the plot: As Peter Parker's friends and family gather to see the opening of a mysterious box delivered to Aunt May, Peter deals with Mary Jane's death after seeing a small child learn of the death of her mother.

the review: My opinion of this issue is mixed. It was a good issue, but ultimately very average. The artwork by John Romita jr. was very good and Howard Mackie's writing was better than usual. Having everyone gather as they did in this issue and PP:SM #14 is a nice way to show the effects felt by MJ's passing, and I've enjoyed Peter's reaction to Mary Jane's death, believing she's not dead. It makes sense he would feel this way since so many people in his life have returned, and that his friends would not share this feeling since their loved ones do not show up five years after their apparent deaths.

This issue seemed a bit weak though. It didn't affect me as it might have, and not actually seeing what was inside the box at the end was a tad annoying. I can only assume that items of MJ's were in the crate and Peter's sudden acceptance was brought about earlier during his run in with the young girl dealing with her mother's death. I was also a little irked at the size of Peter and Randy's apartment as well, since Randy seems to have no source of income other than his father and Peter is out of work as well. And the poster of MJ wearing nothing but a towel is a bit gratuitous.

An unmoving, though tidy wrap-up to the death of Mary Jane storyline. **1/2 out of *****

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