Spider-Man: New comic book series from Star Wars director JJ Abrams offers controversial twist

A new Spider-Man comic book series by JJ Abrams contains a twist in its first issue that sees a major character get killed off.

The Star Wars director, his son Henry Abrams and comic artist Sara Pichelli have all collaborated on the new series, which reveals a shocking turn of events for Peter Parker and his wife Mary-Jane Watson.

Set in a different universe to the Amazing Spider-Man comics, Abrams’s series sees the beloved Mary-Jane murdered at the hands of a new villain, Cadaverous.

It also explores the devastating effects that her tragic death have on Peter and their son Ben.

After Mary-Jane dies, Peter then becomes an absent father, resulting in Ben rebelling in his teens before realising he has the same web-slinging powers as his father.

The new comic comes after Disney and Sony’s failure to reach a financial agreement resulted in Spider-Man being removed from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Abrams’s next on-screen project is Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which is set for release in December.