The Amazing Spider-Man Annual for 1967 featured 4 main characters: two heroes and two villains. Each hero had one of his major nemesis from his own title. The Human Torch has been featured in Strange Tales for some time at this point and brought over arguably his greatest foe from that series in the Wizard. The Wizard created an unlikely alliance with a Spider-Man villain, Mysterio, not seen since Amazing Spider-Man #24 and the alliance between the two villains has yet to take place again. "The Web And The Flame!" is a great title for this 41 page story, but in the end, the reader will most likely feel that the story is sub-par compared to the ongoing series. The story is about vengeance and not much character development takes place in it.

The story begins with Spider-Man swinging by an area of town where the Human Torch is seemingly on some sort of senseless rampage. The two heroes get tangled up and begin their inevitable battle. The fight between the two young hot-heads come to a halt when Spider-Man douses the Torch's flame by ripping apart a fire hydrant and spraying water on him. A shouting voice overcomes the two with the cry "Hold it! Hold it!" and it becomes quite obvious that what was taking place was the shooting of a film that Spider-Man recklessly interfered with. We next cut to a figure whose identity is hidden under a coat who overhears what has happened in the botched movie shoot giving the mystery man a very dangerous idea.

Peter at home, receives word from an announcer on TV, that there is public interest for Spider-Man and the Torch to appear in a movie together to be made by Paragon Productions in Hollywood. Peter quickly boards a jet headed for movie-land to take advantage of this money making opportunity. After arriving at the studios, Spider-Man meets up with the Torch once again as they prepare for the movie shoot. The shoot begins as Spidey's spider sense starts to tingle and wonders why in the world it is going off. Soon the Human Torch, out of character, flies towards Spider-Man seemingly attacking him. It seems as if the Torch has gone mad yet very quiet while creating havoc on the set. After the out of character Torch flies away, Spider-Man makes a visit to the Torch's dressing room where he finds Johnny Storm reading a script. Elsewhere, we learn the truth behind the villains involved and the reasons why they brought the two heroes together to make a movie. It was the Wizard impersonating the Torch while working for Mysterio and by attacking Spider-Man, creating reason for Spider-Man to go after the Torch. The plan all along was to have the two destroy each other thereby ridding two villains of their most hated enemies. After the origin of the two villains alliance is quickly explained by the Wizard looking for Mysterio to help him in Mysterio's area of expertise (Studio Special Effects), we next cut to Spider-Man and the Torch fighting it out. It ends up a rather short battle as they both discover that they have other enemies at hand.

Spider-Man and the Torch battle out of several traps set up by the Wizard and Mysterio. First a caged ring of gas, then a robotic gorilla, then lastly a trap by where the two heroes are coated with an invisible magnetic field trapped in a portion of a cave where the two villains fled of to. The magnetic field is causing boulders to hurtle towards Spidey and the Torch. There is not much time left as the effort to either melt the boulders or dodge them are getting increasingly difficult. Something must be done quickly! By creating a hole in the area where the two villains are safely watching, Spider-Man shoots two webs hitting the magnetic field switches reversing the magnetic field. The boulders now are thrusting their way away from Spidey and the Torch, crashing their way into the safe haven where the Wizard and Mysterio are. Spider-Man quickly webs up the two villains and the two heroes part. Peter is last seen falling asleep on his plane ride home.

All in all a rather bland story that is really not vital to anyone's Spider-Man collection. Other than a Mysterio or Human Torch fan, I would strongly recommend acquiring a reprint of this issue.  The back-up features of the comic make the issue a much more desirable addition to any collection. Mysterio is next seen in Amazing Spider-Man #66 & #67.

"The Coffee Bean Barn!" - 2 Pages

A 2 page spread featuring many supporting characters in the Spider-Verse at the teen hangout and meeting place called the Coffee Bean.

"What The Well-Dressed Spider-Man Will Wear" - 2 Pages

2 pages on Spider-Man's costume as well as an explanation on how his web-shooters work. 

"Spidey's Greatest Talent" - 5 Pages

5 pages on Spider-Man's ability to climb walls and stick to any surface, how he can use his webs and lastly an explanation on how his super strength compares to other super powered heroes in the Marvel Universe.

"Say "Hello" To Spidey's Favorite Foes!" - 2 Pages

A nicely illustrated 2 page spread show-casing the Lizard, Kraven, Doctor Octopus, Green Goblin, Rhino, Sandman, Vulture, and Electro.

"Finally...A Visit To Petey's Pad!" - 2 Pages

2 pages illustrating the apartment where Peter and Harry Osborn live. 

Reprinted In:
Giant-Size Spider-Man #6