During Marvel’s upcoming Empyre event, the Fantastic Four will venture into space to confront the united Kree/Skrull empire. And as they’ve done in the past, they’ll call upon a substitute squad to fill in on Earth while they’re gone.
As revealed via CBR, Spider-Man and Wolverine will rejoin the FF in April’s Fantastic Four #21 alongside Franklin and Valeria Richards as Reed, Sue, Ben, and Johnny take to outer space.
Spider-Man and Wolverine were part of a substitute FF in the early 90s that also comprised Hulk and Ghost Rider – a semi-novelty squad that’s reunited a few times since.
Spidey’s history with the FF goes back a lot further – they first met when Spider-Man tried out for the FF in 1963’s Amazing Spider-Man #1. He also filled in as a member of the core FF when his longtime best friend Johnny Storm was stuck living a cycle of death and rebirth in the Negative Zone.
And of course, Wolverine and Spider-Man each have long histories working with kids as educators and mentors – so this will probably go just fine.
It’s worth noting Franklin’s mutant status – and the conflict over his future and place in the Marvel Universe that will soon arise in Fantastic Four/X-Men.
Fantastic Four #21, from Dan Slott and Sean Izaakse with a cover from Nick Bradshaw (seen here), is due out in April.