Fans of Spider-Man are fuming because the latest edition of the comic book wipes out his 20 year marriage to sweetheart Mary Jane. In Spider-Man No. 545 the web-slinger agrees a deal with villain Mephisto, to protect his identity and spare his elderly Aunt May.

In return Spider-Man's alter ego Peter Parker must turn his back on Mary-Jane and their history together - which has been erased from their memories.

The move, revealed when the comic book hit news stands on Friday has infuriated longterm fans who have invested decades in the series, reports the New York Post.

Marvel.com's messageboard includes the posts, "Every single issue that I have ever read never happened? Thanks a lot guys. I really appreciate having a company that I've given a lot of money to over the years crap all over me. I guess I'm not the 'target demographic' anymore."

Another reads, "The Spider-Man I've loved and read about for 34 years is dead now. No matter how well written or drawn what comes next may or may not be, it is being built upon the corpse of something that I, and many other readers, cared about deeply."

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)