Issue(s): Marvels #4
Published Date: Apr 94
Title: "The day she died"
Credits:
Kurt Busiek - Writer
Alex Ross - Artist
Spencer Lamm - Assistant Editor
Marcus McLaurin - Editor
Tom DeFalco - Editor in Chief

Review/plot:
This issue is a great one, depicting the end of the Silver Age as represented by Sheldon's disillusionment with the Marvels. He starts off trying to 'give something back' to the Marvels, trying to make up for the fact that the majority of people take the heroes for granted and treat them poorly, by proving that Spider-Man didn't kill Captain Stacy but it all falls apart for him with Gwen's death.

The book he had been working on is published by the beginning of this issue and it's a success...

...but by the end of the story he's disillusioned.

The story depicts a man growing old and tired. Busiek's ability to step into people's shoes and show the way they work and think proves he's a master, and by showing the Marvel heroes from all different people's perspectives he provides us with a fresh look at them as well.

At the end of the issue, Sheldon, in a manic state now that he's decided to retire, asks his assistant, Holly McCann, to photograph him, his wife, and the paperboy (i guess as a substitute for his kids, who weren't around?). He talks about how the paperboy is just a nice ordinary boy, but the kid is Danny Ketch, who will grow up to be the second Ghost Rider. You can't get much closer to a symbol for the modern grim & gritty age than that.

Ross' artwork is impressive as always, although i think he makes people's costumes look too bulky.

His faces are great. I particularly like the way he depicts Dr. Octopus' instability when Sheldon catches him in a lie.

Superb stuff.

Quality Rating: A

Historical Significance Rating: 5

Chronological Placement Considerations: As usual with these sorts of books, it needs to take place after all of the references below.

References:

• This issue starts with the Avengers off in the Kree-Skrull War, in Avengers #89-97. The picture depicting the war never actually happened since all of those characters were never together at once; i suppose it's more a depiction of what the public thought was going on.
  
• Spider-Man was wanted for Captain Stacy's death in Amazing Spider-Man #90.
  
• The Black Widow's trial for the murder of the Scorpion is from Daredevil #83.
  
• The plot with Iron Man and the Guardsman firing on a crowd of protesters comes from Iron Man #44-46.
  
• Galactus attacked the Earth again in Fantastic Four #120-123. Also in that arc, Reed spoke to everyone in the world using Agatha Harkness' magic.
  
• The Baxter Building eviction sub-plot started in Fantastic Four #126.
  
• Luke Cage first appeared in Hero for Hire #1, and he's not sure about being photographed because he's an escaped convict.
  

• The Hulk's appearance in Greenwich Village is from Hulk #142.
  
• The Sentinels returned from the sun in Avengers #102-104.
  
• Spider-Man was thought to have kidnapped Dr. Jorgenson in Marvel Team-Up #4.
  
• Dr. Octopus was arrested in Amazing Spider-Man #115.
  
• Ant-Man and the Wasp were presumed dead after Whirlwind destroyed their home in Marvel Feature #6.
  
• Daredevil and the Black Widow battled the Indestructible Man in Daredevil #93-94.
  
• Thundra fought the Thing at Shea Stadium in Fantastic Four #133.
  
• The Sub-Mariner invaded NYC to rescue Tamara in Sub-Mariner #60.
  
• The battle between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin that resulted in both Gwen Stacy and the Goblin's deaths was in Amazing Spider-Man #121-122.
  
• The Vision & Scarlet Witch controversy has been brewing for some time, but it became a main plot in Avengers #113.
  
• Iron Man fought the Masked Marauder in Detroit in Iron Man #60-61.
  
• The Hulk and Hawkeye fought Zzzax in Hulk #166.
  
• Ant-Man and the Wasp returned in Marvel Feature #10.

Cross-over: N/A

Continuity Implant? Y

Reprinted In: N/A

The airship in the center of the invasion page is the Owlship from "Watchmen", and Nite Owl and Silk Spectre are seen in the left window.

On the page showing the newspaper article on Norman Osborn's death, the article is actually a rant against Stan choosing Norman as the Green Goblin and how foolish it was to drive Steve Ditko away. You'll need a magnifying glass for it.