Originally Posted by
Revolutionary_Jack
Hickman never intended to kill off Johnny. That's why he staged it in the way he did. When Johnny "died" there was no body. So it was played within the old-school rules about a character death -- "no body...totally alive".
So the question is what if Hickman intended to really kill off Johnny Storm, and if he intended Spider-Man to actually be a permanent part of the Fantastic Four and join the team for real?
Well, if Hickman intended Spider-Man to be a permanent lasting addition to the Fantastic Four...then his entire run on comic would have heavily centered on Spider-Man's role in the team. In his run, Spider-Man in the FF and the team was a background character for the most part, not doing anything that would break him, and done so that the Spidey-office didn't have to allude to happenings in his run.
To be serious about that, Hickman would have to have control on all Spider-Man titles and Fantastic Four titles, in a manner similar to Spider-Man in the New Avengers.
-- Bendis wanted Spider-Man in the New Avengers, and JMS played ball and modified ASM accordingly so that Spider-Man, MJ, and Aunt May moved to Avengers Tower. So I think that's what would happen, Aunt May and Mr. Aunt May would have to move to Avengers Tower. The ASM title would revolve on "What Spider-man does in the Baxter Building when he's not with the Four, or how Peter Parker's life has changed?"
-- Spider-Man would have been more heavily involved with Fantastic Four science stuff, for instance his work as an engineer.
-- There would be a story arc about Spider-Man becoming a kind of replacement goldfish for Johnny in the eyes of Franklin and Valeria. There would be angst and back-and-forth about that.
-- Spider-Man would probably also have to reveal his identity as Peter Parker to the public just to confirm that "he's here, he's Four, get used to it".
-- Hickman might do a story-arc with Dr. Doom where Doom talks about Mephisto and his mother, and then gloats to Peter, something like this "Among us, one of can say, 'I renounced Satan and all his sins' and it's not you". I mean if Peter Parker is with the Fantastic Four, then he can probably get his marriage back since the whole idea of Peter needing to be young and relatable isn't there. If he's going to be replacement uncle for Franklin, then he's kind of upgraded to guardian/father figure already. And Doom being the one guy in the Marvel Universe to know and remember the universe that was altered for Peter Parker is the sort of thing you can introduce without any explanation...it's in-character for Doom to be that guy.
-- Basically if Spider-Man were to fit with the Fantastic Four, he needs a dynamic with each of the Four and with Dr. Doom. Reed and Sue become "couple goals" for Peter/MJ, Ben Grimm becomes an elder brother figure for him, Valeria and Franklin are either his little siblings he never had, or preparation/training for Spider-Dad to be. And Dr. Doom and Spidey, have the Mephisto thing in common.
So it would be a retread of the JMS/Bendis years...maybe done better. But basically if Spider-Man were to be a legit lasting member of the Fantastic Four and the Avengers, it would for the most part be the end of the Peter Parker side of things. It would be about Peter Parker in a group setting.
In any case, I just don't see this as a story that Hickman would be interested in writing and telling. Bringing Spider-Man in as Future Foundation and doing small bits with him and Franklin bonding...that he can do. Having Johnny Storm revived becoming the worst f--king roomate for Peter, absolutely. But fundamentally, Hickman's story and run on the Fantastic Four was centered on Reed Richards and his relationship with his kids (Valeria especially), his wife, Ben Grimm, Johnny, and Doctor Doom (who is kind of like the fifth member of the Four, however much he and they don't like to see him that way). And Hickman's Reed Richards is the best version of that character. In fact, aside from his death, Johnny didn't have too much to do in Hickman's run and I kind of think the "death" story was his way to compensate him for that. Give him a brass band "Death of Superman" moment so that when he comes back to deserved relief, Johnny can be, righteously, insufferable like never before.