Summary
Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Spider-Boy #9!One of the most infamousSpider-Manstories in Marvel Comics is “One More Day”, which saw Peter Parker making a deal with the devil (Mephisto) to save Aunt May and restore his secret identity, which came at the price of his and MJ’s mutual love, and the life of their daughter that was never born. Fans hated it, and still consider it one ofthe worstSpider-Manstories ever told. But now, Marvel Comics has a chance to redeem “One More Day”, as Spider-Man is repeating his hated ‘deal with the devil’.
In a preview forSpider-Boy#9 by Dan Slott, Nathan Stockman, and Paco Medina, Peter Parker is standing in a cemetery, thinking about the absurd circumstances of Spider-Boy’s existence, especially as it relates to his own life. Bailey Briggs akaSpider-Boy was introduced as Spider-Man’s sidekick, at least, before he was erased from existence. So now, throughout his solo-series, Spider-Boy is trying to prove to everyone that he is a part of Earth-616’s history, even if he was removed from it - and it seems Spider-Man is willing to help.
As he’s standing in the cemetery, Spider-Man is joined by someone with a long red coat, drenched in shadow. This is assuredly Madame Web, as she’s been a major part of this ongoing storyline, but the interaction between this mystery person and Peter is decidedly off. This person tells Spider-Man that they can help Spider-Boy be remembered, but it will come at a price for them both. In the end, Spider-Man decides it’s worth it, whatever the price, and solidifies this deal with a handshake.
Spider-Man Has a Jaw-Dropping New Mentor as Marvel Rewrites His Origin
Marvel Comics is rewriting Spider-Man’s history in the new Ultimate Universe, and a part of that is the introduction of Peter’s shocking new mentor.
Why Spider-Man is Willing to Make Another ‘Deal with the Devil’ for Spider-Boy
As explained in this preview, and as shown with practically all their on-panel interactions, Spider-Man has become very protective of Spider-Boy despite not remembering that they used to be incredibly close when he was his sidekick before Briggs was effectively erased from existence. Peter says that, at the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter whether he truly believes that Briggs was once an integral part of his past, because Spider-Boy has earned a place in Spider-Man’s future.
Spider-Man trusts Spider-Boy, and wants to be the hero and mentor that Bailey needs. And right now, Bailey needs Spider-Man to believe that he is a part of this world, and more than that, Spider-Boy needs Peter’s help to return to his stolen life. So, Spider-Man makes the choice to put everything on the line for the sake of his trusty sidekick, and only time will tell how much that will really cost him.
Spider-Man’s Reasons for Making This ‘Deal with the Devil’ are Much Better than “One More Day”
Whatever becomes of this new ‘deal with the devil’, fans can at least rest assured knowing that Peter’s reasons for making it are much better than the deal he made in “One More Day”. In the original storyline, Peter was willing to sacrifice his and MJ’s futures just to save his elderly aunt, who would have been heartbroken if she’d known Peter did that. Plus, other storylines have proven that a secret identity can be reinstated in a multitude of other ways (Skrull assistance, Doctor Strange spell, the Purple Children, ect.), making a literal deal with the devil totally unnecessary.
Spider-Man’s reasons for throwing his future away in “One More Day” is why it’s such a hated story. But now, with this new ‘deal with the devil’, Spider-Man is doing the opposite, as he’s putting everything on the line for the sake of not only his future, but that of Spider-Boy. So, can Marvel Comics nail yet another ‘deal with the devil’Spider-Manstory? As of right now, it seems the answer is a resounding ‘yes’.
