Untold Tales of Spider-Man Annual 1996

The 1st annual special issue to the Untold Tales of Spider-Man series, released 1996.

Untold Tales writer Kurt Busiek, artist Mike "Madman" Allred and legendary inker Joe Sinott create a package similar to the great marvel annuals of the early 60s. Untold Tales of Spider-Man '96 (1996) is notable for featuring a plot suggested by Batman: The Animated Series' Paul Dini, wherein Spidey and the Invisible Girl go out on a date following their meeting way back in Amazing Spider-Man #8. Have the Sub-Mariner as third wheel and then throw in the rest of the Fantastic Four for good measure and the result is a tale ripped right out of the earliest Marvel comics, with broadly-drawn characters interacting in wild, fun, fascinating ways.

Backing up the lead story is a gallery of villains drawn by great Spidey artists of the past (alas, Steve Ditko declined), a three-pager on how Kurt and regular Untold Tales artist Pat Olliffe produced the book every month (in the tradition of a similar Stan Lee and Steve Ditko feature), and a guided tour of the world of Spider-Man, climaxed by revealing the recipe for Aunt May's famous wheatcakes (actually provided by Kurt Busiek's mom.)