The first rumor item over at ALL THE RAGE. features what is purported to be a leaked image that hints (OK…. it’s more like a sledgehammer than a hint) at the imminent death of Peter Parker’s wife Mary Jane. Joe Quesada’s hinted at this for quite some time in his CUP O’ JOE answer columns at NEWSARAMA… and the MJ boosters have been buzzing with anticipated anger at this possibility. Personally, I don’t have a very strong opinion one way or the other– but her dying makes a kind of sense to me in the context of the essence of SPIDER-MAN’s character. Peter was thrust into the role of hero out of the tragedy of his Uncle Ben’s death– and the core of what has always made SPIDER-MAN such a wonderful character that so many people have been able to connect to is the idea that although he has these amazing powers, his life was always a mess. And what long-time SPIDER-MAN fan doesn’t remember the death of Gwen Stacey and the impact it had on not only the character of Peter/SPIDER-MAN–but we fans as well. Tragedy, loss, yearning and the struggle to make a happy life from seeming roadblocks at every turn has always been a hallmark of SPIDER-MAN…. and maybe this– if it’s actually going to happen– will return him to that. He’s been sort of in a holding pattern– kind of on cruise control– for some time now. Perhaps it’s time for a shake-up.

What do you folks think….?

This is Entry 271.

Mike