I ignore OMD.

Brand New Day on the other hand is excellent. Dan Slott writes a classic Amazing Spider-Man story that have a Marv Wolfman or Roger Stern feel.

QUOTE: Arguably, it's a case of something I have discussed before, in different contexts. That is the bad habit of writers who write what they know, instead of considering what the characters should know.

That reminds me of one of my current pet peeves - those scenes where the hero says something to the effect of "back in the day we only had to worry about death rays - now they just shoot at you."  I gotta say, if I lived in a world where a device the size and weight of a flashlight could take out a skyscraper, I'd be a lot more afraid of it than a tiny metal pellet.

QUOTE: But Mephisto is fictional. so the writers, unable to see the trees with that dam' forest in the way, overlook the profound ramifications of what they have Parker doing, and write "just a story".

That's where it gets so weird for me.  They come across like they knew what they were doing - heck, they've even said they basically wanted to do a "Faustian bargain" story.  And while they may personally not believe in "Satan," there are many who do.  Even then, they might have made it work with Mephisto, but then they had to go and make it look like dealing with the devil was actually a GOOD thing.  Sure there was a price to pay, but by the next page Peter seems perfectly fine.  Not even a hint that he made a bad call.  What a weird message to send - make a deal with the devil and while you might have to go through the whole courtship thing again, you'll at least get a dead best friend back!

It seems like it would have been smarter to use someone who isn't quite as "current" religion-wise.  Loki, Shaper of Worlds, a Marvel version of Mr. Mxyptlk, Shuma-Gorath, whatever.  Get that extra bit of "comicbooky" in there, since the "real world" solution wasn't appealing to them. 

The first two installments of "Brand New Day" are the first Spider-Man books I have bought and enjoyed since the first 4-6 issues of JMS' run with JR,Jr. I haven't read and, based on what I've read on-line, choose ignore "One More Day".

I'm gonna give it a couple more issues to see if I'm gonna stick with it.

And that's not even getting into the fact that you ban a member in good standing, who always seemed to support you, for attending the funeral of a member as a gesture of goodwill, and then sweeping it under the carpet.

This may be the funniest thing I've read all day. I still don't know what the f**k people are talking about here. But I love the whole PARALLAX VIEW 1970s paranoid trip in this sentence. I had no idea I've been able to interact with John Byrne, a guy who makes Richard Nixon look like a humble apologist. This is great. Next thing two guys sent by JB with silencers will appear and shoot me and my paid whore to death in my jacuzzi. I didn't do nothin! Twip! Twip! Twip! Gurgle.

>Chad, you may laugh, but aside for a few minor differences, this board is
exactly like Nazi Germany in 1935. <

Okay, THIS is now officially the Funniest Most Outlandish clear sign someone has no proper grip on reality Statement i've heard all day.

Exactly like Nazi Germany in 1935...

If you're a complete idiot who believes that, then you've some gigantic problems, David. Don't trivialize history to make a point. Come on, man.

You're probably right, Martin.