And here's my letter.
Well I can only speak for myself on this subject, but hopefully you guys will take this letter among all other under consideration if you're asking what it will take to be please us.
Through JMS's run on Spider-Man and on various lower tier Spider books during that time period (Peter Parker, Spectacular, Unlimited MK/Sensational, and Friendly Neighborhood) I for the most part was satisfied. I even enjoyed certain stories that didn't receive warm receptions such as Sins Past. I also loved that in the past few years Spider-Man's significance with the superhero community and the Marvel Universe has increased. That only made sense since he's Marvel's flagship character.
Now on the subject of One More Day and Brand New Day. From the beginning I dreaded this story being told. Joe Quesada once again made comments about doing away with the marriage and bringing Spider-Man back to his roots. Don't get me wrong I'm indifferent about Mary Jane and the marriage as a whole, but I also felt that without it really hurting the stories that it would be bad for anyone to go out of their way to break them up. Mary Jane seemingly died in a plane explosion a few years back, and people just kept asking when she'll be back. I also feared that with the talks of Spider-Man going to his "roots" would mean regression to his character and status quo. This is the same man that said that as long as he's in charge Ultimate Spider-Man will stay in highschool. He would also use Ultimate Spider-Man as his rationale to keep him single. He also said at a panel at Wizard World in 2006 that if he's dating Kitty Pryde in the Ultimate Universe there's no reason he can't do that in the Marvel Universe.
Well, why would I need to continue reading USM when I'm getting more of the same three times a month with Amazing Spider-Man? Comics aren't getting cheaper, so maybe I should just drop Amazing altogether when it's just cheaper to read Ultimate Spider-Man. This is just like Vince McMahon ressurecting ECW, and treating it like an alternat product, then just making it the third WWE brand.
So now we've got three versions of Spider-Man (Marvel Adventures also) that for the time being won't grow or evolve beyond a certain status quo, when this is a character that since the beginning was all about change and moving forward. Well he's back to living with his aunt, taking pictures for the Bugle, and single but his romantic escapades won't add up to anything to the story since we know any girl he's with won't last.
Also why take away his new powers from The Other? Not only were the majority of them not given any attention since the last issue of that crossover, but such a big deal was made out of it in the months leading up to it. Yes, I admit the wrist stingers might've been a bit much but writers don't always have to undo things they don't like just not give that so much focus when telling the story. The same with the marriage.
And on to undoing the unmasking. This I think causes the most problems due to it not being a self contained event, but something the entire world saw. To say that everyone remembers Spider-Man unamasking but not who it was just doesn't fly. The fact that people remember it happening, but no one remembering who did it should have them questioning why they don't recall it. And this sort of manipulation on a worldwide scale. Also after Aunt May got shot, I felt Peter did a good job of establishing he wasn't someone to mess with. I know that wouldn't stop the occasional nut coming after his loved ones, but enough of Spider-Man's villains knew who he was and went after friends and family from time to time. What about the new identity Peter set up for himself in Friendly Neighborhood? Ofcourse people knew Peter was Spider-Man, but it wasn't common knowledge that Peter was Ben Reilly.
Next Harry Osborn coming back. Why? I read a quote or two from Quesada saying the book was more fun with him around. Really? I always saw him as just another of Peter's friends only this one was fashioned to become a villain after his father's death. After he died he still had a few traps set, Spider-Man overcame them, and everyone's since moved on. If Harry's so badly missed by editorial why not have some more surprises for Pete pop up every so often?
Now that I've expressed my views on what's been changed as far as what's been done with said changes doesn't make it any better. First off despite Harry being back, and his two lady friends not being featured all that prominently, the stories themselves are nothing special. Spider-Man dealing with a fellow female vigilante that's being teased as a love interest is nothing new. Also him being up in her face and not able to determine if she's Mary Jane or not is just bad. We have a Goblin based supervillain shrouded in mystery. This too has been done more than a few times. The funny thing is so far three out of the four writers that have been used have all written stories I love. But the book leaves a lot to be desired, and I've read enough older Spider-Man stories from Dematteis and Stern on top of being an avid Waid fan that I'm not really holding my breath with this new direction.
Michael Ayers
Bear, DE
Just thought I’d give you a shout about something that’s driving me nuts, and hopefully I’ll get a response in some form or manner. I’m finding this really bizaare as I’m actually a Marvel licensee, and put on Marvel exhibitions and do lots of corporate work here in the UK. Well, anyhoo, here goes. It’s re: the cat being put back in the bag of Peter’s identity. 
) but what the fudge is going on with the whole Felicia thing? 
