Spider-Man In The Fantastic Four And The Return of Bucky

In issue 587 of the Fantastic Four comic (one title I have read all the issues of) we will see the death of a member of the team. I think it will be the Human Torch.

I hate comic writers who use the lazy and done to death 'killing off of a major character' plot device unless there is a really cool idea to return them back to life at some point in the future (and we all know the WILL come back). You have to write the RETURN and get that right before you think up the DEATH.


It used to be said that the only deaths that are PERMANENT in comics were the deaths of Uncle Ben in Spider-Man and the death of Bucky in Captain America.

The return of Bucky in the Captain America title is an example of how to do resurrection right.

Instead of dying as we were told (after the missile he was riding and trying to disarm before it hit America exploded) Bucky actually lived and was scooped up by the Soviets who found his body.

They gave him a bionic arm in place of the one he had lost in the explosion and brainwashed him into becoming the ultimate assassin - The WINTER SOLDIER. The Russians kept him in cold storage when he was not being sent on missions to kill people. That is how he remained so youthful looking.

When the identity of the WINTER SOLDIER was reveled in the comic to be the WWII side-kick of Captain America it was a shock and a good one. In fact the whole journey from tragic figure to new Captain America was one of the greatest story arcs in that title's entire run.

Now the FF will lose a member and we have been teased that Spider-Man will be his/her replacement on the team. Therefor, I think it will be the Human Torch to die. After that, making Spider-Man become the replacement for the Torch makes the most sense to me (not only for story reasons but for comic sales reasons)

This is my arguement:


1. The Human Torch is an old time friend of Spidey's from way back in Marvel history. With Peter's sense of responsibility he would feel the need to take the place of his oldest superhero friend as a way to honor the Torch's Legacy.

2. The FF were the one team that always supported what Spider-Man was doing. He is one of only a hand full of character that have been let into the Fantastic Four's inner circle. He is family. They know of Spider-Man and Johnny's relationship. When the mourning begins for Johnny's death, Spider-Man's strength and understanding of loss will be just what the team needs at such a devastating time. The job is Spider-Man's if he wants it.

3. Story-wise it will inspire a whole new set of great Fantastic Four stories. Spider-Man's unique observations on time spent as a new team member will be worth the price of admission alone. Fan boys will learn stuff about the team they never knew and newcomers will get a primer on what the FF are actually all about.

4 In Spider-Man's SECOND ISSUE he 'fought' the Fantastic Four as an audition for a spot on the team. He left when he found out it wasn't a paying gig which was what his motivation for going to the Baxter Building in the first place. Fans have always wonder 'what if?' he had gotten the job? The death of the Human Torch, the youngest member of the team, will finally put those questions to rest and bring Spider-Man full circle.


Marvel is stupid if they pass up this opportunity.