I have, after 52 years of reading, reached a very strange place regarding new Marvel stories. They exist in a sort of ahistorical void, referring to nothing but themselves. In a way, these stories don't even exist. They don't look back to anything, and they seem to point nowhere. Everything is invented for each story. They're reached a point of perfect nihilism for a nihilistic generation, and I guess that suits them fine. As long as these people are running Marvel, I'm just as happy that Jean is absent, since she is the antithesis of nihilism. I just hope I live to see a Brand New Day--if you'll excuse the expression...