Web of Love: “Five Minutes”

Greetings Crawlspacers and welcome to the very first “Web of Love”.  As most of you know, most of us here at the crawlspace love and think that Peter and Mary Jane should always be together.  Sometimes it’s a bit difficult when reading recent issues of Spider-Man knowing that the god awful story One More Day is still in canon.  Will Marvel see the error of their ways and fix this?  Only time will tell.  In the meantime I hope that this featured article shows you some prime examples (and maybe some stuff you never heard of) on why Peter and Mary Jane are perfect for each other.  How much rich chemistry there is between the two that rides from stories and how relate-able it can be

In this feature comes from the writing skills of Peter David and illustrated (one page) by Rick Leonardi.  Now you may know these two from a book called Spider-Man 2099!  A story entitled “Five Minutes” which you could find in the novel “The Ultimate Spider-Man” that was published back in 1994.  The novel consists of twelve stories and they saved the best for last.  You can purchase the book from Amazon right here.  So lets dive right in Peter David’s well written story “Five Minutes”.

It’s the wedding anniversary of Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson-Parker.  Starts off with Mary Jane carefully making Phillsbury Cinnamon rolls in the kitchen, equipped with candles on each.  Carries the plate back to bed where her husband, Peter is sleeping and she whispers in his ear “Happy Anniversary.”  Peter wakes, smiles and somehow breakfast is completely forgotten.  In fact, those cinnamon rolls now have wax on them and are inedible.  Mary Jane is now snuggled up to Peter and is lightly tracing her finger on Peter’s chest to his heart and notices his heartbeat has slowed down a bit.

” Oh good.  You’re still alive” she says to which Peter responds “True.  If I hadn’t been, then what a way to go”

Doesn’t take a genius to figure out what just happened here.  The characterization of both Peter and Mary Jane are well known though out the years in the many Spidey titles, they have a well-established history.  It is embraced here in an adult loving manner.  Any true fan that knows these two, would smile at this part of the book!  Peter David is one of few writers that shows us just how much rich potential Peter and MJ’s marriage had and he just got started by expressing that in just a few paragraphs.  David does take it up a notch though by showing the reality of the world we live in.  Sometimes it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.

The scene takes us to the Parker’s downstairs neighbors, the Swansons.  They don’t get along very well.  Their shouting and screaming matches can happen every day and at any time.  I like how David shows us the “ying” and “yang” of the given marriages.  Mary Jane worries and fears that her marriage to Peter will evolve to that, Peter assures his wife that that will never happen.  Cue the sirens sounds from their window and it’s close by.  Peter want to go investigate, but Mary Jane insists on him staying with her.  She even goes as far as stating in a cajoling manner “I’ll make it worth your while.”

David brings out something we haven’t seen in Mary Jane.  It’s usually a “Be safe! Love you and hurry back, Tiger.” and with a quick kissing send off, Spider-Man goes to save the day.  Here, we see Mary Jane actually not wanting Peter to go and she makes that very clear to him.

Mary Jane: “Peter…There are thousands of people in this city who are paid to handle emergencies. Firemen and cops and ambulance guys and whatever. And you know what? They all get time off. They get paid, and still get time off. Shouldn’t you? At least five more minutes to ourselves.  Please?  Five minutes?  Just to cuddle and hold each other and not be like those people downstairs?  Five minutes in the warmth of our bed?  God, Peter, I dated guys who would have killed for five minutes with me, and here I’m begging you”

I like how David, writes Mary Jane.  These are all valid points!  Peter does respond “Fine.  Five minutes won’t kill anyone.  Hell, make it ten.”  It was five though since Peter’s mind was still preoccupied with the trouble outside.  MJ knew she couldn’t win so when she went to take a shower, Peter went to play hero.  David does a good job here, setting up for what’s about to happen.  You really couldn’t ask for a better setup.  As Peter, now Spider-Man, makes his way to trouble he realizes it was too late.  A man down on his luck had just committed suicide.  Talking to a cop, who doesn’t mind Spidey sniffing around police business, he asks if there was anything anyone could have done to which the cop responds “Chances are you could have saved him, I guess.  If you gotten here, I dunno, five minutes earlier….”

BAM!!!  David nailed it.  He made the set up and now here’s the punch!  Peter felt that blow that wasn’t actually a physical blow!  Even with his entire body covered in costume the cop knew that comment hit him.  He responds quickly to Spidey stating that he didn’t mean anything by it, not to beat himself over it, dem be the breaks and you can’t be everywhere.  All logically sound, but for us Spidey fans, we know what Peter is thinking and he is definitively blaming himself for it.

The scene then shifts to Mary Jane apologizing to Peter, thinking that her husband blamed her for this mess.  Peter of course denies it, he actually blames himself for what happened.  Mary Jane is frustrated at this point and even goes as far as stating “Some guy, down on his luck, kills himself and your punishing ME for it?!  That’s not fair!!”  To which Peter responds “No!  It’s not!” and storms out of the apartment.

During this argument Peter did explain to his wife that years ago, he made a vow.  To not let anyone else die due to his inaction.  David writes the depth of what Spider-Man means to Peter.  It’s a nod back to the beginning with Amazing Fantasy #15.  Spider-Man didn’t stop the burglar, not his job, Uncle Ben died at the hands of the same burglar.  Here, Peter didn’t swing out after the sirens, he stayed with his wife, a man died because of it.  That is REALLY DEEP because, this time Peter KNEW he should of swung out, instead he stayed with his wife because she asked.  He knew his RESPONSIBILITY, but stepped back to honor another responsibility.  One to his wife.  Again, he doesn’t blame Mary Jane, he blames himself.  That’s what Peter’s thinking and David makes that very clear.  David also writes the perspective of Mary Jane’s point of view.  So many variables in this situation and she is arguing that Peter is only focusing on one.  Love this writing style, it’s so deep within the core of the characters.

Peter then goes to his home away from home, The Daily Bugle.  There he encounters Robbie Robertson who senses something is wrong and happens to give him some marriage advice.  I like this scene.  Robbie has known Pete since he was a teenager and now here he is, married, and he’s right there giving advice to an old friend.  I very much enjoyed how Peter David depicted this scene, felt like home to any Spidey fan.  Then..it’s time for some action when MJ called the Bugle and told Peter “Have Spider-Man get his blue butt over here!”  Remember the Parker’s downstairs neighbors..apparently Mr. Swanson has a gun and he’s going to shoot Mrs Swanson dead if he doesn’t get what he wants…in the next FIVE MINUTES.  Yep, those two words aren’t just a clever title, they actually means something.  LOVE IT!

David shines through once again in depicting how Spider-Man handles this situation.  True Spidey fashion and no body dies.  Mr Swanson is disarmed, webbed up, and Spider-Man has saved the day.  It’s what we see next that really shines through.  After any fight with your spouse, it’s a bit awkward to return home.  Both Peter and Mary Jane share this, but once again Peter David writes a Mary Jane that we never seen before.  She’s always been strong, she’s always been supportive (for the most part), and she tries very hard to be there for Peter.  Here, we see a relate-able trait..she’s afraid.  Now we see her in Peter’s shoes.  Instead of inaction, she acts on what she thinks is right and it scares her half to death.  Mary Jane’s emotions take root in this scene.  Her dialogue is so powerful it does leave Peter speechless!  Peter really didn’t know how hard this was for her.

“So when am I allowed to be scared for you, then. At least two guys with guns? How about one guy with, like, a really big gun, or half a dozen guys with small guns? Tell me the requirements so I’ll know when it’s allowable to be worried that my husband is going to get a bullet in him?”

“sooner or later, you’ll be a second too slow…or make a split-second decision and it’s wrong…and that’s it, it’s over, and it was all pointless because your Uncle Ben will still be dead and you’ll be right next to him in the ground, and I won’t have you anymore.”

“A man died because I love you so much that I wanted to keep you safe with me. And when I was calling you at the Bugle to tell you about the Swansons, my finger was trembling as I dialed. I thought, What if this is it? What if I’m now sending my own husband to his death? What if…I dunno…what if God is so angry at me for being selfish, that he punished not only some poor stranger, but now he’s going to punish you too, and I didn’t know what to do and…”

That’s it, Mary Jane just breaks out into tears and can’t talk anymore, she cries uncontrolably and honestly, who could blame her?  Even though Peter tried to comfort her and being honest while doing it, it wasn’t helping.  It wasn’t until Peter held her in his arms and began to cry as well, then they he just kisses her and she kisses back, so fiercely (David depicts) that it’s the only thing to make the pain they both feel from going away.  Their true love for each other.  Peter then picks up his wife, effortlessly, and takes her to the bedroom and they enjoy each other, they enjoy being alive.  They do so for two hours…

…and five minutes.

THIS. IS. LOVE!!  I applaud Peter David on this story, it has heart, drama, action, and soul to it’s story telling and so much depth in both of these characters!!  It’s also VERY REAL.  The SM Team over at spidermanreviews.com said it best.  “Anyone who has ever had to sacrifice spending time with their loved ones for the sake of work can easily relate, as we get a heart-wrenching reminder of how even the most happy relationships can be sorely tested.  And the last scene alone is one of the most beautiful moments between Peter and MJ ever written.”  I couldn’t have said it better myself, I just can’t.  Cops, Doctors, Firemen, REAL HEROES that can relate to this story and to most popular hero ever created, SPIDER-MAN!

That is what Spider-Man is all about.  Responsibility and related-ability.  Peter David understands both Spider-Man and his supporting cast!  He nailed it and made it look so easy.  He’s also one of the few writers to understand the Spider-Marriage and what it can bring to the table with great story telling.  This is my all time favorite Peter/MJ story.  Hands down.  A prime example on how things should be done.  Bravo Peter David and THANK YOU!

I would love to see this story illustrate in a comic one day or even on screen!!

Brad’s autographed copy and me with my copy of “Five Minutes”