Human Torch (android)

Latest revision as of 08:37, 11 September 2023

The original Human Torch in All-New Invaders v1 #4.

The Human Torch is a male comic superhero who features in Marvel Comics.

Biography

Origin

The Human Torch comes to life in Marvel Comics v1 #1.

The Human Torch

The original Human Torch began his existence in 1939 in the laboratory of Professor Phineas T. Horton, one of the pioneers in the field of artificial intelligence and robotics. The culmination of Horton's research was an android who mimicked virtually all of the functions of a human being, including independent thought, but was composed entirely of synthetic materials. Horton worked closely with fellow scientist James Bradley who grew disgusted by Horton's hope for fame and fortune and dissolved their partnership. (Invaders v2 #3)

The one apparent flaw in the android's design concerned the photoelectric solar cells, or "Horton Cells" which covered every square inch of his body and served as his power source. The cells were too volatile and caused the epidermis of the android to burst into flame upon contact with air but without harming the android itself. However, it has been suggested that due to Horton's Jewish background, he purposely created the Torch's flame powers to be a living embodiment of revenge against the Nazis for their extermination of Jews during World War II, that his flaming body would be symbolic of those victims whose bodies were incinerated after the Nazis had killed them. (Avengers/Invaders v1 #6)

In his infancy, the Human Torch was duped by a crook named Anthony Sardo into committing crimes. Realizing what he was doing was wrong, the Torch confronted Sardo and during the fight was doused in nitrogen which was the catalyst that allowed him to control his flame from that point on. In attempting to bring Sardo to justice, the criminal was killed in the battle. When Horton suggested that he and the Torch could use his flame powers to obtain fame and fortune, the Torch rejected this idea leaving Horton's home a flaming inferno which seemingly killed the scientist. (Marvel Comics v1 #1)

In the year 1940, the Human Torch began earning a reputation for himself as a champion of justice. In his third recorded adventure, still confused Human Torch fled New York by train and prevented the crooked Mr. Ritton from exploiting Martians into helping him conquer the world in exchange for TNT to help them fight off invaders to their world. (Marvel Mystery Comics v1 #3) Following that encounter, the Human Torch decided to adopt the name Jim Hammond and travelled to New York City. There he found the city under martial law thanks to attacks by Dr. Manyac and his army of Green Flames. The Torch helped defeat Manyac and his minions with the help of his first true ally, Pete Johnson. (Marvel Mystery Comics v1 #4) The Torch soon worked again with Johnson helping recover stolen medical supplies and deliver them to the island community of Orton. (Marvel Mystery Comics v1 #5) During this time, he stopped two crooks named Patch and Turgo from robbing banks in Midtown. (Marvel Mystery Comics v1 #6)

This prompted him to get Johnson to assist him in getting a job on the New York City police force. Acquiring the job, he was officially sanctioned to use his powers as a police without uniform since they were easily burned away. In his first official case as a police officer, the Torch brought crooked politician Roglo to justice. (Marvel Mystery Comics v1 #7)

Becoming lonely, the Human Torch sought out Professor Horton and asked for his advice. Horton told him of Fred Raymond an asbestos expert and his wife Nora. Both were terminally ill and raising their son Thomas "Toro" Raymond. Going to visit the Raymond home to learn what Horton was alluding to, the Torch found the Raymond's being terrorized by the criminal known as Asbestos Lady. The Torch fought off Asbestos Lady and her minions. Noticing that Toro had slept through the entire battle, the Raymond's told him how their son was apparently immune to fire. After the meeting with the Raymond's the Torch soon left vowing to keep a secret eye on them in case Asbestos Lady threatened them again. (Invaders v1 #22)

Returning to the United States, on December 22, 1941 the Human Torch and Toro were assigned on in secret as part of the security for Dr. Anderson, one of the men involved in Operation Rebirth the experiment the created Captain America. When Anderson was captured by Nazi spies and forced to use his knowledge to empower their agent Master Man. Tracking Anderson to the secret Nazi lab, the two heroes were to late to stop the empowerment of Master Man. The super-strong Nazi easily bested the two heroes and the Nazis fled after shooting Dr. Anderson. Rushing Anderson to a hospital, the Torch and Toro soon met with Captain America and Bucky. Realizing that the Nazis were plotting to attack a ship carrying British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to the United States they rushed to the scene. There with the assistance of the Sub-Mariner, the heroes stopped the Nazis and when Master Man's powers failed him captured the villain and turned him over to the authorities. After his rescue, Winston Churchill suggested that the group band together, suggesting they call themselves the Invaders. (Giant-Size Invaders v1 #1)

The Torch

During the Dark Reign, the recently resurrected Toro came to be captured by A.I.M. during an attempt to kill the Mad Thinker. Initial experimentation on Toro makes the Mad Thinker realize that he could reconstruct the Torch. A.I.M. then decided to steal the Torch's body from Arlington National Cemetery for experimentation. (Torch v1 #1)

Secret Avengers

Captain America later came to recruit him to join a new team of Secret Avengers that were headed by Hawkeye. (Secret Avengers v1 #23) Jim came to join a team alongside Agent Venom, Giant-Man, and Captain Britain. During his first mission with the team, the Secret Avengers travel to the Core that was a subterranean city inhabited by an advanced race of robots called Descendants. The Torch found that he was worshiped by the Descendants, who respectfully referred to him as 'Grandfather'. (Secret Avengers v1 #24) During an encounter with a cyborg resembling the original Miss America, the Torch learnt that the city was created by a man known as Father who was responsible for creating the Descendants back in the 1940s as part of a failed attempt to replicate Professor Horton's work. The Torch was badly damaged during the Avengers' escape from the Core, and left comatose in a stasis tube at the team's HQ the Lighthouse where he was left there until he could be repaired. (Secret Avengers v1 #25) He remained there until he was freed by the Black Ant who was a Descendant copy of Eric O'Grady who took the Human Torch back to Father who repaired the android. (Secret Avengers v1 #33) During his time with them, Hammond was convinced by Father to join the ranks of the Descendants. (Secret Avengers v1 #34) This came after the realization that he never quite fit in with humans thus leading to him heading an army of Descendants during a raid on New York, with the goal of forcibly assimilating the human race through the use of nanotechnology and give control of the world to the machines, robots, and cyborgs. (Secret Avengers v1 #35) The Torch eventually came to realize that he had been brainwashed after coming to his senses at the hands of Captain Britain. Thus, he decided to turn against the Descendants where the Secret Avengers defeated their foe. However, Hawkeye found that he could not end the threat leading to Hammond destroying the Orb of Necromancy that was responsible for giving the synthetic race life. The destruction of the mystical artifact effectively killed the Descendants as a result leading to the Human Torch quitting the Avengers after being distraught over killing an entire race of people where he flew for parts unknown. (Secret Avengers v1 #37)

All-New Invaders

Overview

Personality and attributes

Powers and abilities

It was said that the Torch's anatomy was biologically based, moving the pendulum back in the other direction. In fact, the Torch's body had both DNA and a cellular structure, according to the scientist Zhang Chin. (Captain America v5 #47) The Mad Thinker had stated that the Torch's organs were composed of Horton cells which were synthetic replicas of human cells using plastic and carbon polymers that duplicated the structures found in organic human cells. (Torch v1 #1)

Before he had mastered his flame control ability, the Torch yelled at the flames to gain control. (Marvel Mystery Comics v1 #2)

It was shown that he could make the heat generated from himself to be radioactive. (Squadron Supreme v4 #3)

Notes

• The Human Torch was created by Carl Burgos where he made his first appearance in Marvel Comics v1 #1 (October, 1939).

Alternate Versions

In other media

Television

• In Fantastic Four, the android Human Torch made a cameo appearance in the setting of the 1990s animated television series in the episode "When Calls Galactus". He was shown when Reed Richards was investigating the reason why Frankie Raye had similar powers as Johnny Storm.

Films

• In Captain America: The First Avenger, the android Human Torch made a cameo appearance in the live-action film set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He was a mechanical man created in 1943 where he was showcased in an oxygen-deprived glass tube at the Stark Expo where he was named 'the Synthetic Man'.

Video games

Appearances

• Marvel Comics v1: (1939)
• Secret Avengers v1:
• All-New Invaders v1:
• Squadron Supreme v4:
• Fantastic Four v5:
• Iron Man v6:

External Links

• Marvel Database Entry
• Wikipedia Entry

This article is a stub. You can help Multiversal Omnipedia by expanding it.