I've written here before about my love of comic books, but I'd have a tough time telling you what most superheroes are up to these days.

Still, it wasn't much of a surprise today to learn that Peter Parker -- AKA Spider-man -- had died. 

According to the Associated Press, Parker met his end in issue 700 of The Amazing Spider-man. In that issue, he and long-time villain Doctor Octopus switch bodies, Freaky Friday-style, leaving Parker trapped in Octopus' dying body. Meanwhile, Octopus takes over as Spider-man, and tries his hand at being a hero. 

It's pretty convoluted, but the kind of thing that happens all the time in comics.

You know what else happens all the time? Big, earth-shaking "events" that coincide with milestone issues of a comic, and are later rewritten, or forgotten.

That's why getting too shaken up about what happens in Amazing Spider-man 700 (or really, in any comic) is pointless.

It's certainly not worth sending death threats to the person who "killed" Peter Parker, although that's apparently what happened to Spider-man writer Dan Slott.

Superman died 20 years ago, and rose from the dead. Batman had his back broken, but healed. (He also died and came back at some point a few years ago.) Daredevil wore a redesigned costume, until he didn't. 

The list of comic book characters who have undergone some sort of sea change only to return to the status quo could fill a phone book. I imagine it's only a matter of time until we see Peter Parker added to the list.