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It may be hard to picture Spider-Man’s wife Mary Jane Watson pregnant, but it happened in the “Revelations” storyline, which took place beginning in Spectacular Spider-Man #240. This event was part of the controversial Spider-Man clone saga, a complex narrative that introduced multiple clones of Peter Parker. Tragically, Mary Jane’s coffee was drugged by Norman Osborn, the Green Goblin, which forced her to have a miscarriage. She loses the baby, adding another layer of drama to the already convoluted clone saga.
This miscarriage happened as part of the larger Spider-Man clone saga story arc, which altered the storyline from what was originally intended to happen. The clone saga introduced several clones created by the villainous Jackal, including Ben Reilly, who would later become known as the Scarlet Spider, and the more unstable clone, Kaine. You can research the Spider-Man clone saga yourself if you are not familiar with the overcomplicated fiasco. Long story short, originally Mary Jane Watson’s pregnancy and Peter Parker being a father would transition into Parker retiring from being Spider-Man while Ben Reilly, as the Scarlet Spider, would take over. Outraged, fans demanded that Peter Parker be the one true Spider-Man and thus could not have a child in the mix. Consequently, Mary Jane loses the baby to a miscarriage, allowing the clone saga to continue without this complication.
The first time we discovered that Mary Jane Watson was pregnant was during the story arc Web of Death, another part of the sprawling clone saga. What bothers me about the whole thing is that I thought it would have been a great opportunity to introduce a new element and character into the Marvel Universe. I think about what an important part son Franklin Richards played for The Fantastic Four and how he added so much more to the continuing story. The idea of having another person for Spider-Man to care for, raise and talk to, alongside Aunt May, would immensely allow more story writing freedom. It could have provided interesting dynamics, especially considering the complex relationships between Peter Parker, his clones like Ben Reilly and Kaine, and villains like Doctor Octopus who have been part of Spider-Man’s rogues gallery for years.
The particular issue where we see Mary Jane pregnant in the hospital performing a still-birth is in The Amazing Spider-Man #418, part of the story arc Revelations part 3 of 4 (Affiliate Link). This issue was a crucial moment in the clone saga, showcasing the emotional toll on Peter Parker and Mary Jane. I remember reading this Amazing Spider-Man comic as a kid, not understanding anything about what the backstory was or the complexities of the clone saga. All I knew was that the comic had fun artwork and cool action scenes, typical of Spider-Man’s battles with villains like the Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, and even clone-related adversaries introduced during the Maximum Clonage event. Sometimes I think that people overreact to story arcs that may have actually improved things if they had just allowed it to happen. The clone saga, despite its controversial nature, did introduce interesting characters like Ben Reilly and Kaine, and explored themes of identity that are central to Spider-Man’s character.