Marvel Rivals has been absolutely nailing the little details since its launch. From character interactions to team-up abilities, NetEase Games has clearly done their homework on Marvel’s rich history. But there’s one glaring omission that has me scratching my head faster than Drax would if you told him to “keep an eye out.”
Human Torch joined the roster last week with the Season 1.5 update, bringing his fiery personality and devastating abilities to the battlefield. While Johnny Storm has some fantastic team-ups with characters like Storm (that Storming Ignition combo is chef’s kiss) and his sister Sue, there’s a certain web-slinger conspicuously missing from his synergy list.
For those who know their comic history, this absence feels like finding out someone ate the last slice of pizza at Avengers Tower—a betrayal of the highest order. How could NetEase overlook one of Marvel’s most enduring friendships?
The bromance Marvel Rivals somehow forgot
If you’ve only experienced Marvel through the MCU, you might not realize that Spider-Man and Human Torch share one of the most iconic friendships in comic history. These two have been frenemies since the early days of Marvel, with their relationship beginning way back in Amazing Spider-Man #1 (1963) when Peter tried to join the Fantastic Four.
What started as a rivalry gradually evolved into something special. These two heroes developed a tradition of meeting at the Statue of Liberty every Christmas to exchange gifts—a touching ritual that speaks volumes about their connection. It’s the kind of friendship that’s weathered decades of comic book drama, reboots, and universe-ending threats.
The irony is that Marvel Rivals clearly acknowledges this relationship. Johnny has more dialogue interactions with Spidey than almost any other character, with exchanges that perfectly capture the dynamic between the two:
That banter? Pure gold. It perfectly captures their relationship—competitive yet supportive, always trying to one-up each other while secretly admiring the other’s abilities. So why on earth didn’t NetEase give these two a team-up ability?
It feels especially strange considering Human Torch already has team-ups with characters like Storm, who he has far less comic history with. Not that I’m complaining about turning hurricanes into fiery death vortexes, but come on—priorities, people!
What could a Spider-Man and Human Torch team-up look like?
The potential for an amazing Spider-Man and Human Torch team-up in Marvel Rivals is practically limitless. Their comic history provides plenty of inspiration for abilities that would make perfect sense while adding another layer of strategy to the game.
One obvious option would be a “Friendly Neighborhood Fireball” ability, where Spider-Man could web-sling Human Torch toward enemies with increased momentum and damage, similar to how Hulk (and The Thing) can throw Wolverine for the Fastball Special team-up.
Another possibility could be “Heated Webs”—when near Human Torch, Spider-Man’s web abilities could gain burning properties, dealing additional damage over time to enemies. This would mirror existing team-ups like United Siblings (where Invisible Woman provides Human Torch with regenerating shields) by enhancing existing abilities rather than creating entirely new ones.
The most fitting team-up might be something that acknowledges their competitive nature—perhaps “Friendly Competition” where they both receive movement speed and cooldown reductions when fighting near each other, representing how they constantly push each other to be better heroes.
Whatever form it takes, this team-up needs to happen. Their friendship in the comics is built on mutual envy—Johnny jealous of Peter’s “Parker luck” while Peter envied Johnny’s carefree Fantastic Four life. That complex foundation makes for a relationship that’s far more interesting than most superhero partnerships.
What team-up ability would you like to see between Spider-Man and Human Torch in Marvel Rivals? Share your ideas in the comments below!
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
