Spider-Man: One More Day is His ‘Worst Story’ Because Fans Read It Wrong

One More Day is one of the most reviled Spider-Man tales in recent memory – but fans have missed the point of the story entirely. Written by J. Michael Straczynski and Joe Quesada with art from Quesada, the 2007 comic is loathed by Spider-Man faithful for breaking up Peter Parker and Mary Jane’s marriage through a deal with the demon Mephisto, the equivalent of Satan in the Marvel Universe. But the vicious vitriol surrounding One More Day is misplaced, and many readers missed the hidden meaning within.

In One More Day, Aunt May is in critical condition after taking a bullet meant for Peter Parker (his identity was public knowledge at the time, a consequence of voluntarily unmasking during 2006’s Civil War event). Peter is furious and despondent – he naturally blames himself for his aunt’s state, and vows to do anything to save her. This is where Peter’s problems begin – and One More Day reveals its true purpose.

First, Peter meets with billionaire Tony Stark – and while his fortune can’t save Aunt May, he does succeed in getting her a proper room (which Peter couldn’t afford). Peter then meets with Doctor Strange to save May through magical means – and while sorcery can’t save her either, Strange advises him to spend the time he has wisely. “We all die, Peter. We cannot change that. All we can control…is whether or not those we love die alone.” He tells him to go to Aunt May and be present for her in her final moments. At last, the stage is set for Peter’s final temptation.

When Peter first meets Mephisto, the demon takes the form of a child and scolds him for being selfish and putting his pain before everyone else’s. “As long as you can go to bed with a clear conscience, you don’t care who else has to pay the price for that good night’s sleep!” This is not a motivational speech – this should be the moment where Peter realizes he’s made (and is making) a terrible mistake by forcing others to shoulder his burden. The entire narrative is structured in such a way as to push Spider-Man into rejecting Mephisto’s deal; in his final confrontation, Peter is put in a perfect position to accept May’s death as a part of life, heroically turn down Mephisto, and move on with Mary Jane into the future. But Peter fails. In may ways, he’s still a teenager who can’t imagine a world without his caretaker. When faced with adulthood, Peter simply isn’t ready to grow up.

One More Day is not a story about a hero making the right decision, nor is it about an adult who makes a noble sacrifice. It’s about a deeply flawed character who avoids responsibility under the guise of being responsible. This was a deliberate choice by experienced writers who know that the most interesting Spider-Man is a flawed Spider-Man who makes plenty of mistakes. In this respect, One More Day succeeds; Peter Parker turned what could have been Spider-Man’s finest hour into his greatest personal failure.