seriousfic

You know, one of the bigger problem with Marvel (in contrast to DC, which sets up storylines that NEVER END but just keep getting bigger and bigger until the mastermind-behind-Identity-Infinite-Final-Sex-Crisis has literally been revealed to be GOD HIMSELF) is that they cut off their story arcs at the most unsatisfying point. Like Civil War. The heroes are beaten, the fascists have won, the SHRA is in effect... now what? How do our boys get out of this one? Uh, they don't. That's the new status quo.

Or Brand New Day. Peter and Mary-Jane have been mind-raped into forgetting their marriage, portions of their souls are being kept in Hell, the Devil has won... and that's our new happy-shiny status quo. Quesada and co. are perfectly happy with this arrangement and don't see why readers would want any resolution for Peter and the love of his life being in never-ending agony when they can have Peter snogging "Miss Girls Gone Wild."

I suppose, if you wanted, you could add Peter and Mary-Jane's daughter, and the dissolution of Jean and Scott's marriage to that pile. But is there anyone in the world who doesn't want to see the real Captain America return and overturn SHRA (Bonus points if Wanda were responsible for resurrecting him, possibly with Nick Fury helping her)? I would be totally cool with the Marvel Universe degenerating into a dystopia if there were a red, white, and blue light at the end of the tunnel.

Just imagine it. Norman "Will To Power" Osborn has deputized every supervillain into his private Thunderbolt army, the superheroes are scattered, Tony is all "what have I done"ing, then Steve shows up and leads a WALL of superheroes to the bastardized SHIELD Heli-Carrier, shouting "Avengers Assemble!" Tigra jumps the Hood and claws him all to hell while telling him to never, ever threaten her mom. Daredevil and Elektra take on Bullseye, the X-Men start junking Sentinels, the Heroes for Hire and/or the REAL Thunderbolts collectively declare "I quit!" to Norman and walk out to help the rebellion, Peter and Mary-Jane kiss after he rescues her and Norman throws a pumpkin bomb at them, but Cap deflects it with his shield...

Every comic book reader in the world would be pumping their fists.

Also, Cap MUST say to Peter "Son, there'd better be a dang good reason you're not wearing your wedding ring. When a man makes a vow, I for one expect him to keep it!"