The Sad Fates Of Marvel Super Heroes’ Children

May Parker, daughter of Spider-Man (Peter Parker) and Mary Jane Watson-Parker

Traumatic events: Stillborn, but also teased as possibly still being alive and held captive by Spidey’s arch-enemy, the Green Goblin

Status: Deceased

No one talks about this much since the magic annulment of Peter and Mary Jane’s marriage was a much bigger deal. But back around the time of the Clone Saga, when their union was going through a rough spot, Mary Jane revealed that they were going to have a little Spider-baby.

Naturally, writers took this pregnancy and twisted it into a form of psychic torment for the Parkers. First the daughter, who they were going to name May for reasons I shouldn’t have to elaborate on, was stillborn. Then there was an elaborate running subplot involving a character who was possibly delivering Baby May into the hands of Norman Osborn.

It was a convincing enough scheme that even Peter wasn’t so sure it wasn’t happening, so when he returned to the role of Spider-Man (which he had left to Ben Reilly thinking he was going to become a dad), he went and checked it out over Mary Jane’s protests. The Green Goblin was holding a May Parker captive, it just turned out to be his aunt instead of his daughter.

Kind of messed up, no? The happier ending occurs in the MC2 timeline, where May Parker grows up to be Spider-Girl, a character who inherits her dad’s powers and the ability to charm fans into staving her series off from cancellation multiple times.

For a more in-depth look at the 616 May, check out this excellent Abandoned Love summary from Comics Should Be Good!