The April Fool's Joke

Tom tells the story best. It was a few month before Spider-Girl #60 when Tom Defalco and Pat Olliffe were told the book was cancelled. Pat was offered another title to move on to and Ron Frenz was tapped to take over for the remainder of the Season of the Serpent story. The plan was Spider-Girl would beat Marvel's previous record for longest-running solo female title (She-Hulk's sixty issue run) with #61 and that would be that. No more Spider-Girl.

So, Tom takes a final tour of the Marvel offices, says his goodbye's and heads home. Having had no offers for other titles, Tom assumes his days at Marvel are done when the book ends. Tom and Ron put together the final tale and the cover is released. This  is it. 

Early one morning Tom answers his phone. It's his editor. 'Tom, Spider-Girl's been un-cancelled and we need a plot by next week.' 'Yeah, April Fool's to you too, pal!' The phone rings again. 'No, really. The book's been renewed. We need a plot by the next week.' More calls follow, 'Oh, Tom! I just heard the news, congratulations!' 'It's still not funny, guys,' 'Hey, how's the plotting going?' 'Ha ha, yeah, drop it already.'  Geez, have they got everyone in the office in on the joke?!

Next morning, 'Tom, it's your editor. The book's really been renewed. We really need a plot outline by next week for the next six months. And, no, this is not an April Fool's joke!'

I love that story.

frogoat