Super-hero team-ups have rarely been as much fun as they are in this miniseries by Dan Slott & Ty Templeton. Spider-Man and the Human Torch have known each other a long time, with their relationship/rivalry going back to the first issue of Amazing Spider-Man, where Spidey tries to join the Fantastic Four, only to discover they’re less of a team and more of a family. Plus, they worked pro-bono. It took years, but Spidey did eventually join that family. In this mini, we see the interactions between Spidey & the Torch evolve throughout the years, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

#1 takes place soon after both heroes gain their powers; Peter Parker’s still in high school, and Johnny Storm is still dating Dorrie Evans, his first long-term girlfriend. Deciding he needs to broaden his public image, Johnny hires Peter, Spider-Man’s “personal photographer,” to follow him around with a camera. Needing the money, Peter reluctantly agrees. Needless to say, things don’t go as planned, especially once Dr. Doom gets involved.

#2 is set a little later. Peter’s in college and hanging out at the Coffee Bean with Mary Jane Watson, Harry Osborn, and his girlfriend Gwen Stacy. The trouble, and fun, starts when Johnny arrives to meet the Inhuman’s Crystal, his current girlfriend. An argument ensues over who’s super-job is harder, and leads to the Torch trying to track a new drug on the streets (and finding a certain Hunter behind it all), and Spidey taking his place in a FF mission to another dimension, which ends in a very sticky situation.

Things start off a little more somber in #3. Peter’s still mourning the recent death of Gwen, and Johnny’s been forcibly separated from Crystal, but the two bond while building Spidey’s new Spider-Buggy. But when the car’s stolen by Red Ghost and his Super Apes, only the delicious taste of fruit pies can save the day. (And yes, you read that right.)

The hero’s lives have nearly flipped by #4. Johnny’s single, and Peter is seriously involved with former thief the Black Cat. But when Spidey, sporting his newly acquired duds from the recent Secret War, refuses to help her crash a party being held by the Black Panther, she finds a smitten Torch more than willing. Has Felicia fallen back into her criminal ways, and drug Johnny with her?

Finally, #5 happens pretty recently. Peter’s married to MJ, and teaching at his old high school, where Johnny’s making a special appearance. When gun-toting thugs arrive, Peter must share his secret with his old friend in order to save the day. Needless to say, at  first Johnny’s not happy about being in the dark for so long, but soon forgives his friend. This all leads to a fantastic (no pun intended) dinner table scene between both hero’s families. Honestly, Peter’s exchange with a young Franklin Richards about Franklin’s uncle, The Thing (”I have it on the best authority, that Uncle Bens are always right.”), is one of my all-time favorite lines.

I don’t know what more to say, other than this is one of my favorite miniseries of all time. Dan Slott wrote one of the most brilliant, funny, poignant Spider-Man stories ever, and Ty Templeton’s artwork is a perfect fit. I’ll leave you with a page from the first issue, one of comic’s funniest moments. For the first time, Spider-Man has just encountered Pete Petruski, the super-villain soon to be known as the Trapster, but currently going by Paste-Pot-Pete:

Spider-Man: Spider-Man And The Human Torch HC