Issue(s): Marvel Comics Presents #138 (Spider-Man story only)
Cover Date: Oct 93
Title: "Deathurge"
Credits:
Matt Idelson - Writer
Malcom Jones III - Penciler
Malcom Jones III - Inker
Michael Kraiger - Assistant Editor
Richard Ashford - Editor

Review/plot:
Peter Parker has heard from Ben Urich that a costumed character has been seen visiting cancer patients before they died, so as Spider-Man he's staking out a hospital's cancer ward. The character turns out to be Deathurge.

The conflict turns into a proxy debate about assisted suicide.

Deathurge has no business with Spider-Man, so he decides to leave and come back when Spidey is gone. The story ends with Spider-Man trying to wait it out.

It's been established that Deathurge is an agent of Oblivion (although that's distinct from Death), and his name is Deathurge, but i find it hard to accept him in this role (Peter David's Mercy, on the other hand, was created for this role). I'm also not sure that this is a great way to use Spider-Man for a rare Marvel Comics Presents story starring him. I always find the positions that heroes take in these moral dilemmas to be a bit arbitrary. But now that i think about it, i guess a guy willing to sacrifice his marriage and all of Marvel continuity to give his 180 year old aunt another few months to live would indeed fight a guy trying to bring a peaceful rest to people dying painfully of cancer.

Quality Rating: D+

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A