| Characters |
Human Torch [Johnny Storm]; Destroyer [Charles Stanton]; Thing [Ben Grimm] (cameo); Invisible Girl [Sue Storm] (flashback); Mister Fantastic [Reed Richards] (flashback) |
| Synopsis |
In his home town of Glenville, Johnny Storm investigates sabotage at an amusement park. He finds that the sabotage was aimed at a structure that blocked messages to a Communist submarine. The messages were from the editor of the newspaper, a Communist spy. |
| Genre |
superhero |
| Script |
Stan Lee (plot); Larry Lieber (script) |
| Pencils |
Jack Kirby |
| Inks |
Dick Ayers |
| Colors |
Stan Goldberg ? |
| Letters |
Artie Simek ? |
| Notes |
First Silver Age Human Torch solo story. This story is divided into two parts: an untitled part one (7pp) and Part 2–"The Flaming Fury Strikes Back!" (6 pp). Contains diagram of Sue & Johnny's house & brief recap of the Fantastic Four's origin. Splash bills Johnny as "America's Favorite Superhero".
This spin-off series no doubt the result of publisher Martin Goodman feeling that "The Human Torch" has been good luck for him, dating all the way back to Marvel Comics #1 (October 1939). The plot about spies trying to scare townsfolk away from where a submarine is docking may have served as the inspiration for the 1967 Spider-Man cartoon, "Return Of The Flying Dutchman". |
| Reprinted |
in Marvel Tales (Marvel, 1966 series) #3 (July 1966); in Human Torch, The (Marvel, 1974 series) #1 (September 1974) [pp1–2, 4–13, as "Johnny Storm, the Human Torch"]; in Essential Human Torch (Marvel, 2003 series) #1 (2003) [black & white]; in Marvel Masterworks: The Human Torch (Marvel, 2006 series) #1; in Fantastici Quattro, I (Editoriale Corno, 1971 series) #5 |
| Characters |
Human Torch [Johnny Storm]; Thing [Ben Grimm]; Destroyer [Charles Stanton] |
| Synopsis |
Ben shows up, but Johnny refuses help, saying it's his fight. After another encounter with The Destroyer, Johnny gets a hunch when he realizes the targets so far have been the roller coaster and the parachute jump. Atop the coaster, he looks out to sea and spots a Commie sub! The Destroyer turns out to be Charles Stanton, publisher of the town's newspaper, who'd been smuggling info to the Reds until the building of the amusement park increased the risk that the submarine might been seen. |
| Genre |
Superhero |
| Script |
Stan Lee (Plot); Larry Lieber (Script) |
| Pencils |
Jack Kirby |
| Inks |
Dick Ayers |
| Colors |
Stan Goldberg |
| Letters |
Art Simek |
| Notes |
Part 2 of 2. Destroyer no relation to the Stan Lee character from Mystic Comics #6 (October 1941), the Lee-Kirby character from Journey Into Mystery #118 (July 1965) or the Jim Starlin character from Iron Man #55 (February 1973). Plot about spies trying to scare townsfolk away from where a submarine is docking may have served as the inspiration for the 1967 Spider-Man cartoon, "Return Of The Flying Dutchman". Redundant sequence marked for removal. |
| Reprinted |
in Marvel Tales (Marvel, 1966 series) #3 (July 1966); in Human Torch, The (Marvel, 1974 series) #1 (September 1974); in Essential Human Torch (Marvel, 2003 series) #1 (2003); in Marvel Masterworks: The Human Torch (Marvel, 2006 series) #1; in Fantastici Quattro, I (Editoriale Corno, 1971 series) #5 |