I love Marvel Comics. I love their characters, and many of their creators and editors are some of the most talented people in the field and are really terrific people who have nothing but the utmost respect for the characters that they write and the fans that they write for.

I actually learned to read with the old Origins of Marvel Comics book, went on a tour of Jim Shooter's bullpen with my first grade class - basically I started out life with a love affair with Marvel that remains to this day.

But I've got to admit, from their mean-spirited swipes at DC to the slow devolution of once-exciting events into cynical marketing ploys, someone over at the house of ideas is  doing everything they can to take the fun out of fandom.

I'd sure like to see that turn around.

In the meantime, I present the cover to Fantastic Four #600, which combines the old milestone renumbering game with bringing back the Human Torch.

As thirlled as I am to see the Torch's inevitable return sooner rather than later, I can't help but feel like I've seen this scenario played out a thousand times by Marvel over the past few years. I'd like to see them shake things up and make fandom a little more fun - and maybe start by NOT giving the AP and New York Times a beat-by-beat story breakdown of FF#600 the day before it hits stores.

Welcome back, Johnny. May your return herald a new Marvel Age of awesomeness.

One had a an all-too-brief return to life as part of an event, the other is currently experiencing a similarly short-lived death. Courtesy of the always-brilliant Ty Templeton, our fallen superhero soldiers wish you a happy Memorial Day.