Fans of the “Spider-Man” movie series are deeply familiar with Peter Parker’s iconic romantic entanglements with Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane (MJ) Watson. However, in the vibrant world of comic books, Peter’s love life extends beyond these two. Some of these relationships seem logical, while others veer into the bizarre, occasionally influenced by the curious use of spider pheromones. One love interest, in particular, has stirred debate among enthusiasts: Carlie Cooper. A forensic scientist with the New York City Police Department, Carlie entered Peter’s life during the “Brand New Day” storyline, initially meeting him through her work, and they eventually dated.
Carlie Cooper’s introduction was met with mixed reactions. A Reddit user, Key-Strain-1394, described her as a stand-in for MJ, attributing this to editorial decisions aimed at disrupting Peter and MJ’s marriage. This shift followed the “One More Day” arc, which explored an alternate timeline where the duo never married. Instead, Peter and MJ ended up dating as adults but remained friends, paving the way for Carlie’s role as a new romantic interest. Her relationship with Peter, however, came to an abrupt end when she discovered his Spider-Man identity.
Despite the controversy, some fans argue Carlie was a fitting partner for Peter if he and MJ were not to be. Reddit user duldi expressed that Carlie had significant chemistry with Peter, suggesting she was the natural choice if MJ was out of the picture.
The dissatisfaction among fans extends beyond Carlie’s position as MJ’s surrogate. Many lamented that her potential was squandered, given her narrative arc seemingly fizzled out post-breakup. Reddit user Key-Strain-1394 observed that Carlie might have evolved into a more substantial character if not relegated to being merely an MJ substitute.
Carlie’s storyline took a darker turn when she was captured and tortured by the Green Goblin, who was desperate to uncover Spider-Man’s identity. Despite her resilience, she was transformed into a creature called Monster after being exposed to the Goblin formula, which subsumed her true personality and drafted her into the Goblin Army. Though she was eventually rescued, this ordeal led her to excise Spider-Man from her life. In the aftermath, she found solace in a support group for those connected to superheroes.
Carlie Cooper divides the fans in many ways
Marvel Comics/Michele Bandini
Fans aren’t only miffed about the writers’ use of Carlie Cooper as an MJ substitute. Many are disappointed that she seemingly was going to have a larger role in the comics, only for her story to fall flat after her relationship with Peter Parker ended. “She could have been a bigger and better character if she wasn’t just meant to be MJ’s fill in,” Reddit user Key-Strain-1394 also commented.
Cooper is tortured by Green Goblin, who wants to know Spider-Man’s identity, but when she doesn’t give that information up, she becomes a creature known as Monster, with her true personality subsumed. Specifically, in an effort to get her to share what she knows, Goblin sprays the Goblin formula on her, which results her in becoming a member of the Goblin Army. While she is eventually saved, it also causes her to remove Spider-Man from her life, though she does join a support group for superhero loved ones and friends.
Some argue that she is one of the new characters they do remember, even if she wasn’t used to her full potential, with Reddit user MJM_Stillanerd writing that “as bland as she was, was actually way more memorable and less of a footnote compared to some of the other Brand New Day characters.” That said, no matter how you feel about the character, Carlie’s romance with Parker still causes controversy among fans today.