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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 , 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).
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. He co-starred in two one-shot comics, Spider-Man & the Human Torch in... Bahia De Los Muertos! #1 (May 2009), by writer Tom Beland and artist Juan Doe, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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, or hold a person while in his flame form without his passenger feeling discomforting heat. His knowledge extends to general information about fire as well, supported by regular visits to fire-safety lectures at various firehouses in New York. In one instance when poisoned, Storm superheated his blood to burn the toxin out. 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. (2025). 9780785188322, Mavel Comics. ISBN 9780785188322
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.
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.
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.
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.
He is present at Reed Richards' test of the N-Zone Teleportation Device in the Nevada Desert. After a malfunction in the device, he wakes up in France in a hospital bed. He uncontrollably bursts into flames until he learns to control his powers by saying "Flame On" and "Flame Off.". When Mole Man's creatures attacks, Johnny finds out he can fly while on fire. It is explained by Reed that Johnny's combustion makes him lighter than air. Johnny's body is covered with a microscopically thin film of transparent plates that make him impervious to flame. When he activates his powers, fat cells beneath his skin create clean nuclear fusion and jet out between the plates as plasma which then ignites on contact with air. Periodically, Johnny enters a hibernation where his old layer of skin peels off as ash while a new layer forms underneath. Unlike the mainstream Human Torch, Ultimate 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 Spider-Man 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. At a bonfire, he catches fire. Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 1 #68 (Nov. 3, 2004). Marvel Comics. This scares off Liz Allan and when he arranges to meet Liz, she does not show up. Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 1 #69 (Nov. 17, 2004). Marvel Comics.
Encouraged by Mary Jane, Spider-Man shows up instead and gives Johnny a heart-to-heart talk about great power and great responsibility. Together, they save people from a burning building when Johnny absorbs the flames. Spider-Man shows Johnny that they will not always be appreciated by the public.
In issue #98 of Ultimate Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four learn Spider-Man's identity, and Johnny recognizes Peter. Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 1 #98 (Aug. 2, 2006). Marvel Comics. In issue #101, Nick Fury and a regiment of Spider-Slayer try to arrest Peter but are stopped by Johnny and the rest of the Fantastic Four. Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 1 #101 (Oct. 25, 2006). Marvel Comics.
In the "Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends" story arc (beginning with issue #118 and concluding in issue #120) Johnny returns to Midtown High wanting to spend time with real friends after becoming frustrated on a date with a popular pop-star who only came for publicity. After some prodding, Johnny arranges for a group consisting of himself, Peter, Mary Jane, Kitty Pryde, Kenny McFarlane, Bobby Drake, and Liz Allan (Johnny's apparent romantic interest) to have a somewhat normal day at the beach. During the evening bonfire, mirror his last visit, Liz Allan bursts into flame, exposing herself as a mutant. At the end of the arc, Liz returns to the Xavier Institute with Iceman. Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 1 #118-#119 (Jan. 30 & Feb. 27 2008). Marvel Comics.
In Ultimate Spider-Man #129, Johnny attends another unsuccessful date with the same pop-star as before and after again becoming frustrated calls Peter Parker to give him an excuse to leave. Johnny laments that he does not know any nice girls and has no real way of meeting any, and wants Peter to set him up. After flying off, he encounters the Vulture mid-robbery. Johnny attempts to stop him, but is thwarted several times before being assisted by Spider-Woman (a female clone of Peter Parker who is still mentally Peter up to the point of her "birth" in the Clone Saga story arc, a fact not disclosed to Johnny). Johnny proceeds to follow her around asking her for details about who she is, going as far to flirt with her. The very embarrassed Spider-Woman swings off. Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 1 #129 (Dec. 24, 2008). Marvel Comics.
Throughout the first story arc of Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man (the continuation of Ultimate Spider-Man), Johnny Storm appears at Peter Parker's door and passes out in his arms. When he wakes up he informs Aunt May that he does not wish to return to the Baxter Building. May decides to let him live with her, Peter and Gwen (later also adding Bobby Drake to the household as well). As to not raise suspicion and to not reveal Peter's secret identity, May comes up with the idea of coloring Johnny's hair black and having him pose as Johnny Parker, Peter's cousin. She then enrolls him and Bobby at Midtown High along with Peter and Gwen. The school is then attacked by a Spider-Slayer, created by Mysterio, to hunt down Spider-Man. Johnny runs away from the school before "Flaming On", as to not reveal his new secret identity, then returns to aid Peter in the fight, only to discover that the Shroud has already taken care of it. Johnny decides to melt the remains of the Spider-Slayer anyway.
Later, when Norman Osborn escapes alongside Vulture, Kraven the Hunter, Electro, Doctor Octopus, and Sandman, Johnny and Bobby find them at Peter's home. In the ensuing battle, Johnny manages to knock Osborn unconscious before Sandman incapacitates him. Spider-Man then wakes him up to fight Osborn again, but Johnny only succeeds in adding to Osborn's power before being knocked out yet again. Spider-Man is eventually killed after defeating Osborn and the other supervillains and Johnny is the one who checks to see if he truly is dead.
Johnny appears briefly in the first issue of Ultimate Fallout. Distressed by Peter's death, he screams and releases most of his energy above New York City. Ultimate Fallout #1 (Jul. 13, 2011). Marvel Comics.
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. The only clue to the fate of the children is a garbled phone call to Kitty by one of the children lamenting Johnny's disappearance. Ultimate Comics X-Men #18 (Sept. 2013)
| + !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 |
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