"Spider-Man/Human Torch: I'm With Stupid" Talkback (Spoilers)

[Spider-Man]

The Batman Adventures creative teams tackles two of Marvel's hottest characters!

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]SPIDER-MAN/HUMAN TORCH: I'M WITH STUPID

Written by: Dan Slott
Penciled by: Ty Templeton
Cover by: Paul Smith[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]

The Story: Hang tight, True Believer! It's five all-new, old-school adventures featuring your favorite web-headed hero and his pal, the walking matchstick! Follow them through the years – from high school to present day, from the Negative Zone to the Coffee Bean, from Dorrie Evans to Mary Jane Watson-Parker. It's all here! Collects SPIDER-MAN/HUMAN TORCH #1-5.

Comments? What are your thoughts?
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[Pyro]

I thought it was good and very old-school. I liked that they told a lot of story in one issue. It was lighthearted and the characters were spot on. Lots of good humor, my favorite being the scene with Paste-Pot-Pete. I liked the art but I'm not so sure modern day coloring suits old styled art. However, I really like the coloring effect for Human Torch's, best seen on the first page.

 

[adoptedBatpuppy]

I just have a quick question as to when in May does Spiderman/Human Torch # 5 the last issue of this mini series ships out? I looked at the DC Comics site but didn't find anything. Thanks in advance.

 

[guerillacropoli]

You might try checking the Marvel website. Spider-Man and the Human Torch aren't DC characters.

I myself am waiting for the TPB since I missed the first couple of issues.

 

[Spider-Man]

Spider-Man/Human Torch is scheduled to conclude in May. There will be a digest sized collection for the five issue mini-series in June for just $8. IGN Comics has the information.

 

[guerillacropoli]

Does digest sized mean condensed? I want the whole shebang, and I don't mind it being in small, paper-back, manga-ish form, but I don't want to miss out on anything.

 

[MDawg]

Does digest sized mean condensed? I want the whole shebang, and I don't mind it being in small, paper-back, manga-ish form, but I don't want to miss out on anything.

It'll be the full miniseries, just in the manga size. Marvel usually plans ahead with titles they expect to do this by making sure the art is easily scaleable so nothing in lost in the reducing process.

 

[Spider-Man]

For anyone interested the digest collection of this mini-series is being released today.

In a year where Gwen Stacy and Norman Osborn has an affair and Paul Jenkins ended his run on Spider-Man this mini-series really was a nice beacon of light in an otherwise drab year. The writing and artwork really produced a fan story and worked hand in hand. This was the Spider-Man I remember and it was captured beautifully. I was surprised that Dan Slott even remembered the Spider-Mobile! The artwork by Ty Templeton was just perfect as well. This collection only costs about $8 for five issues. It's really worth picking up and I hope everyone does so.

To those who have read it did you like it?

 

[Stu]

To those who have read it did you like it?

I utterly adored it. I think the final issue is the best, and only goes to show how good these characters can be, when written correctly (which doesn't seem to be happening for ol' Spidey as of late, regrettably enough.)

Slott has a great tendancey to forget absoloutly nothing about the comics he read in his youth, so the issues are utterly filled with fanboy jokes and nods to comics past.

The greatest part of the series was undoubtedly Torch uncovering Spidey's secret identity, and Johnny's priceless reaction.

One of the best books of the year, right up there with Miller's Marvel Knights and the final issue of Spectacular Spider-Man.

*****

 

[Fett One]

I read the entire series and I enjoyed it. My two favorite parts are Johnies reaction to finding out that Reed knew Spidey's identity before he did and when Spider-Man defeats the Red Ghost by using pies. Considering how bad those old pie ads were, I never thought I'd see a writer find a plausible way for a superhero to fight crime using pies, let alone incorpate that into a storyline.

 

[Ed Liu]

Howdy,

Slott has a great tendancey to forget absoloutly nothing about the comics he read in his youth, so the issues are utterly filled with fanboy jokes and nods to comics past.

I think his real talent in this regard is that he can manage to work in those references and in-jokes in an inclusive way rather than an exclusive one. People who don't know the Clone Saga from the Clone Wars from Dolly the Cloned Sheep can still get a reasonable giggle out of the exchange between the Torch and Spidey at the start of issue #5.

The Red Ghost vs. Fruit Pies/Spider-Buggy issue was probably my favorite one in the entire series, managing to be a stand-alone story, a nod to past comics continuity, and a meta-joke all at the same time. Most comics have trouble with getting just ONE of those right.

And Dan, you're not fooling anyone with that bit in #4 where you managed to get the Black Cat in her underwear on-panel for a page .

Speaking of this series, is that really true that Johnny Storm never knew Spidey's secret identity until now? Like, really? Honest? Considering how long these two have been buddies in real-time, that's really unbelievable to me.

-- Ed/Ace

 

[Stu]

Speaking of this series, is that really true that Johnny Storm never knew Spidey's secret identity until now? Like, really? Honest? Considering how long these two have been buddies in real-time, that's really unbelievable to me.

-- Ed/Ace

Indeed it is, Ed. Reed found out last year when he, Peter and Luke Cage 'had a word' with Matt Murdock about the way he was running Hell's Kitchen. It was sort of wasted with Reed (it wasn't even mentioned at the time.)

And as you can see throughout the story, Peter and Torch never really got on too well.

If anyone enjoyed this, I'd recommend tracking down a recent issue of Fantastic Four which featured a team up between Spidey and The Torch, that was just as amusing.

 

[randomguy]

Speaking of this series, is that really true that Johnny Storm never knew Spidey's secret identity until now? Like, really? Honest? Considering how long these two have been buddies in real-time, that's really unbelievable to me.

Yup, Spider-Man/Human Torch #5 is genuinely the first time Johnny learns of it. That's what makes the "Luke Cage knew?!" gag so hilarious. It's amazing that Dan Slott can make so many references to past continuity without alienating readers who aren't so familiar with the original stories.

Anyhow, add me to the "it's an awesome story and everyone should read it" camp. It's an absolute riot (my favorite joke is Spider-Man doing donuts on the side of the Daily Bugle building), and there are nice moments of poignancy scattered in there, too. Ty Tympleton's art is nicely evocative of different moments in Spider-Man's history, capturing bits of Gil Kane, Steve Ditko, Jack Kirby, John Romita, John Byrne, Ross Andru, and others. Although I do kinda wish they had covered the 90s in some fashion, because if anyone could have redeemed that period, it would have been Slott and Templeton.

It's good stuff. Pick up the eminently affordable digest if you haven't. And Marvel, get Dan Slott on a regular Spider-Man title right now.

 

[MDawg]

I loved reading the singles, so I may have to double dip and pick up the trade. wish it was a full-sized edition and no a digest though.


And yeah, I was suprised as well that in all the continuity that Torch never knew Peter was Spidey. Made the ending that much nicer even if it did have a sugar-coating all over it (Dan isn't just about doing horrible things to squirrels though ).

 

[wonderfly]

It's the best Spiderman storyline to come out this year, (so far). I loved every minute of it.

 

[Weibart]

I loved this series. This was genuinely funny, and I can't remember the last time I'd laughed as hard reading a comic. This book is also just plain fun. Because of this title, I picked up Great Lake Avengers, something that I probably wouldn't have bought if I wasn't familiar with Dan Slott's awesome taste in humor, and more so, his satisfying command of pacing.

 

[Ty the Guy]

Ah, garsh!

Glad you guys liked it...I'm especially glad that folks picked up that I was doing "riffs" on the art of Romita, Kane, Byrne, etc. when doing the stories from those eras. Some reviewers just kept referring to the art as "old fashioned" when it was intended to be a pastiche, and not an revival.

And randomguy...you wanted more stories with Ben Reily, Carnage and the Mark of Kaine? You may be the only one.

Ty the Guy. Currently clearing the webbing out of the garage, and laying out bananas for all the gorillas and chimps.

 

[Xurk]

Offtopic: I love it when "people in the business" register / post here, it makes it that more interesting to read these boards

Due to the ammount of praise this series has received in this thread, I'm going to look for it at a "comic store" [there are not many real comic stores in Holland, but there is this store that carries a considerable amount of American comic TPBs] this weekend, I'd really like to read it!

 

[MDawg]

Ty, you and Dan really need to do a sequel to this project. I loved it the first time around so much and I like your style.

 

[Spider-Man]

Thanks for posting in here, Mr. Templeton. I really loved your work on this comic. You and Dan Slott hit a home run with this mini-series and I can't wait to have it in digest form too. This really is one of the funnest comics I've read in the past few years and it's so re-readable. There's new stuff I keep finding that just cracks me up.

How does Spider-Man explain his new organic webbing? "Like snot."

I would love to see Dan Slott take over one of the Spider-Man comics inthe near future. Marvel Knights: Spider-Man could use a new writer once the current one finishes up his work. Dan Slott can bring in alot of dark humor and fun stuff to the comic series. Hejust seems to be a natural fit for the character. I'd like to see Ty Templeton do more stuff as well.