In case you haven't heard, the finale of the second issue of "Civil War" features Spider-Man revealing to the world at large that under the mask is Peter Parker. If one was doing what Marvel suggested and simply buying the main seven issues of Civil War, it would seem that Spider-Man did a complete one-eighty from the previous issue (where he basically said there was no way he'd unmask). The confusion would be greater if one also read the first issue of "Civil War: Front Line" in which Spider-Man says that the Registration Act is a good- if flawed- idea, and that the reason that it's a bad idea is that it would cause super-villains to come after the unmasked heroes' families and loved ones. In fact, the confusion would be the greatest if one was to, say, read nearly any issue of any Spider-Man series from the last forty or so years and see that Spider-Man would never, ever unmask because of the danger it would pose to those he loved.

In fact, Spider-Man is living proof that villains will use that information against them. Both Green Goblins found out Spider-Man was Peter Parker. One killed Gwen Stacy, the other went after Peter Parker several times. When the Chameleon figured it out, the first thing he did was try to get Mary Jane to sleep with him. Venom traumatized Mary Jane. Every single villain who has found out that Spider-Man and Peter Parker were one and the same has used that information against Spider-Man. So, why exactly is Spider-Man unmasking? On live television, no less. Ah, yes, the recent issue of "Amazing Spider-Man" where Mary Jane and Aunt May tell him "oh, it's okay to unmask! It's a good idea!"

One issue supposedly overturns forty-plus years of continuity. Yes, that's some good story-telling, right there.