Look, a fix-it for a fan-hated story angle! How fresh!

[seriousfic]

You know what would’ve been an interesting alternative to OMD, although pretty shamelessly derivative of both Doctor Who and the Clone Saga (yes, I know, you’re already getting chills)? Peter asks Dr. Strange for help saving Aunt May, and the good doctor says that the only one who can help him is in an alternate universe. It’s basically the exact same universe as 616, except for one changed decision… Peter Parker didn’t marry Mary-Jane Watson. Peter goes to that universe with Mary-Jane (who insists on coming along; due to Strange’s brand of magical interdimensional travel, they have to swap places with their mirror selves). Peter and Mary-Jane get the comatose Aunt May to a hospital, then find the healer. It’s Ezekiel, just to put a cap on all that spider-totem stuff. Alt!Ezekiel explains that because of mumblemumblemumble, Peter and Mary-Jane have to stay in the alternate universe to save Aunt May. They talk it over with their doppelgangers, who reluctantly agreed.

Thus, 616-Peter/MJ get a happy ending (at least until the storyline gets old and they come back), and we pick up with the Alt!Peter, Alt!Mary-Jane, and Alt!Aunt May (who, let’s say, doesn’t know that Peter is Spider-Man). We’ll use the Scarlet Spiders excuse from The Initiative to say that the public just thinks that Peter Parker was A Spider-Man or whatever. The switcheroo fools everyone into thinking that Peter Parker as Spidey was a big fat hoax due to their differing quantum signatures or whatever (616!Peter is scanned as Spider-Man, then disappears into the altverse. Alt!Peter gets scanned… lo and behold, different signature!).

While this is happening, we learn that Alt!Harry (who is alive and well because of mumblemumble) is on the verge of financial ruin and about to be arrested, or in similarly dire straits. He takes the opportunity to escape to the 616 universe. Cue sinister music.

It’s not perfect, but it gives plenty of storyline material: Alt!Peter and Alt!Mary-Jane have to fake a divorce, Alt!Peter gets hard knocks for having punk’d the whole world, and what’s the deal with Alt!Harry? Plus, if it doesn’t go over, there’s an easy fix… just bring back 616!Peter and Mary-Jane from the alternate dimension.

And it’d be a great jumping-on point. You could tell the hypothetical new reader anything they wanted to know by requiring it to be explained to Alt!Peter, who is of course unfamiliar with the 616 universe.

Comments

[htbthomas.livejournal.com]

That sounds like a winner to me! :) I'd buy it, compared to the not buying of the current storyline. :) Joe Q only seems to see the cash, after all.

[mcity.livejournal.com]

While this is happening, we learn that Alt!Harry (who is alive and well because of mumblemumble) is on the verge of financial ruin and about to be arrested, or in similarly dire straits. He takes the opportunity to escape to the 616 universe.

http://pbfcomics.com/?cid=PBF126-One_More_Day.gif

[seriousfic.livejournal.com]

But with Goblin strength, Harry could dig his way out of the coffin. Or his body could be stored in a crypt or have been exhumed for a paternity test (like if, in a moment of foreshadowing, Norman wanted to make sure Normie is really his grandson).