About Heroes

"One More Day" Part 1
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Artist: Joe Quesada and Danny Miki
Covers: Joe Quesada and Richard Isanove

Well, this is it. The big spider-event of 2007 has arrived and I can't say I'm very impressed with the first issue. Let's start off with the good. Joe Quesada is the man when it comes to his artwork. I'm not very fond of his big diabolical plot to undo the spider-marriage but damn can the man draw a fantastic Spider-Man. Just check out the last two pages of this issue, the art is just off the wall incredible! I'd even buy that image as a poster if Marvel chooses to make it available as a poster.

OK, on to the story. Not much happened in this issue. Aunt May is dying, we get it. That has been repeated time after time in the spider-books since Civil War ended last January. We realize that Peter and MJ have no money and Peter will storm the gates of hell to save May. But did we really need the entire issue to re-convey this message? Well, that is exactly what this issue did. Dr. Fine tells Peter and MJ that they need to move May to the charity ward of the hospital. Peter flips out, but Dr. Fine tells Peter that he owes Spider-Man a huge debt for saving his brother's life years ago. This lets Peter go out and find someone with a bottomless pocketbook-Tony Stark. Peter arrives minus costume at Stark Tower (didn't that get destroyed in World War Hulk #1?) and literally sets off the alarms. Iron Man comes running and the two fight in my favorite part of the entire issue. Peter has nothing to lose and isn't holding back. Peter finally webs Tony up with all his internal webbing (a very bad-ass sequence done by Joey Q) and tells Tony that May is dying and it's his fault. Tony tells Peter he feels his pain but can be of no help since Peter is still a wanted fugitive. Tony breaks free of the webbing and tells Peter that he will let him go and spend time with May as she approaches her final days. Peter is crushed and pissed that he has failed May yet again. He returns to the hospital, unsure of what to do next.

Later at Stark Tower, Tony looks at a picture of the New Avengers before Civil War split them apart. Tony looks at Peter, MJ, and May in the picture and actually shows human emotion. Maybe the tin man has a heart after all. Nah, he's probably really a skrull trying to play with human emotion, but now isn't the time to get into that. Tony tells Jarvis what has happened with May (although it isn't mentioned on panel) and Jarvis rushes to the hospital. Jarvis claims to be May's cousin and gives the hospital a two million dollar check to cover her medical bills. Jarvis is heartbroken by this, claiming he still has feelings for May. Peter and MJ thank Jarvis, and Dr. Fine tells Peter the hospital will make sure May's last days are spent comfortably. Peter is still in denial and promises to do whatever is necessary to save May. (OK Peter, we get it. Stop saying that.) On the roof, Peter suits up in the red and blue costume and tells Mary Jane he loves her. Peter swings away; ready to do what it takes to help May.

Thoughts/Comments:
This was a pretty slow start to the big spider-event of the year. The artwork was awesome, but like I said there was very little story. Since this is the supposed ending of the spider-marriage, I wish MJ had more time in this issue. The Peter and Tony fight was great, but I wish Peter didn't keep going on about how he is going to save May. We have heard this over and over all year and it just got repetitive and boring. There was no mention of what happened to the black costume and I still don't see how Stark Tower is standing due to the events of World War Hulk. Also, the Marvel Handbook entry for Spider-Man was an unnecessary bonus in the back and it shouldn't have made this book 3.99. I have plenty of Marvel Handbook entry stuff on Spider-Man and his various costumes over the years. I don't need it repeated here to up the price of the issue. All in all, this issue gets a B- .I would have rated it lower, but Quesada is the man when it comes to his artwork.