.

The Redemption Arc Begins?

Could this be the start of Marvel’s redemption arc for Amazing Spider-Man? The series has taken risks, from Peter’s villainous turn to MJ’s Jackpot persona, but the heart of Spider-Man is Peter and MJ’s love story. Bringing them back together—without retconning the Paul arc entirely—could honor the past while moving forward. Imagine MJ, empowered as Jackpot, fighting alongside Peter, their banter reigniting that classic spark. It’s the kind of story that could pack comic shops and reignite debates on X.

Marvel’s got a chance to spin a new web, one that balances nostalgia with fresh stakes. Will they stick the landing? Grab Amazing Spider-Man #9 and All-New Venom #9 to find out. The wall-crawler’s future—and his heart—are on the line, and it’s going to be one hell of a swing.