1 Month 2 Live
Encyclopedia
One Month to Live, also called 1 Month 2 Live, was a 5-issue limited series
comic book
produced by Marvel Comics
on a weekly basis in 2010. It was written by Rick Remender
in collaboration with Stuart Moore
, John Ostrander
, and Rob Williams. The original concept was devised by Marvel editor Steve Wacker with the premise "What would you do with one month to change the world?". The storyline centers on a protagonist with terminal cancer
, in response to Wacker's aunt having been diagnosed with cancer.
The four writers found the experience of writing the story to be especially poignant, as all had personal experiences with cancer -- in particular, Remender, whose father survived a bout with cancer in 2008, and Ostrander, whose wife Kim Yale
died of cancer in 1997.
, Dennis Sykes gains superpower
s and an untreatable cancer. With a life expectancy of barely a month, Sykes launches himself on a brief career as a superhero
, in an attempt to make a difference in the world while he still can.
called the story "nuanced and moving". IGN
described it as "one of the most human stories that Marvel has published in a long time", and commended Marvel for not devising "some magical cure for Dennis' cancer"; however, Comic Book Resources
stated that it wss "ambitious but flawed".
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
produced by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
on a weekly basis in 2010. It was written by Rick Remender
Rick Remender
Rick Remender is an American comic book writer and artist who resides in Portland, Oregon. He is best known for his work on Marvel Comics' Punisher series, as well as Fear Agent, Uncanny X-Force, and Venom.-Career:...
in collaboration with Stuart Moore
Stuart Moore
Stuart Moore is a writer and editor of comic books and novels.-Career:Moore's writing includes the original science-fiction series Earthlight and PARA; Iron Man, New Avengers/Transformers, and Wolverine ; Firestorm and Detective Comics ; the multicultural superhero team The 99; the comics...
, John Ostrander
John Ostrander
John Ostrander is an American writer of comic books. He is best known for his work on Suicide Squad, Grimjack and Star Wars: Legacy, series he helped create.-Career:...
, and Rob Williams. The original concept was devised by Marvel editor Steve Wacker with the premise "What would you do with one month to change the world?". The storyline centers on a protagonist with terminal cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, in response to Wacker's aunt having been diagnosed with cancer.
The four writers found the experience of writing the story to be especially poignant, as all had personal experiences with cancer -- in particular, Remender, whose father survived a bout with cancer in 2008, and Ostrander, whose wife Kim Yale
Kim Yale
Kim Yale was an American writer and editor of comic books for multiple comic book companies, including Marvel Comics, DC Comics, First Comics and Warp Graphics....
died of cancer in 1997.
Plot
In an accident with toxic wasteToxic waste
Toxic waste is waste material that can cause death or injury to living creatures. It spreads quite easily and can contaminate lakes and rivers. The term is often used interchangeably with “hazardous waste”, or discarded material that can pose a long-term risk to health or environment.Toxic waste...
, Dennis Sykes gains superpower
Superpower (ability)
Superpower is a popular culture term for a fictional superhuman ability. When a character possesses multiple such abilities, the terms super powers or simply powers are used...
s and an untreatable cancer. With a life expectancy of barely a month, Sykes launches himself on a brief career as a superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
, in an attempt to make a difference in the world while he still can.
Critical response
USA TodayUSA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
called the story "nuanced and moving". IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
described it as "one of the most human stories that Marvel has published in a long time", and commended Marvel for not devising "some magical cure for Dennis' cancer"; however, Comic Book Resources
Comic Book Resources
Comic Book Resources, also known as CBR is a website dedicated to the coverage of comic book-related news and discussion.-History:Comic Book Resources was founded by Jonah Weiland in 1996 as a development of the Kingdom Come Message Board, a message forum that Weiland had created to discuss DC...
stated that it wss "ambitious but flawed".