Note: Adult language in the following story.

[Amazing Spider-Man #36]

After the devastating attack on the United States on September 11, Americans and people around the world have been in shock. Perhaps nowhere moreso than in New York City, site of the World Trade Center, which were slammed into by two occupied passenger planes. And from all walks of life, people have sought to help even as they reevaluate their own lives. And while one or more benefit comic books are assembled by the comic industry, New York-based Marvel Comics will be directly addressing the attack in the pages of their flagship title, "Amazing Spider-Man."

"Here's where we discover that I have a black transmutational aura that turns whatever weird shit is around me into something substantial," J. Michael Straczynski, writer of "Amazing Spider-Man" posted to the rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated Usenet newsgroup on Saturday.

"Ever since the events surrounding the WTC, I have said little because, as noted in response to another note, I simply didn't have the words and didn't know where to look for them. And consequently declined invitations to make a statement, on the further grounds that I'm not qualified.

"Here's where life just nails you.

"I got an e-mail from Marvel, who felt that in at least one of their books they needed to really address the issue of what happened at the WTC. Their feeling was that the one character best suited to this was Spider-Man because after all, he's a native New Yorker.

"So they asked me to write it. Unsure if I had the wherewithal necessary to pull it off without embarrassing myself or trivializing the situation through any inadequacies on my part, I asked for 24 hours to think it over. Figured I'd probably pass, since I just didn't know how I could handle it in a comic book format.

"Somewhere along the way that night, I found the words ... and 24 hours after my e-mail, I sent in the script.

"I think it says what needs to be said."

And finally, a special thanks to Scott Tilson.