Warning: SPOILERS for Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #21Marvel Comics finally reveals the mystery behind the unexplained breakup between Spider-Man and Mary Jane, which happened “off-screen” before the start of the current ongoing Amazing Spider-Man series. The culprit is such an obscure character that not even hardcore fans could have ever guessed it.
Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #21, by Zeb Wells, John Romita Jr., Scott Hanna, and Marcio Menyz, rewinds the clock back to one year and a half ago, before the mysterious event in Spider-Man’s recent past that led to Peter burning bridges with all his friends and loved ones, including Mary Jane Watson. While the story does not go into the incident yet, it reveals the person responsible: Benjamin Rabin. If this name doesn’t ring a bell, it’s perfectly normal. This villain only appeared in a three-issue storyline, back in 2008’s Amazing Spider-Man #555-#557. Apparently, Rabin came back for revenge, empowered by his Mayan patron god, Wayep, and did something terrible to Peter and MJ.
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An Obscure Villain Is The Reason Why Peter And Mary Jane Broke Up
Rabin was created by current Spider-Man lead writer Zeb Wells (which explains his return) and Chris Bachalo. He is a mathematician studying alternate dimensions through science, who made a pact with the Mayan god of mischief, Wayep. By sacrificing a man and a woman to Wayep, Rabin would merge with him and become a powerful being called the Kuhul Ajaw. Spider-Man (with the help of the homeless community of New York) stopped the ritual, which sent Wayep back to his dimension and Rabin straight to Ryker’s Island, from where he escaped in the story told in Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #21.
By sacrificing his cellmates to Wayep, Rabin was able to regain some of the god’s power, which he used to assault Peter while he was in Mary Jane’s apartment, where he was about to move in. Spider-Man is able to overpower Rabin, but he uses his magic to put a mystical mark on both him and Mary Jane, which transports them to another dimension. While it’s still unclear how this will lead to Peter’s downfall and his breakup with Mary Jane, it is surely shocking to learn that the culprit was not one of Spider-Man’s classic foes but rather an inconsequential villain who had not appeared for fifteen years.
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Clearly, writer Zeb Wells was not done with Rabin’s story, and he decided to surprise everyone by bringing back this unknown character he created. Considering that many fans were already unhappy about Marvel’s decision to split up Peter and Mary Jane again, adding this obscure villain to the mix is a very risky decision, that hopefully will not end up in a disaster similar to Spider-Man‘s most hated storyline, One More Day.
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Amazing Spider-Man #21 is available now from Marvel Comics.
