Karl Disley... my Fantastic Four Forever

Punisher vs. The Amazing Spider-Man (2026) #1

my take on this issue under the cut but I'm just going to focus on the spideytorch bit here: Johnny as usual, sounds like a JILTED LOVER.

"so...you're seeing someone else, huh?"

"I see you've really fallen for him hard."

"oh man. you're trying to save him, aren't you?" with that FORLORN LITTLE SMILE.

Surprising, actually. I’ve met the Thinker before…limited faculties…horrible breath…

‎Johnny blasts into the room, literally throwing sparks, and crashes onto the couch. Jason doesn’t even look up from his book – he just reaches over and flicks out a tiny flame on his jacket sleeve.

‎“Thanks, babe.”

‎“You good?”

‎“Yep.”

‎“Then quit torching my place.”

‎“No promises. Might just get you to move in with me faster.”

Johnny’s on a mission to cook something other than eggs, but it’s turning into a total disaster. Jason is just standing right there, watching him hack at an onion and fight back tears, even though his eyes are already bloodshot.

"Need a hand?"

"Nah, I wanna figure this out myself."

"You can do pretty much anything, babe... except chop veggies."

"You're not being supportive."

"Hey, I am! I'm not even laughing!"

Johnny drops the knife on the cutting board and turns to look at him. Somehow, his whole vibe just screams *come here*. Jason steps up, wraps his arms around him from behind, rests his chin on Johnny's shoulder, and stares blankly at the cutting board.

"Can you ever just stand there without the cuddling?"

"I could. But why pretend you don't melt like a total princess when I do this, Johnny Storm?"

Johnny sighs, though there's zero real annoyance in his voice.

"Call me princess one more time and I'm not feeding you."

"You will."

"Won't."

"You bought me dinner last night and I was way worse."

"That wasn't dinner, that was a burger."

Franklin would love it, and Spider-Man is, after all, like the second-best super hero, ever.

Johnny snaps awake in the dead of night and notices Jason is already up, just staring at the ceiling. He lies there for a minute, watching him, taking in the way Jason's brow furrows in the dark, lost in his own head.

"Up again? Nightmares?"

Jason startles and turns his head, squinting to make out Johnny's face in the dark.

"Nah, Jo. Just thinking."

"About what?"

"Wondering if you're gonna lose control in your sleep. Do I need to start sleeping in my armor?" It's total bullshit, of course, but he's really not in the mood to spill what's actually on his mind.

Johnny doesn't push it. He just smirks, scoots closer, and nuzzles his nose into Jason's shoulder.

"I'm careful. You've got nothing to worry about."

"You blew up my toaster last time."

"It had it coming! It wasn't even toasting the damn bread."

Jason doesn't argue. He just cups the back of Johnny's head, fingers carding through his short hair.

(fantastic four 1961 #4)

From Fantastic Four #29, August 1964. Stan Lee script, Jack Kirby pencils, Chic Stone inks, Sam Rosen letters.