This is not just a rant. Fictional scenario : You are a new writer at Marvel, done some decent fill-in work, slowly getting a rep. OMD comes down at Spidey, and, finding a loophole in his contract, JMS walks away from it in disgust before writing a single word. Worried stockholders, maybe prompted by Stan, get JQ to back off just enough so that, while the basic results will be the same, you, picked in desperation, get to choose how those results come about. Sadly, you must make Pete/MJ part ways, and probably by a retcon of some sort. But after that, how you get there is all you. Quesada has been warned by someone high enough to make him listen to not mess with one fine detail.
Not the best of all worlds either, but here's my take :
Among the people Peter instantly consults with in his moments with Doctor Strange is Ezekiel, maybe through some connection they have. He too refuses to save May, and says that the mystic stuff will also leave Peter's life for a good long time to come. He says that Peter can do this, by climbing a 'reality web', but advises against it like crazy, comparing it to messing with the universe's registry. Good advice not taken. Peter, overwhelmed once he gets there, sees a foolish Gwen embracing Norman, and, in his disgust, swipes at that portion of the web--unravelling the whole damned thing. As everything he knows collapses around him, he feverishly fires out new webbing, and to his initial delight, it looks the same. Only as ya know, whoever MADE this thing tosses him away does he realize its not exactly the same at all.
He awakens and wonders if he and MJ, who knows his secret, will ever get serious, wonders if Norman's and Eddie's mental instability will eventually undo their amnesia about his ID, and remembers the look of betrayal on Tony's face as he blew off the unmasking, wondering if the man will ever carry out his threat to out his ID. Spider-Man has laid low since then, and wonders if he could have stopped Steve Rogers from dying, had he just taken sides. Not doing so distinctly left him with many fewer super-friends.
Harry walks into Norman's office, says 'This just isn't working out', and hits the button that causes the clone Norman to dissolve, and then hits two more labeled 'Gabriel' and 'Sarah'. In the next room, Liz calms an upset Normie, while their two-year old adopted daughter (yup) sleeps calmly.
Gripe at mine, but let's hear yours, too.
Not the best of all worlds either, but here's my take :
Among the people Peter instantly consults with in his moments with Doctor Strange is Ezekiel, maybe through some connection they have. He too refuses to save May, and says that the mystic stuff will also leave Peter's life for a good long time to come. He says that Peter can do this, by climbing a 'reality web', but advises against it like crazy, comparing it to messing with the universe's registry. Good advice not taken. Peter, overwhelmed once he gets there, sees a foolish Gwen embracing Norman, and, in his disgust, swipes at that portion of the web--unravelling the whole damned thing. As everything he knows collapses around him, he feverishly fires out new webbing, and to his initial delight, it looks the same. Only as ya know, whoever MADE this thing tosses him away does he realize its not exactly the same at all.
He awakens and wonders if he and MJ, who knows his secret, will ever get serious, wonders if Norman's and Eddie's mental instability will eventually undo their amnesia about his ID, and remembers the look of betrayal on Tony's face as he blew off the unmasking, wondering if the man will ever carry out his threat to out his ID. Spider-Man has laid low since then, and wonders if he could have stopped Steve Rogers from dying, had he just taken sides. Not doing so distinctly left him with many fewer super-friends.
Harry walks into Norman's office, says 'This just isn't working out', and hits the button that causes the clone Norman to dissolve, and then hits two more labeled 'Gabriel' and 'Sarah'. In the next room, Liz calms an upset Normie, while their two-year old adopted daughter (yup) sleeps calmly.
Gripe at mine, but let's hear yours, too.
