The Amazing Spider-Man # 545 - One More Day, Part 4
is an issue published by Marvel that was released on 1 / / 2008Plot Summary
Overview
The riveting conclusion to the most-talked about -- and controversial -- comics event of the year. Brought to you by J. Michael Straczynski and Joe Quesada. Brace yourself, Spidey fans, after this, nothing will be the same for Peter Parker!
The stakes have never been higher. At his darkest hours -- and he's had plenty -- Peter has always had one shoulder to lean on, one person who'd remind him who he is, who he was, and who he can be. Now he's about to lose that person. What will he do...what would you do, if you only had "One More Day?”
Also included:
Aunt May profile by Jonathan Couper-Smartt, Mike Fichera and Peter Sanderson.
Amazing Spider-Man Annual 21 featuring the wedding of Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson.
Spoilers!!!
Aunt May lies in the hospital, close to death. The words of Mephisto are heard about the decision that must be made. Peter wakes up, in costume, alone in bed. He calls out to MJ. She's in the bathroom, bent over in agony over the decision they must make, their love or Aunt May's life. She wants to ask him a selfish question but is afraid. She asks if Peter thinks whether or not May has lived her life and perhaps this is her time to go. Maybe they just need to let her go. Peter reassures her by saying that he's thought the same thing over and over. He says that if it was a natural cause, like a heart attack, he'd be fine with it. The fact that she was shot with a bullet meant for him wouldn't allow him to ever forget it. MJ figures that must mean that if they decided to stay together, he'd forever be in agony over this. Peter says that if they made that decision together, it'd be fine. They have less than twenty-four hours to make their decision.
Peter and MJ lie together in the dark in silence. Peter keeps trying to bring up things that they did in the past but MJ shushes him. She says that she remembers every single detail and no matter what, will never forget.
The time comes and Mephisto arrives. Peter asks him how "it" would work. Mephisto says their life together will simply cease to have ever existed. MJ jumps in asking what would be the point if Peter's identity is still known. May's life would still be in danger. Mephisto explains to MJ why he's chosen them of all people to make this bargain with. He tells them that their love for each other is the rarest love of all. He says it was made holy in "the eyes of he who [he] hates most." It only comes once a millennia. He wants nothing more than to be able to take that away from him. The matter of everyone forgetting Peter's identity is a simple matter if that's all it takes. Peter still isn't sure. MJ jumps in and says yes. She says that there is more though. She wants Mephisto to put Peter's life back to the way it was. He will get a chance to be happy. Mephisto asks why would he do that. MJ says because of what she has to offer. She whispers something to him and he seems enticed. The decision must be made by both. MJ begs Peter to do it and he reluctantly agrees.
Now that the deal is done, Mephisto says that he is surprised that they never asked him about the little girl. Apparently she is the child that they will never have now that they've chosen May's life. Mephisto simply smiles seeing the anger on Peter's face.
As they are engulfed in Mephisto's dark magic, MJ, in tears, talks to Peter. She says that she knows in her heart that they will find a way back to each other. They were meant to be together and no matter what Mephisto does, they will be able to undo it. They tell each other that they love each other. A flash of memories unfolds around them. They hold each other in the darkness. MJ tells Peter, "Face it, Tiger...you just hit the jackpot."
Darkness.
Peter awakes, alone in bed. Looking at the clock, he sees he's late. Running downstairs, Aunt May is making him (most likely) wheatcakes. He hops on his bicycle and heads over to a surprise party in a penthouse. People are waiting for the guest of honor. Peter meets up with Flash Thompson and is momentarily distracted when he sees MJ across the room. Flash asks if things are still "frosty" between them. Peter says he's not sure if she'll ever forgive him for something but is cut off before he can finish. The elevator opens and Harry Osborn walks in with his new girlfriend, Lily.
A toast is made to a brand new day...
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One More Day, Part 4
Obviously everyone is pretty steamed about what JQ did to Spidey. I'm honestly not upset about the ending of MJ and Spidey's marriage because it gives them opportunities to bring other characters into the mix (hmmm, maybe a little more Black Cat with Spidey?) but I do see where this whole thing would anger the fans. There are other ways to end their marriage rather than pushing the big red Staples "Easy" button. Since magic rarely needs to be explained the way science does, it's just too convenient for writers to use it as a way to retcon a really crappy outcome coughCivilWarcough they backed themselves into. There was a reason Dr. Strange was left out of the Civil War - because uber magic would be too easy as a resolution and the war would have been started and over in one issue rather than 25 (with crossovers and special releases).
I was also quite surprised that Peter chose to save Aunt May again and end it with MJ. Maybe I'm far too villainous for my superhero self but let's face it: Peter has had to save this old broad for the last 40 years or so. I know he's usually the reason she's fighting for her life but at the point we were at, Aunt May was a dear old woman who had lived a rather full life. He could have realized that this is one time he couldn't save her. That would allow him to stay with MJ and have that daughter they got a glimpse of. And considering Spider-Girl was originally started as a "What if Spidey & MJ had a daughter story" well, it seems logical.
And what the heck was up with MJ's secret pact to Mephisto on the side? It seemed to me that she was bargaining herself to him as a betrothed but it wasn't revealed and may just be something that the writer and editor are sticking in their back pockets for now so that in a year when they need to undo this undo they can whip it out and say, "Oh wait! MJ has this deal with Mephisto that..."
As for the unmasking, well we all knew it was mistake when he did it in the first place. Does this mean that none of CW happened? If so, where is Steve Rogers? How can a chunk of people be hurled back in time but not the rest of the concurrent Marvel U? It makes no bloody sense.
I heard JMS was so appalled with the script that he wanted his name removed but was begged to stamp it on there. He didn't write any of it though his name is in the credits with Joe Q. They probably threw enough money at him that he was willing to have his name attached to this cheap theatric.
One More Day, Part 4
Being a big Spider-Man fan and have been since my age was single digit, I'm obviously outraged by the direction that Joe Quesada has decided to take Spider-Man. I've stuck with Spidey through the highs (Death of Gwen, symbiote Spidey, Kraven's last hunt, death of Harry), and through the lows (Death of Gwen lol, The Other, Sin's Past, Clone Saga although I liked it, they stretched it too much). And I have seriously never been more outraged over a comic before this particular Spider-Man story.
Now, I know JQ and a bunch of other Marvel execs were not fond of the Peter and MJ marriage, and if they truly wanted to rid Mary Jane from his life, there are plenty of other ways then to make a lame deal with Mephisto. This begs the question, why do they hate MJ so much? I remember reading an interview somewhere that said they didn't like MJ because she made Peter seem older, and how can a nobody like Peter Parker land a hot model for a wife in MJ. But I digress.
Everyone knows this is the ultimate scape goat for retracting the fact that Spidey unmasked himself. But that's not all Marvel wanted to do, they obviously were like "hey might as well get rid of MJ too since we hate her." No matter how much the Marvel execs hated MJ, isn't this story taking it a little too far? MJ may not have been a suitable wife for Peter (argument for Gwen Stacy supporters), but MJ was there since the beginning too and has tons of fans. Now, I want you to know that I hate it when writers give in to the fans, because it could stop writers from pouring out non-biased ideas. But this is different, JQ and some Marvel execs hated and always will hate that marriage between Spidey and MJ. Not to mention they are literally erasing 20-30 years worth of Spider-Man stories.
Anyways, I've calmed down in the past few days. I'm willing to see what they decide to do with Spidey. If it gets ridiculous, I'm going to stop reading Spider-Man comics until Marvel gets a new Chief-in-Editor who will fix all this crap back. One thing I'm really interested in right now is the opinion of Stan Lee. What does he think of this? He wasn't a big fan of MJ either and have always wanted Peter to marry Gwen.
One More Day, Part 4
Well there's nothing I can say that hasn't already been said, but I’ll go ahead and say it anyway. The reset button has officially been pushed and we either get on with it or get out. Part 4 was rewritten and rushed into production and it shows. Peter and MJ accepting Mephisto's deal is not believable in the slightest and Peter especially comes across as selfish and a tad mentally unstable. Then again, with all the crap that's been happening to him lately, it is natural for Peter to want to retreat back to a simpler time and Mephisto provided a way for him to do so. This wasn't about Aunt May so much as it was about Peter and Mary Jane's desire to escape from the hell that had become their lives. At least this way one of them would have a chance at happiness. After all, May literally told Peter to get over her death in a recent issue of Sensational when Madame Web allowed him to enter May’s mind. But no matter what the temptation accepting a deal from the devil is downright stupid as Peter soon found out before Mephisto altered his life.
I just don't see the logic in erasing the marriage. If Peter and MJ are meant to be together then let them stay married! Any relationship Peter will develop in BND won't mean anything because we all know that sooner or later he'll wind up back with Mary Jane. Then they'll find a way to get separated again and the process will repeat itelf. One of the reasons Spider-Man is such a great character is because his relationships and his world have evolved over time. This is a huge step backward for the character and his supporting cast and an insult to long time fans and writers who have invested so much in these characters.
Unless the last scene of OMD takes place in the past and BND starts years after then Harry Osborn is back from the dead. I really don't see the need to bring Harry back; his storyline reached its logical conclusion some time ago. Let's hope the BND writers have something new cooked up for him. If you ask me, they should have resurrected Gwen Stacy. Now that would have been interesting.
Quesada’s artwork was awesome. I liked his use of shadows and the spread near the end showing various scenes from the marriage.
Ugh. Well, things can only get better from here right? I will not be dropping Amazing despite what a slap in the face this story has been. It was like having a tooth pulled out, the tooth here representing the marriage and Quesada the dentist. It hurt, and it’s messy, but now the healing can begin. It’d be great if BND lives up to the hype and if it’s a massive failure then I’m sure Joe “Retcon” Quesada will fix it soon enough.
One More Day, Part 4
I am in Limbo with this one… Spiderman, no, no, Peter Parker is the most selfish hero this year. Ya See, Spider man with the whole “with great power comes great responsibility” thing (which I’m getting tired of hearing by the way) would have never made a deal with a villain. Let alone for the price of his love with Mary Jane, the woman he has been chasing for over 20 years (in our world at least). I mean Evil, pure evil literally, says you have something that “He (GOD by the way for all you heathens)” holds dear, True Love. And I want that in exchange for your Aunt May to live. On top of that he says that you only have this choice, I mean in a world where time travel is possible I think not. But he is pressured into this deal and MJ only agrees because who would want to live with this guy anyway. He has been a total maniac lately. Mind you, that Aunt May is the only real family he has and death is harder for some. But hello MJ is also your family. They both agree to give up love. On top of that MJ makes a side deal or gives him some thoughts to sweeten the deal. What was said we haven’t found out yet? And it is done; she tells him he hit the jackpot?!?!??! Are you kidding me!!! He hits the jackpot and we get further confused, thanks…. Then we are whisked away to some time in the past I think, and Parker is happy not knowing he is missing out on all the things he has missed. Where does that leave all the events we know? Did they happen or what? So we see that MJ is in his life, like “Friends” when Ross and Rachel are not together, but they are still all friend s and it awkward whenever they get close. Does she know or what? And Parker is cool with Harry Osborn again and life is sweet? I don’t buy it. Where are we going with this? Plus who are these new women???
One More Day, Part 4
i did. they get rid of mj and the past years worth of fantastic writing in one fel swoop. i thought the unmasked/civil war and back in black stories were the best ive read in years. those were tales fifty some years in the making. and now its all for nothing.
and one of the things is that anyone and everyone could have seen this coming. which is why i thought it had to be going in a completely different direction. but then they went and did the obvious. bravo boys.
A lot of writers seem to miss the fact that Spidey is supposed to have problems, not have his entire life turned upside down every nanosecond. when does peter ever get to be happy?























