Ted I like the way you think! ;)

When I first heard about BND I thought it was just what the books needed, and has been missing for awhile.  I was especially excited to hear the supporting cast was being expanded.  Now though it seems that the good stuff that is being added will be at the expense of things that didn't NEED to be removed. 

I think JMS and Quesada have greatly infantilized Peter over the years, in his relationship to Tony Stark (the "father figure" he had never needed before. Even the first Spider-Man film got that right -- "I have a father. His name is Ben Parker.") and his leaning on Aunt May. Before Aunt May knew his identity, she was part of his responsibility -- now she was someone he could confide in about his problems.

**************

Stephen, while I agree that Peter's relationship with Tony Stark was an unhealthy one, I think they've gone too far in the other direction, making him too "grown up" in the past 20 years or so.

I'm not as down on the marriage as some people here, but I do think Spider-Man worked best as a student, single with no full-time job or other adult responsibilities.

I also don't think it's fair to say Peter "abandons the responsibility and adulthood of marriage for the comfort and security of youth (represented by having his "mother" figure around to take care of him)." He made a difficult, but necessary, choice to save Aunt May's life. Given the circumstances, I don't see how he could've made any other choice.

Another dumb gimmick that will alienate readers old and new alike only to be surpassed with something more idiotic next year. w/e

The mystical aspects certainly fit in with other recent stories, such as the Spider-Totem stuff, The Other, and Spidey and Loki eating hot dogs together.

<<I also don't think it's fair to say Peter "abandons the responsibility and adulthood of marriage for the comfort and security of youth (represented by having his "mother" figure around to take care of him)." He made a difficult, but necessary, choice to save Aunt May's life. Given the circumstances, I don't see how he could've made any other choice.>>

I'm with you.  I'm not for this story, but my problem isn't one of being morally offended by Peter and MJ's actions.  This does not horribly taint them for me.  Last 5-6 years, I can list several things that Marvel comics has done with characters that have really tainted them for me, but this isn't among them.

Yes, Peter made a deal with the devil to save May, but the deal wasn't something like murder Norman Osborn so she can live.  The deal was give up what you love most in this world to save her.  And it's not like the decision was made without MJ's input.  Peter is sacrificing some of his personal happiness so May can live. 

This isn't May dying of natural causes like in ASM 400.
There, Peter didn't go around trying desparately to save her any way he could. Here, she was shot because of his being Spider-Man.  That Peter feels incredibly guilty over this is completely in character, IMO.  And as Bruce said, it's not May's life versus MJ's.  MJ is still alive.

That's not an endorsement of the story.  If someone claims that Peter looks stupid for making a deal with someone he knows he should never trust,. I'm not arguing.  Stupid is not necessarily immoral, though.

I don't know why Quesada didn't use another character for the reset.  A more heroic or at least more neutral character.  Maybe there is an instory reason that will eventually reveal itself, but I wouldn't bet on it.

Why the reset instead of divorce or death?  Quesada said that both those would age Peter's character too much.   Whether we agree or not, those were never viable options for him. 

Those things arent very "Spider-Man" either.

+++++++

No argument there!

Really, when was the last time that the "real" Spider-Man was around? Before JMS' run? Before the Clone Saga? Before the marriage?

How long has it been since things went completely off the rails?

QUOTE: I don't know why Quesada didn't use another character for the reset.  A more heroic or at least more neutral character.  Maybe there is an instory reason that will eventually reveal itself, but I wouldn't bet on it.

My gut tells me it's an escape hatch built into the story.  If the new(/old?) status quo goes over like the proverbial lead balloon, that "other shoe" I mentioned that feels like it should drop, will drop, and the reset will be undone.