The Human Torch ( Jonathan Lowell Spencer " Johnny" Storm) is a superhero character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is a founding member of the Fantastic Four. He is writer Stan Lee's and artist Jack Kirby's reinvention of a similar, previous character, the android Human Torch of the same name and powers who was created in 1939 by writer-artist Carl Burgos for Marvel Comics' predecessor company, Timely Comics.
Like the rest of the Fantastic Four, Johnny gained his powers on a spacecraft bombarded by . He can engulf his entire body in flames, fly, absorb fire harmlessly into his own body, and control any nearby fire by sheer force of will. "Flame on!", which the Torch customarily shouts when activating his full-body flame effect, has become his catchphrase. The youngest of the group, he is brash and impetuous in comparison to his reticent, overprotective and compassionate older sister, Susan Storm, his sensible brother-in-law, Reed Richards, and the grumbling Ben Grimm. In the early 1960s, he starred in a series of solo adventures, published in Strange Tales. The Human Torch is also a friend and frequent ally of the superhero Spider-Man, who is approximately the same age.
In film, the Human Torch has been portrayed by Jay Underwood in the unreleased 1994 film The Fantastic Four; Chris Evans in the 2005 film Fantastic Four, its 2007 sequel , Robot Chicken in 2008, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Deadpool & Wolverine (2024); Michael B. Jordan in the 2015 film Fantastic Four; and Joseph Quinn in the MCU film (2025), who will reprise the role in (2026) and (2027).
Publication history
Created by writer
Stan Lee and artist
Jack Kirby, Johnny Storm is a renovation of
Carl Burgos's original character, the android Human Torch, created for
Timely Comics in 1939. Storm first appeared in
The Fantastic Four #1 (
Nov. 1961), establishing him as a member of the titular
superhero team. In his plot summary for this first issue, Lee passed on to Kirby that the recently formed Comics Code Authority had told him that the Human Torch was only permitted to burn objects, never people.
Over the course of the series, Johnny being the little brother of teammate Susan Storm a.k.a. the Invisible Girl was one of several sources of tension within the group.
Additionally, he starred in a solo feature in Strange Tales #101-134 (Oct. 1962 – July 1965).[ Strange Tales at the Grand Comics Database.] An eight-issue series, The Human Torch (Sept. 1974 – Nov. 1975), reprinted stories from that solo feature, along with stories featuring the original android Human Torch.[ The Human Torch, Marvel, 1974 series at the Grand Comics Database.] Later years also saw a 12-issue series, Human Torch (June 2003 - June 2004) by writer Karl Kesel and penciler Skottie Young,[ Human Torch, Marvel, 2003 series at the Grand Comics Database.] and the five-issue team-up miniseries Spider-Man / Human Torch (March–July 2005) by writer Dan Slott and penciler Ty Templeton.[ Spider-Man / Human Torch at the Grand Comics Database.]
The Human Torch was the permanent co-star of Marvel Team-Up, but was dropped after three issues because the creators found this format too restrictive.[ Spider-Man & the Human Torch in... Bahia De Los Muertos! at the Grand Comics Database.] and Incredible Hulk & the Human Torch: From the Marvel Vault #1, a previously unpublished story from 1984, intended for Marvel Team-Up by plotter Jack C. Harris, scriptwriter and artist Kesel, and breakdown artist Steve Ditko.[ Incredible Hulk & the Human Torch: From the Marvel Vault #1 at the Grand Comics Database.]
Fictional character biography
Early life
Growing up in Glenville, New York, a fictional
Long Island suburban town, Johnny Storm lost his mother due to a car accident from which his father, surgeon
Franklin Storm, escaped unharmed.
[ Fantastic Four #32 - "Death of a Hero". Marvel Comics.] Franklin Storm spiraled into alcoholism and financial ruin, and was imprisoned after killing a loan shark in self-defense. Johnny Storm was then raised by his older sister,
Sue Storm.
At 16, Storm joined his sister and her fiancé, Reed Richards, in a space flight in which cosmic radiation transformed those three and spacecraft pilot Ben Grimm into superpowered beings who would become the celebrated superhero team the Fantastic Four. Storm, with the ability to become a flaming human with the power of flight and the ability to project fire, dubs himself the Human Torch, in tribute to the World War II-era hero known as the Human Torch.[ The Fantastic Four #1. Marvel Comics.] In The Fantastic Four #4, it is Storm who discovers an hobo whom he helps regain his memory as the antihero Namor the Sub-Mariner, one of the three most popular heroes of Marvel Comics' 1940s forerunner, Timely Comics, returning him to modern continuity.
Though a member of a world-famous team, Storm still lived primarily in Glenville and attended Glenville High School. Here he thought he maintained a secret identity, although his fellow townsfolk were well aware of his being a member of the Fantastic Four and simply humored him. This series introduced what would become the recurring Fantastic Four foes the Wizard[ Fantastic Four Vol. 2 #1 (Sep. 4, 1996). Marvel Comics] and Trapster, later known as the Trapster.[ Strange Tales #104. Marvel Comics.] In Storm's home life, Mike Snow, a member of the high-school wrestling squad, bullied Storm until an accidental flare-up of the Torch's powers scarred Snow's face. Storm dated fellow student Dorrie Evans, although she eventually grew tired of his constant disappearances and broke off their relationship.[Various issues, Strange Tales #113 to Fantastic Four #45 (Dec. 1965). Marvel Comics.]
College
After graduating high school, Storm enrolled at New York City's Metro College.
[ Fantastic Four #35 (Feb. 1965). Marvel Comics.] There he befriended his roommate
Wyatt Wingfoot.
[ Fantastic Four #50. Marvel Comics.] He also met the original Human Torch of the 1930s and 1940s.
[ Fantastic Four Annual #4. Marvel Comics.] Around this time, Storm met and fell in love with Crystal, a member of the superpowered race the
Inhumans.
[ Fantastic Four #45 (Dec. 1965). Marvel Comics.] After their relationship ended, Crystal returned to her native city of Attilan and eventually married the superhero Quicksilver.
[ Fantastic Four #150 (Sept. 1974). Marvel Comics.] Storm, crushed, attempted to move on, finding that his high-school girlfriend, Dorrie Evans, had married and had two children.
[ Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #134 (Feb. 27, 1973). Marvel Comics.] Storm dropped out of college but remained friends with Wingfoot, who often participated in the Fantastic Four's adventures.
Storm eventually began a romance with who he thought was Alicia Masters but was eventually revealed to be an alien from the shapeshifting Skrull race, Lyja, posing as Masters.[ Fantastic Four #269-270] In the interim, they married.["Dearly Beloved", by Roger Stern, John Buscema, and Sal Buscema. Fantastic Four #300 (March 1987). Marvel Comics.] Storm later discovers "Alicia's" true identity, and that Lyja is pregnant with his child. He then witnessed Lyja's apparent death and rescued the real Alicia from the Skrulls.[ Fantastic Four #357-358. Marvel Comics.]
Storm briefly joined his nephew Franklin Richards' Fantastic Force team, where he battled his otherdimensional counterpart, Vangaard (formerly Gaard). Lyja posed as student Laura Green and dated Storm to stay close to him; Storm recognized her when they kissed, though he did not reveal this to her until later.
Outside career and anti-registration movement
Seeking an acting career, Storm was cast as the
Old West hero the
Rawhide Kid, but producers reconsidered and gave the role to Lon Zelig (actually the alien
Super-Skrull).
[ Fantastic Four Vol. 3 #51 (Jan. 9, 2002). Marvel Comics.] After working mostly in some television shows, Storm also spent some time as a firefighter at the behest of his former classmate, Mike Snow, but when Snow moved away after his wife turned out to be a
and seemingly died, Storm left the job. He later returned to the profession during a period when the Fantastic Four was short on cash.
Frustrated with her brother's directionless life and near-disastrous pranksterism, his sister compelled him to become chief financial officer for the Fantastic Four, Inc. Infighting and betrayal resulted in a near-catastrophe, ending Storm's position.
[ Fantastic Four vol. 3 #65-66. Marvel Comics.]
After a major battle with the supervillain and dictator Doctor Doom, Fantastic Four leader Reed Richards attempted to claim Doom's Latveria for the Fantastic Four, an act that alienated the United States government and his own team. This led to team-member Ben Grimm's apparent death and the Fantastic Four's subsequent dispersal. Storm took to fixing cars for a living. Grimm later was revealed to be alive.[ Fantastic Four #509-511. Marvel Comics.] Over the Internet, Storm meets a young woman, Cole, whom he learns is the daughter of one of the Fantastic Four's oldest enemies, the Wizard; after a confrontation with that supervillain, who escaped with Cole, Storm remained hopeful of meeting her again.[ Fantastic Four #514-516. Marvel Comics.] For a time, Storm became the Herald of the powerful cosmic being Galactus, becoming the Invisible Boy after switching powers with his sister and teammate, Susan Richards, the Invisible Woman.[ Fantastic Four #517-524. Marvel Comics.]
During the 2006–2007 "Civil War" company-wide crossover, in which the superpowered community is split over the Superhuman Registration Act, which required them to register with, and become agents of, the US government, Storm and his sister allied with the underground rebels, the Secret Avengers.[Millar, Mark. Civil War #4 (Oct. 2006). Marvel Comics.] Shortly afterward, during the "Secret Invasion" company-wide crossover, the shape-shifting extraterrestrial intensified their clandestine infiltration of Earth. Storm was briefly reunited with his former Skrull girlfriend, Lyja. Though part of the invading force, she finds she still has some feelings for him, and does not carry out her mission of sabotage. She returns to her people, unsure of herself and of any future relationship.[ Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four #1-3. Marvel Comics.]
Death and return
In the conclusion of the 2011 "Three" storyline, in
Fantastic Four #587 (March 2011), the Human Torch appears to die fighting a horde of aliens from the
Negative Zone. The series ended with the following issue, #588, and relaunched in March 2011 as simply
FF.
[Ching, Albert. "Hickman Details FANTASTIC FOUR #587's Big Character Death", Newsarama, 25 January 2011][Moore, Matt. "After Half Century, It's 1 Fantastic's Farewell", Associated Press via ABC News, January 25, 2011. WebCitation archive.] Spider-Man, one of Storm's friends, took his place on the team,
as requested in the Torch's will.
[ The Amazing Spider-Man #657. Marvel Comics.]
It is later revealed that the Human Torch was revived by a species of insect-like creatures that were implanted in his body by Annihilus in an attempt to force Storm to help open the Negative Zone portal. Storm eventually escapes and Richards determines Storm was on the other side of the portal for two years from his perspective.[ Fantastic Four #601. Marvel Comics.]
The Human Torch becomes an ambassador within Inhuman society and joins Steve Rogers's Avengers Unity Squad and helps Rogue in incinerating the telepathic portions of Professor Xavier's brains, thus unknowingly preventing Hydra from using it for their secret empire.[ Avengers #0 (October 2015). Marvel Comics.][ Uncanny Avengers vol. 3 #22. Marvel Comics.] He becomes a multi-billionaire when he inherits Reed Richards' and Sue Storm's wealth and uses the money for rebuilding the Avengers Mansion and philanthropy.[ Uncanny Avengers, vol. 3, #28. Marvel Comics.] He is seemingly annihilated when he grabs a cosmic object called Pyramoids during the fight between the Lethal Legion and the Black Order in Peru, but is restored after Living Lightning wins a high stakes poker game versus Grandmaster.[ Avengers #689. Marvel Comics.]
To help the Thing cope with Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman's disappearance, the Human Torch takes him on a journey through the Multiverse using the Multisect in order to find them.[ Marvel Two-In-One vol. 2 #1-8. Marvel Comics.] They have not been able to find Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman as they return to Earth-616 empty-handed.[ Fantastic Four vol. 6 #1. Marvel Comics.] The Human Torch and the Thing were reunited with Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman to help alongside other superheroes who were part of the Fantastic Four (including surprisingly X-Men's Iceman) fight the Griever at the End of All Things after Mister Fantastic persuaded the Griever to let him summon the Thing and the Human Torch. As the Thing and his teammates finally return to 616, while Future Foundation stays behind to keep learning multiverse, the Thing reveals to them that he proposed to Alicia and they are about to get married soon. Although the Baxter Building is now owned by a new superhero team Fantastix, the Thing allows his teammates to use his hometown Yancy Street as their current operation base.[ Fantastic Four vol. 6 #2-#4. Marvel Comics.] He later becomes engaged to an Unparalleled superhero named Sky from the planet Spyre, who then travels back to Earth with him and joins the Fantastic Four. Their relationship is brief however, when Johnny cheats on her with Victorious, a hero from Latveria and fiancé of Doctor Doom.[ Fantastic Four vol. 6 #15-20. Marvel Comics.]
During a conflict at Doom's wedding, where his infidelity with Victorious is revealed, Johnny Storm becomes permanently stuck in his Human Torch form and his powers are boosted to the point where it is unsafe for him to be around others.[ Fantastic Four vol. 6 #36. Marvel Comics.]
During the Reckoning War storyline, Johnny unites various cosmic factions and leads their armies to defend the Watchers. Once the multiverse is saved, Johnny opts to return to Spyre with Sky so that her people can cure him and return him to normal.[ Fantastic Four vol. 6 #45. Marvel Comics.]
Powers and abilities
Johnny Storm gained a number of superhuman powers as a result of the mutagenic effects of the cosmic radiation he was exposed to, all of which are related to fire. His primary ability is to envelop his body in fiery plasma without harm to himself, in which form he is able to fly by providing thrust behind himself with his own flame, and to generate powerful streams and balls of flame. He can also manipulate his flame in such a way as to shape it into rings and other forms, such as a fiery duplicate of himself that he can remotely control. Even when not engulfed in flame himself, Storm has the ability to control any fire within his immediate range of vision, causing it to increase or decrease in intensity or to move in a pattern directed by his thoughts. Additionally, he is able to absorb fire/plasma into his body with no detrimental effects.
The plasma field immediately surrounding his body is hot enough to vaporize projectiles that approach him, including bullets. He does not generally extend this flame-aura beyond a few inches from his skin, so as not to ignite nearby objects. Storm refers to his maximum flame output as his "nova flame", which he can release omnidirectionally. Flame of any temperature lower than this cannot burn or harm the Torch. This "nova" effect can occur spontaneously when he absorbs an excessive amount of heat, although he can momentarily suppress the release when necessary, with considerable effort.[ Strange Tales #112/1. Marvel Comics.]
Storm has demonstrated enough control with fire that he can safely shave another's hair,[ Spider-Man/Human Torch #2. Marvel Comics.]
Storm's ability to ignite himself is limited by the quantity of oxygen in his environment, and his personal flame has been extinguished by sufficient quantities of water, flame retardant foam, and vacuum environments. He can reignite instantly once oxygen is returned, with no ill effects. In early stories he could only remain aflame for up to five minutes at a time, after which he would need five minutes to recharge before igniting himself again.
Storm was depicted as transmuting his body itself into living flame in the first two issues of The Fantastic Four. In all subsequent appearances, his power consists in the generation of a flaming aura.
Romance
The Human Torch has been involved in several romantic relationships throughout the years, including, but not limited to, the
Inhumans Crystal, member-in-training and future
Galactus herald
Frankie Raye, the
Skrull agent
Lyja disguised as
Alicia Masters, the
Homo mermanus Namorita,
Inhumans Medusa, and
X-Men member Rogue.
Crystal dissolved her relationship with him due to the adverse effects of pollution within population centers of Homo sapiens.[ Fantastic Four #105 (Dec. 1970). Marvel Comics.] Frankie Raye ended her relationship with him when she accepted Galactus' offer to become his newest herald.[ Fantastic Four #244 (July 1982). Marvel Comics.]
Lyja, while in the disguise of the Thing's former girlfriend Alicia Masters, carried on a long-term relationship including marriage with the Torch,[ Fantastic Four #300 (March 1987). Marvel Comics.] until it was revealed that her true nature was as a Skrull double agent.[ Fantastic Four #357 (Oct. 1991). Marvel Comics.] Although the two attempted reconciliation after it was learned that their "child" was actually an implanted weapon to be used against the Fantastic Four,[ Fantastic Four #309 (May 31, 1994). Marvel Comics.] they ultimately parted on less than favorable terms.
Torch's brief relationship with Namorita[ The New Warriors Vol. 2 #4 (Nov 10, 1999). Marvel Comics.] lasted until he pursued a career in Hollywood. It is suggested that he had a short relationship with his Uncanny Avengers/Unity Squad leader Rogue, following which he had a rebound relationship with Medusa (Crystal's sister).[ Uncanny Avengers vol. 3 #1. Marvel Comics.][ Uncanny Avengers, vol. 3 #26] At first it seemed as if he and Rogue resumed their relationship,[ Uncanny Avengers vol. 3 #30. Marvel Comics.] which was considered as an open secret,[ Avengers #679-680. Marvel Comics.] however this relationship came to an end after his apparent death and when Rogue rekindled her relationship with Gambit.[ Rogue & Gambit #3 (March 2018). Marvel Comics.] He has also had relationships with civilian women.
Other versions
Age of Apocalypse
In the Age of Apocalypse, Johnny never becomes the Human Torch. Instead, he is among Reed Richards' crew, along with Ben Grimm as pilot and Johnny's sister Susan. Reed Richards attempts to evacuate a full contingent of refugees in his own experimental tran-ship, but a mutant saboteur interferes with the launch. Johnny and Reed sacrifice themselves to save the others from the forces of Apocalypse.
[ X-Universe #1 (Mar. 21, 1995). Marvel Comics.]
Counter-Earth
On Counter Earth, counterparts of the Fantastic Four hijack an experimental spaceship in order to be the first humans in space.
Man-Beast negates the effects of the cosmic radiation for all of them except Reed Richards who succumbs to the effects a decade later.
[ Adam Warlock #6] Johnny Storm's counterpart is revealed to have been killed by the cosmic radiation.
[ Spider-Man Unlimited (Vol. 2) #3 (Dec. 1999). Marvel Comics]
Earth-65
In Ghost-Spider's universe, Susan and Johnny Storm went missing on a trip to Latveria. When they return to New York, they are shown twisted to evil and murderers of their own mother.
[ Ghost-Spider #9 (May 13, 2020). Marvel Comics.]
Earth-98
In Earth-98 universe, Johnny married Crystal and has a daughter named Luna and a son named Ray. He is also the leader of the Fantastic Four.
[ Fantastic Four Annual (Dec. 9, 1998). Marvel Comics.]
Earth-A
The
Earth-A version of Johnny does not join Reed and Ben in their trip to space. He serves in the Vietnam War, where he is believed to have been killed. However, Johnny is found and saved by
Arkon, who gives him superpowers and the new identity of
Gaard.
[ Fantastic Four #162 (September 1975)]
Heroes Reborn
In the Heroes Reborn history of the Marvel Universe, created after a battle with Onslaught, Johnny is an owner of a popular casino and part financial backer of Reed Richards' plan to go into space. His handprint is one of two — the other being his sister's — needed for launch. His rivalry with Ben Grimm now extends into much more dangerous areas, such as a potentially deadly game of 'chicken' without thought to the life of the woman in his passenger seat.
After being attacked by agents of Doctor Doom, Johnny ends up going up into space on Reed's spacecraft prototype as he really had nowhere else to go. The entire launch base had been overtaken by enemy forces and it was miles to civilization. It is during the flight a cosmic anomaly imbues him and the others with their powers. After the crash of the prototype, Johnny would prove more reliable, recovering Reed Richards and rescuing his own sister.
House of M
In the
House of M: Iron Man limited series, Johnny Storm is a contestant on a reality game show called
Sapien Death Match. He has no inherent superpowers, but wears a suit of powered armor that has a "flame on" ability.
[ House of M: Iron Man #1. Marvel Comics.]
Marvel 1602
In the
Marvel 1602 universe, Jon Storm is a young hothead who has to leave London following a duel. Along with his sister, who is escaping a man she does not love, he joins Sir Richard Reed on his explorations, and is caught in the radiation of the Anomaly, turning him into a Human Torch. The Four continue their explorations until they are captured by Otto von Doom prior to the original
1602 miniseries.
[ Marvel 1602 #4 (Nov. 2003). Marvel Comics.]
At the start of the miniseries 1602: Fantastick Four, Jon has rejoined high society, and once more finds himself embroiled in a duel, this time with Wyatt Wingfoot, who is betrothed to the 1602 version of Doris Evans. When he is called upon to battle Otto von Doom, he kidnaps Doris and takes her with them, believing this is for her own good.
Marvel 2099
In Marvel 2099, there are several versions of the Human Torch:
-
The Earth-96943 version of Human Torch is a clone of Johnny Storm. He and his fellow Fantastic Four clones were created by the 2099 version of Uatu the Watcher.
[ 2099: Manifest Destiny #1. Marvel Comics.]
-
Earth-906943 and Earth-2099 have an Atlantean Human Torch named Relur.
Marvel Mangaverse
In the Marvel Mangaverse comics, the Human Torch is portrayed by two separate characters spanning two very different continuities. The first character is a member of the Megascale Metatalent Response Team Fantastic Four on Earth-2301a and the mirror opposite of Earth-616's Johnny Storm in terms of personality. The team uses power-packs to boost their talents to manifest at
mecha-sized levels in order to combat monsters. In volume two of Mangaverse, which takes place on Earth-2301b, Johnny Storm has been replaced with a young woman named Jonatha Storm, who is the half-sister of
Invisible Woman. Jonatha is quite hotheaded; sometimes riding into battle singing "I am the Goddess of Hellfire." She denies being impulsive, saying she can only be described that way in comparison to her "neurotic" teammates. In
New Mangaverse, Jonatha is slightly redesigned to look a few years younger than she did in volume one of Mangaverse, and no longer wears her hair in multiple braids, instead sporting two pigtails on each side of her head. After witnessing the murder of the other Fantastic 4 members by supernatural assassins, she joins
Spider-Man,
Spider-Woman (Mary Jane Watson), Black Cat, Wolverine, and
Iron Man, in hopes of getting
revenge.
[ Marvel Mangaverse: Fantastic Four #1 (Jan. 2002). Marvel Comics.]
Marvel Zombies
In this alternative universe,
Reed Richards, driven insane by the deaths of his children, deliberately infects Johnny Storm,
Sue Storm, and
Ben Grimm with the zombie virus. The three then turn Reed into a zombie and the four of them go on a rampage with the other zombies. Eventually Reed contacts his Ultimate universe counterpart and gets him to come to the infected universe. Johnny travels with the three others to the Ultimate Universe. They attack the Fantastic Four there but are thwarted, and are locked up in a containment cell. Johnny eats live animals and loathes the Ultimate version of himself, remarking that he especially hates his hair. When they escape the four attack the Baxter Building, Ultimate Reed switches bodies with Ultimate Doom and takes on all four zombies. Johnny is last seen being torn apart and extinguished by Reed in Doom's body.
[ Ultimate Fantastic Four #32 (Aug. 16, 2006). Marvel Comics.]
MC2
In the MC2 alternative future Johnny leads the
Fantastic Five.
[ Fantastic Five #1 (Aug.18, 1999). Marvel Comics.] He is married to
Lyja and they have a son Torus Storm (who calls himself "Super-Storm" when role-playing as a hero). Torus has inherited both his father's flame powers and his mother's stretching / shapeshifting powers.
[ Fantastic Five #2 (Sep. 15, 1999). Marvel Comics.]
Spider-Gwen
In this universe starring
Gwen Stacy as Spider-Woman, Johnny and Susan's family are stars of a television series and they are still children. Silk picks up a magazine that says they are entering their fourth season.
[ Spider-Gwen (2016) #7]
Spider-Verse
In the Amazing Spider-man comic's event
Spider-Verse,
Scarlet Spider and Spider-Man (Ben Reilly) met and fought a clone of Johnny Storm (Earth-802) who is the Head of Security of Baxter Building and serving one of the Inheritors, Jennix.
[ Scarlet Spider #1-3 (Nov. 26 & Dec. 17, 2014; Jan. 21, 2015)]
Ultimate Marvel
In the
Ultimate Marvel Universe, Johnny Storm is the youngest child of Franklin Storm, but is not as intelligent as Franklin or his sister Susan. He spent time at the Baxter Building, but his rebellious nature meant that he learned little from his time spent there. Although he is portrayed as being very vain,
narcissistic, and displays some
misogynistic tendencies, he is also shown to have a deep devotion to his friends and family. He is good friends with Spider-Man, and has a friendship/friendly rivalry with Bobby Drake.
Johnny gains fire-based superpowers after being caught in Reed Richards' test of the N-Zone teleportation device. His body is covered with thin transparent plates that make him impervious to flame. His fire is created by nuclear fusion processes within his body, which generate plasma that is ejected from his body and ignites on contact with air. Periodically, Johnny enters a state of hibernation where his old layer of skin peels off as ash while a new layer forms underneath. Unlike the mainstream Human Torch, Johnny's power sometimes have detrimental effects on his health, specifically causing unhealthy levels of weight loss and exhaustion.
In Ultimate Spider-Man, Johnny meets Peter Parker when his sister says he has to finish high school. Johnny picks a school in Queens which happens to be Midtown High. He quickly meets and becomes friends with Peter Parker, Mary Jane and Liz Allan.[ Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 1 #68 (Nov. 3, 2004). Marvel Comics.] Eventually, Johnny decides that he does not want to return to the Baxter Building. Aunt May allows him to live with her and Peter, posing as Peter's cousin. Johnny enrolls at Midtown High along with Peter, Gwen Stacy, and Bobby Drake.
Johnny eventually joins Kitty Pryde's team of mutants in . He elects to stay behind and defend a group of younger mutants in the Morlock tunnels while Kitty, Iceman, Jimmy Hudson, and Rogue decide to head to the Southwest to fight off the Sentinels. He is later rescued wandering the streets of New York, having been severely tortured.[ Ultimate Comics X-Men #18 (Sept. 2013)]
Ultimate Universe
During the "Ultimate Invasion" storyline, Maker visited Earth-6160 and remade it into his own image. He sabotages the rocket flight that would have given the Fantastic Four their powers, with Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm being killed, Susan Storm sustaining terminal radiation poisoning, and Reed Richards surviving, but being imprisoned.
[ Ultimates (vol. 3) #4 (November 2024)]
What If?
In
What If? vol. 2 #11 (March 1990), the origins of the Fantastic Four are retold, showing how the heroes lives would have changed if all four had gained the same powers as the individual members of the original Fantastic Four. In "Pyros", all have the power of the Human Torch; after the team sets fire to what they believe to be an uninhabited area in order to battle a monster, they inadvertently kill the daughter of a woman squatting one of those buildings; the guilt causes them to disband, after which Reed Richards returns to his research, Storm becomes a race car driver and Grimm adopts the Human Torch moniker and joins the Avengers. Susan Storm, who could never forgive herself for the child's death, took monastic vows and spent the rest of her life as a nun in penance. In "Team Elastics", all have the power of Mister Fantastic, but Grimm, Sue Storm and Reed Richards all believe their powers to be silly; which also causes Sue Storm to leave Reed. Reed Richards returns to his research, only using his powers to aid him in his work, such as handling dangerous chemicals at far range, and Sue marries Ben Grimm, where they live a quiet domestic life free of superpowers. Johnny is the only member to go public, where he becomes a performer called "Mr. Fabulous", using his powers to gain fame, fortune and women. In "Monstrous", all become monsters, and relocate to Monster Isle. In "The Phantoms", each gain one aspect of the invisibility power, with Johnny able to become intangible. The story focuses on the four becoming a special secret unit of S.H.I.E.L.D. which defends against an attack by, and ultimately captures and places in custody, Doom.
[ What If? vol. II #11/4]
In other media
Television
-
The Human Torch appears in Fantastic Four (1967), voiced by Jack Flounders.
-
The Human Torch was intended to appear in The New Fantastic Four, but was dropped due to rights issues and replaced with series-original character H.E.R.B.I.E. Similarly, the Human Torch was meant to appear in Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends before Firestar was created in his place.
-
The Human Torch appears in Fantastic Four (1994), voiced by Brian Austin Green in the first season and Quinton Flynn in the second season.
-
The Human Torch appears in the three-part episode "Secret Wars", voiced again by Quinton Flynn.
-
The Human Torch appears in , voiced by Christopher Jacot.
-
The Human Torch appears in The Super Hero Squad Show, voiced by Travis Willingham.
-
The Fantastic Four (2005) incarnation of the Human Torch appears in Robot Chicken, voiced again by Chris Evans, as well as
/ref>
-
The Human Torch appears in , voiced by David Kaufman.
-
The Human Torch appears in the Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. episode "Monsters No More", voiced by James Arnold Taylor.
Film
-
The Human Torch appears in The Fantastic Four (1994), portrayed by Jay Underwood.
-
The Human Torch appears in Fantastic Four (2005), portrayed by Chris Evans.
-
The Human Torch appears in , portrayed again by Chris Evans. Across two encounters with the Silver Surfer, he temporarily obtains the ability to switch powers with his teammates through touch.
-
The Human Torch appears in Fantastic Four (2015), portrayed by Michael B. Jordan.
[Fleming, Michael "Fox sets 'Fantastic' reboot", Variety, August 31, 2009.]
-
The Fantastic Four (2005) incarnation of the Human Torch appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), portrayed again by Chris Evans.
-
The Human Torch appears in the MCU film (2025), portrayed by Joseph Quinn.
-
The Human Torch will appear in the MCU films (2026) and (2027), portrayed again by Joseph Quinn.
Video games
-
The Human appears in Questprobe featuring Human Torch and the Thing.
-
The Human Torch appears in The Amazing Spider-Man 2.
-
The Human Torch appears in Spider-Man (1995).
-
The Human Torch appears in Fantastic Four (1997).
-
The Human Torch appears in Spider-Man (2000), voiced by Daran Norris.
-
The Human Torch appears in Fantastic 4: Flame On.
-
The Human Torch appears as a playable character in Fantastic Four (2005), voiced by Chris Evans. Additionally, his "classic" design appears in bonus levels, voiced again by Quinton Flynn.
-
The Ultimate Marvel incarnation of the Human Torch appears in Ultimate Spider-Man, voiced by David Kaufman.
-
The Human Torch, based on Chris Evans' portrayal, appears in , voiced by Michael Broderick.
-
The Human Torch appears as a playable character in , voiced by Kirby Morrow.
-
The Human Torch appears as a playable character in , voiced by Josh Keaton.
-
The Human Torch appears as a playable character in , voiced again by David Kaufman.
-
The Human Torch appears as a playable character in Marvel Super Hero Squad Online, voiced by Antony Del Rio.
-
The Human Torch appears in LittleBigPlanet via the "Marvel Costume Kit 2" DLC.
-
The Human Torch appears in Pinball FX 2, voiced by Travis Willingham.
-
The Human Torch appears as a playable character in .
-
The Human Torch appears as a playable character in .
-
The Human Torch appears as a playable character in , voiced by Roger Craig Smith.
-
The Human Torch initially appeared as a playable character in Marvel Heroes, voiced by Matthew Yang King,
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The Human Torch appears as a playable character in Lego Marvel Super Heroes, voiced again by Roger Craig Smith.
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The Human Torch appears as a playable character in Marvel Puzzle Quest.
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The Human Torch appears as a downloadable playable character in via the "Shadow of Doom" DLC, voiced again by Matthew Yang King.
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The Human Torch appears as a downloadable playable character in Marvel Rivals, voiced by Scott Whyte.
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The Human Torch appears in Fortnite as part of a promotional shop item.
Miscellaneous
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Johnny Storm appears in a daily radio adaptation of the early issues of Fantastic Four, played by Bill Murray.
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The Human Torch appears in the BBC radio adaptation of Spider Man, voiced by Eric Meyers.
Merchandise
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The Human Torch received an 8-inch action figure in Mego Corporation's "World's Greatest Super Heroes" toy line in the 1970s.
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The Human Torch received an action figure in series 2 of the Marvel Legends toy line via the Fantastic Four box set.
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The Human Torch received a figurine in The Classic Marvel Figurine Collection.
Reception
The Human Torch was ranked as the 90th greatest comic book character by
Wizard magazine.
ranked the Human Torch as the 46th greatest comic book hero, stating that even though the youngest member of the Fantastic Four routinely basked in the glory of his celebrity status, he also proved himself in his many adventures with both the Fantastic Four and Spider-Man.
Collected editions
| +
!Title
!Material collected
!Published date
!ISBN |
| Human Torch Masterworks Vol. 1 | Strange Tales #101-117 and Annual #2 | August 2009 | |
| Human Torch Masterworks Vol. 2 | Strange Tales #118-134 | August 2009 | |
| Essential Human Torch Volume 1 | Strange Tales #101-134 and Annual #2 | August 2003 | |
| Human Torch: Strange Tales - The Complete Collection | Strange Tales #101-134 and Annual #2 | August 2018 | |
| Spider-Man & The Human Torch | Spider-Man/Human Torch #1-5 | August 2009 | |
| The Thing & The Human Torch by Dan Slott | Spider-Man/Human Torch #1-5, The Thing #1-8 | August 2018 | |
| Human Torch by Karl Kesel & Skottie Young: The Complete Collection | Human Torch (vol. 3) #1-12 | July 2014 | |
| Marvel Two-In-One Vol. 1: Fate Of The Four | Marvel Two-In-One (vol. 2) #1-6 | July 2018 | |
| Marvel Two-In-One Vol. 2: Next Of Kin | Marvel Two-In-One (vol. 2) #7-12 and Annual #1 | February 2019 | |
External links
