Rereading One More Day

[Red_Knight]

Hey everyone,

as some of you probably remember, I jumped back on the ASM train when BND rolled round and have been pretty glad I did. Like most of us here, I still loathed and despised OMD, the story that paved the way for this new direction. While I never actually read it, I did keep track of things through reviews, spoilers and such, and I was pretty disgusted. Now, the other day I had the chance to actually read through the story for the first time, -- and to my surprise, I enjoyed it.

First of all, I was very impressed with the fact that we actually got to see Peter seek out his various super-powered contacts for help. Such possibilties are usually ignored for the sake of the story at hand, so seeing this play out "realistically" for once was a real treat, IMO. The notion that no scientist, mutant or mystic in the MU could help is more than a little fishy, of course, but at least this very logical question was not swept under the table. For a story that many fans -- myself included -- considered the worst Spider-Man story ever, that's pretty good.

I also enjoyed Peter meeting his alternatve selves. I dig such scenarios anyway, and it was a nice way, semi-subtle way of showing Mephisto's abilities to readers who might not be familiar with him. He's already manipulating time and reality here, so when he does it again at the end of the story, we already have a basic understanding of the way his powers work. Overall, it was fun to read and shows good thinking on part of the author.

I actually "got" why Mephisto chose to ask for the marriage, too. He actually explained it pretty well. He had an understandable reason for not taking Peter's soul, so what else was he going to ask for? Peter's powers or health maybe? Peter would've gladly sacrificed himself for May, thus depriving Mephisto of his "fun", so that wasn't an option. Of course, Mephisto could have asked Peter to choose someone else to suffer die in May's place or something along those lines, but I think we can all agree that Peter wouldn't have agreed to that one in the end. Looking at this from Mephisto's point of view, asking for the marriage made the most sense; -- it was so big a price that Peter wouldn't agree easily, yet not so horrible that his moral code would allow him to reject it outright. Is it petty? Sure. But, from a biblical point of view, that's exactly what the devil is; -- a petty, tempter, always out to exploit and enjoy even the tiniest of human weaknesses. The glorification of the marriage didn't really bother me much, either. Sure, Mephisto laid on a little thick, but the Bible states that any marriage is holy, so this actually makes sense, too.

I actually liked OMD so much that it has now made its way on my "to buy"-list. It's still a reset button dressed up as a story, but that dressing actually turned out to be much more becoming that I thought possible. In fact, it turned out pretty good. I don't think I'll ever list OMD among my favorite stories, but it's not bad, either, and it does make for a competent end to the era of the Parker-Watson marriage, IMHO.

Thoughts? Comments? Hate mail?

[Matt Linton]

My biggest problem with OMD is that it doesn't feel like a "Spider-Man" story. Too mystical, too "big". I'm also in the camp that believes there were far better ways to end the marriage than that one.

Taken entirely on its own, I have no real problem with the writing or art, though.

[MrPalen]

I don't know if it counts as 'retrospect' if you never read it in the first place.

To me the worst part about the whole thing was the idea that Peter would play with Aunt May's soul like that when it was expressly against her wishes. And even without her telling him, I think it's pretty unarguable that May would not want Peter to make that deal for two reasons: 1. She wouldn't want Peter and MJ to make such a sacrifice and 2. FAR more importantly, she would not want to keep her life as the result of a deal with The Devil.

The fact that Peter went through with it does not strike me as selfless (which I think it was intended to) but rather incredibly selfish, immature, and mind-bendingly disrespectful to the woman who raised him.

Rereading this would not change my opinion and I very much doubt it would change most people's opinions who had strong negative reactions to it.

[Matt Linton]

I don't know if it counts as 'retrospect' if you never read it in the first place.

To me the worst part about the whole thing was the idea that Peter would play with Aunt May's soul like that when it was expressly against her wishes. And even without her telling him, I think it's pretty unarguable that May would not want Peter to make that deal for two reasons: 1. She wouldn't want Peter and MJ to make such a sacrifice and 2. FAR more importantly, she would not want to keep her life as the result of a deal with The Devil.

The fact that Peter went through with it does not strike me as selfless (which I think it was intended to) but rather incredibly selfish, immature, and mind-bendingly disrespectful to the woman who raised him.

Rereading this would not change my opinion and I very much doubt it would change most people's opinions who had strong negative reactions to it.

Here's my problem with that. Aunt May absolutely would not, under any circumstances, want Peter to risk his life, or give up his life, to save her's. Does ANYONE doubt that Peter would still do it, regardless?

[MrPalen]

Here's my problem with that. Aunt May absolutely would not, under any circumstances, want Peter to risk his life, or give up his life, to save her's. Does ANYONE doubt that Peter would still do it, regardless?

I think that's a really different situation due to the involvement of her soul with Mephisto in the OMD case.

If Pete were to die saving May's life, I think she would be angry with him for doing it but it would also reinforce her love for him because it would show the kind of man he is.

If May's memory hadn't been wiped post-OMD it's my opinion that she would be absolutely furious with Peter to the point of never speaking to him again.

[Shade 20x6]

Worst. Spider-Man. Story. Ever.

[Matt Linton]

Her soul isn't really involved either way. And I agree that she'd be furious. I also don't doubt that Peter would do it anyway.

[JamesOliva]

I liked it. Sometimes characters need to involved in a story that's way out of their element.

[Patrick Hultquist]

Nope.
When Peter and MJ have 24 hours to enjoy their marriage, and we're treated to an entire page of nothing, no talking or anything, it doesn't ring true. And that's aside from the out of character writing and the inane proposition that absolutely no one could help...
Nope.

[MrPalen]

Well it all depends on your interpretations of the characters and situations, but. May was dying/ on death's door. No one could do anything about it, it was 'her time'. Because of the direct involvement of Mephisto, she was prevented from dying. To me that certainly counts as Mephisto playing with her soul.

As I understand the character of Peter Parker, and his incredible compulsion to 'do the right thing' as taught to him by his aunt and uncle, he should have seriously considered the deal, fretted and angsted about it, talked to MJ about it etc, and ultimately decided "No. I love my aunt too much to do this. This would be wrong. I love you Aunt May, more than you could know. Goodbye."

You see it differently I guess which is fine.

[CyberHubbs]

Her soul isn't really involved either way. And I agree that she'd be furious. I also don't doubt that Peter would do it anyway.

Peter wouldn't let someone like May die on his watch. Even if she told him that it was her time.

But how often has that happened in fiction?

"Go without me! Save yourself! I'm ready to die!"

"Yeah? Well, I'm not ready for you to die!" *Throws guy over a shoulder, leaps out burning window.*

[MrPalen]

People wouldn't let someone like May die on his watch. Even if she told him that it was her time.

But how often has that happened in fiction?

"Go without me! Save yourself! I'm ready to die!"

"Yeah? Well, I'm not ready for you to die!" *Throws guy over a shoulder, leaps out burning window.*

In situations like that, all that is at risk is the life of the person doing the saving. It is selfless because you risk your life for someone else. In OMD, the deal involves Aunt May owing her life to Satan. It was a selfish move because Pete was willing to do that to May so that he didn't have to live without May around. The situations are not analogous.

[CyberHubbs]

In situations like that, all that is at risk is the life of the person doing the saving. It is selfless because you risk your life for someone else. In OMD, the deal involves Aunt May owing her life to Satan. It was a selfish move because Pete was willing to do that to May so that he didn't have to live without May around. The situations are not analogous.

But she doesn't owe her life to Mephisto. Peter paid the price involved.

Edit: Heck, I'd save someone close to me because I couldn't stand to not have them in my life either. That sort of selfishness is part of being human.

[MrPalen]

But she doesn't owe her life to Mephisto. Peter paid the price involved.

Edit: Heck, I'd save someone close to me because I couldn't stand to not have them in my life either. That sort of selfishness is part of being human.

She is alive because Mephisto directly intervened, used is demon powers, and stopped her from dying.

[CyberHubbs]

She is alive because Mephisto directly intervened, used is demon powers, and stopped her from dying.

Which is a service that Peter paid for.

It's like owing the guy at the lumberyard because he sold you some wood that you paid for.

Edit: To be more specific, May didn't agree to the deal. Mephisto -- and demons in general -- have always needed for the soul to willingly give itself to them. So even if Mephisto felt that May 'owed' him something, she could make him some wheatcakes and he'd have to settle for that.

On the plus side, I understand they are delicious wheatcakes.