George R.R. Martin’s Controversial Spider-Man Take Calls Marvel Comics Out

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George R.R. Martin has criticized the practice of retconning in comic books, singling out one particularly divisive alteration as an example.

In a recent interview with Popverse, Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin discussed his appreciation for comic books and shared his main criticism of how major publishers handle storytelling. He admitted to being frustrated with practices like retcons and reboots, explaining that he doesn’t enjoy when established story details are changed or entire storylines are restarted.

I get really frustrated when I invest years, even decades, in following a character or superhero, only to have their established history erased and the story completely restarted. That’s what bothers me,” Martin explained. He specifically criticized Marvel Comics, pointing to the controversial ‘One More Day/Brand New Day’ storyline from 2007 as an example. “Peter Parker and Mary Jane got married – those kinds of events shouldn’t be undone, but they are these days. It’s just something you have to accept, I guess.”

The story arc ‘One More Day’ started in 2007 with issue #544 of The Amazing Spider-Man, written by J. Michael Straczynski and Joe Quesada. It began when an assassin, instead of killing Peter Parker, accidentally shot his Aunt May.

I remember when things got really crazy for Spider-Man. It felt like nobody could fix this one problem – Aunt May was in serious danger. Then, out of nowhere, Mephisto showed up with this awful deal. It wasn’t about money or even souls; he wanted Peter and MJ’s marriage! They actually agreed, and it completely changed everything. Seriously, decades of Spider-Man’s history just… vanished, impacting everyone around him – his friends, family, even the villains he fought.

How the MCU is Bringing Brand New Day to the Big Screen

The comic book Spider-Man dealt with the aftermath of a major storyline called “Brand New Day” for years. Now, the movie version of Spider-Man is about to experience a similar situation. The fourth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Spider-Man series, titled Spider-Man: Brand New Day, will be released on July 31, 2026. In it, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man will find himself in a world where everyone has forgotten his identity, following the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home.

In addition to Tom Holland, popular actors from the Marvel Cinematic Universe—Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, and Mark Ruffalo—will reprise their roles as MJ, Ned, the Punisher, and the Hulk in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The film will also feature a new cast member in a currently secret role.

Director Jon Watts, known for his previous work on Spider-Man, recently discussed his relationship to the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. Watts said they had a brief initial conversation, but because he’s so familiar with the franchise, he chose to give the new team space to work. He admitted it will be strange watching the movie for the first time and described it as a ‘passing of the torch,’ expressing his curiosity about the future of the series.

Spider-Man can be read wherever Marvel Comics are sold.

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2025-11-13 22:18