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This book is definitely a visual reference for No Way Home, but the story differs. Not as bad as most people say, but far from the best Spider-Man story. Risking the marriage adds stakes to the situation Peter finds himself in (although Brand New Day retcons these events anyways). Worth reading before No Way Home, if you can get it from a library. Covered in Gutter Talk November 2021. ( )

I suppose this isn't the MOST hamfisted retcon in comics history, but it is pretty up there. The art wasn't exactly pleasant either ( )

Spider-Man: One More Day collects Amazing Spider-Man nos. 554-555, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man no. 24, and Sensational Spider-Man no. 41 written by J. Michael Straczynski and Joe Quesada with art by Quesada. The story works to resolve the last threads from Civil War, with Mary Jane and Peter Parker striking a deal with Mephisto to save Aunt May, still in a coma from an assassin's bullet care of the Kingpin. Straczynski's contribution in Amazing Spider-Man no. 554 reflects the tone of his previous issues, with Quesada's art remaining relatively low-key, though the subsequent issues leave a lot to be desired.
Due to disagreements, Marvel editor-in-chief Joe Quesada took over writing the conclusion of this story to impose his limited vision on Spider-Man and undo the significant character growth of the preceding twenty years since "The Wedding!" in Amazing Spider-Man Annual no. 21. He writes Mephisto to say things that are vaguely impressive, though lack the emotional weight of Straczynski's writing in previous stories. The very idea of Spider-Man making a deal with the devil seems outlandish. True, he gave into vengeance in the "Back in Black" storyline that preceded this, but he acknowledged that there would be a cost as he counted felonies. Though Wizard magazine praised Quesada's art, it grows more and more sloppy as the story continues, with Spider-Man's eye lenses looking tiny and ridiculous while Quesada attempts to put as many muscles on the human face as exist on the Hulk's entire body. Quesada's covers and their attempt to ape the sensationalist style of the 1960s Marvel covers look sloppy and forced.
I stopped reading the main Spider-Man titles when this first came out and stuck to the Ultimate universe stories. It betrayed twenty years of character growth all because one petty tyrant did not like Peter and MJ's marriage. Re-reading this now, I still don't find it enjoyable. Though Straczynski was no stranger to controversy, he always grounded his stories in the emotional core of the characters and took time to develop plots. Quesada threw that all away for a rushed deus ex machina. The only potential saving grace is that this wasn't a total erasure of canon and Dan Slott recently began teasing a potential return of Peter and MJ's memory of their marriage, if not the marriage itself, in Amazing Spider-Man no. 797. ( )

This is not a book you want to read to get back into Spider-Man or to start with. During the Civil War story arc Peter Parker must deal with the ramifications of making his identity known to the public on the promise that Tony Stark and S.H.I.E.L.D. will help protect his loved ones. The Kingpin sends out an assassin to kill Parker, but misses and hits Aunt May. What follows is One More Day, and it has a huge impact on the Spiderverse. I'm personally not thrilled with the concept and am waiting in high anticipation for someone to set this story arc blunder straight. With that said, the art work is engaging and it is well written. It's just such a impactful, and arguably unnecessary mythos change that I have a hard time rating it any higher. ( )