Marvel's much-maligned Spider-Man: One More Day are continually published year after year, and Marvel doesn't seem to know how to stop.
Stan Lee and Steve Ditko's initial Spider-Man run avoided nearly all the superhero trends of the era: he was far from financially and emotionally stable, he had plenty of character flaws, and most importantly, he was not a teenage sidekick but rather the main hero (Lee infamously hated the teenage sidekick trope and eliminated them whenever possible). Peter Parker was an ordinary man who just happened to be a superhero, not a superhero who just happened to be an ordinary man, and fans immediately saw themselves under the mask. Spider-Man often had relatively grounded adventures as a result compared to the other superheroes in the company - but this would not last.
2022's Deadly Neighborhood Spider-Man sees Peter Parker temporarily move to LA to work on a science project, but he is quickly caught up in a mystery involving ancient artifacts and magic creatures. The story, while visually stunning, presents a fine example of Peter Parker encountering elements he would never see on a regular basis - and consequently, neither would the reader. As problematic as the premise may be, it pales in comparison to another Spider-Man tale that fans loathe more than most: Spider-Man: One More Day, in which Peter uses Doctor Strange's magic, walks past visions of his future potential selves, and eventually makes a deal with the Devil himself.
Can Spider-Man Stories Work With Supernatural Elements?
Perhaps Marvel believes that Spider-Man's complete lack of knowledge might make for a more exciting story (watching Spider-Man struggle against an opponent he cannot possibly beat is a franchise staple, after all). But this effort is misguided, and magical elements only serve to put the reader on the back foot instead of Peter Parker. Case in point: J. Michael Straczynski's Spider-Totem story arc, in which new information was thrown at both Peter and the reader at a rapid pace (and since the titular totems have no basis in reality, the reader is just as confused as Spider-Man).
Occasionally, the stories work when Peter has a magical ally. The powerful Doctor Strange (unfortunately dead in 2022) is one such character, and his appearance in Spider-Man media is usually a highlight of any story. But Spider-Man's best stories occur when he is close to the ground and dealing with understandable dilemmas; his many magical adventures usually fall flat.
