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Post by rberman on May 8, 2020 15:30:10 GMT -5
I learned my lesson last time not to seed the discussion with possible answers. What's your favorite story about the Human Torch? For our purposes, you can give a single answer for the Golden Age robo-Torch and Johnny Storm combined, or separate answers for each of them. It's all good! Johnny Storm is generally cast as the golden boy of the FF, trouble free and popular, while Ben Grimm gets all the meaty angst and interesting story lines. One Johnny-centric that came to my mind is the John Byrne story in which Johnny is horrified when a young fan tries to imitate his stunts and burns to death. It was based on Marvel's real-life fear that such a thing would happen when kids play super-hero games like "throw the fireball." In comes The Beyonder, of all people, to walk Johnny through the stages of grief and help him reconcile with this terrible thing done in his name. The Beyonder was such a dufus in 99% of Secret Wars II that it was a welcome relief to see him show a smidgen of the wisdom that an immortal, omnipotent being ought to have acquired. How about you? What "good Human Torch" story comes to your mind?
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Post by badwolf on May 8, 2020 15:37:05 GMT -5
That was the one that came to mind for me too. Only the intrusion of the Beyonder and Johnny's hairstyle bring it down. (The Beyonder role was meant to be filled by the doctor, but...forced crossover time.)
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2020 15:47:21 GMT -5
This one expanded on the story of Torch killing Hitler in the MCU...
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Post by Phil Maurice on May 8, 2020 15:50:45 GMT -5
This one established in the MCU Torch killed Hitler... I'm not sure what you mean here. Didn't Young Men #24 establish that the OG Torch smoked him? Edit: Forgot to answer. Young Men #24 is my favorite Original Torch story. Marvel Team-Up #23 (Torch and Iceman vs. Equinox) is my favorite Johnny Storm tale.
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2020 15:58:57 GMT -5
This one established in the MCU Torch killed Hitler... I'm not sure what you mean here. Didn't Young Men #24 establish that the OG Torch smoked him? You are right. However it was only one panel. The issue I referenced expanded on it...
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Post by Phil Maurice on May 8, 2020 15:59:49 GMT -5
I'm not sure what you mean here. Didn't Young Men #24 establish that the OG Torch smoked him? You are right. However it was only one panel. The issue I referenced expanded on it... I see. I would definitely be interested in that.
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2020 16:06:33 GMT -5
You are right. However it was only one panel. The issue I referenced expanded on it... I see. I would definitely be interested in that. It was part of Marvel's 50th Anniversary. In the series Roy Thomas retold Torch's history in the 40's & 50's.
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Post by Prince Hal on May 8, 2020 21:35:49 GMT -5
Not a particular fan of the Torch, but this story was a highlight of my comics reading when it was reprinted n an issue of Fantasy Masterpieces.
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Post by Hoosier X on May 8, 2020 22:29:11 GMT -5
Not a particular fan of the Torch, but this story was a highlight of my comics reading when it was reprinted n an issue of Fantasy Masterpieces. This is a really good choice for the Golden Age Torch but I also love Human Torch #5! For Johnny Storm, I can’t decide between Spider-Man #19 and Spider-Man #21!
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Post by rberman on May 8, 2020 22:48:44 GMT -5
That was the one that came to mind for me too. Only the intrusion of the Beyonder and Johnny's hairstyle bring it down. I don't particularly like Johnny's hairstyle, but I like that Johnny likes it. He seems like the kind of guy who would go for the latest trendy haircut and duds.
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Post by Icctrombone on May 9, 2020 5:59:40 GMT -5
I don't know if this would qualify, but I am partial to Fantastic four # 132, 133. It's the two parter where Torch discovers Crystal had fallen in love with Quicksilver. It was the first time I remember reading someones girlfriend cheating on him in a comic.
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Post by tarkintino on May 9, 2020 10:29:37 GMT -5
Marvel Team-Up #23 (Torch and Iceman vs. Equinox) is my favorite Johnny Storm tale. I love that issue. I remember being a kid and so excited to see that on the stands.
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Post by Farrar on May 9, 2020 11:14:03 GMT -5
I don't particularly like Johnny's hairstyle, but I like that Johnny likes it. He seems like the kind of guy who would go for the latest trendy haircut and duds. 1975, FF #164 (Perez's first FF)
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Post by tarkintino on May 9, 2020 12:20:52 GMT -5
Not a particular fan of the Torch, but this story was a highlight of my comics reading when it was reprinted n an issue of Fantasy Masterpieces. One of the great Silver Age joys of comic collecting was Fantasy Masterpieces.
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Post by Farrar on May 9, 2020 13:34:15 GMT -5
^^^ My god, those details on that Schomburg Marvel Mystery Comics cover! As for my favorite Torch story, it's the story in Fantastic Four #54. The main action involves Johnny and Wyatt going off in the hopes of freeing Crystal (and the other Inhumans) from the dome-barrier that's surrounding Attilan. This subplot would continue for several FF issues. At the time I got this back issue, I'd only known Johnny as a relatively happy-go-lucky character. I had no idea of what he and Crystal had previously gone through, so this particular back issue was a real eye-opener for me. Johnny was far more nuanced and emotionally vulnerable here than I'd ever seen him in any of the current FF issues I was reading.
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