No More Invisible Girls

I’ve always liked the first Human Torch — the android. His origin story is pretty unique, for one; he didn’t start out as a hero. He was the typical movie monster—causing destruction without any real understanding of what he was doing —that found a way to redeem himself by fighting off an even bigger threat (the Sub-Mariner attacking New York). I’m a sucker for a good redemption story, and I think that his beginnings make his modern appearances a lot more interesting and full.

Despite being around for 70 years or so, the Torch wasn’t used much outside of the Golden Age — that Storm kid came along, after all. Which means there’s a lot of things for new writers to explore; I love seeing new books give their take on him, playing around with his feelings on humanity, emotion, right and wrong, and all of the other things that are generally ignored with human characters.

Plus, I’d be lying if I didn’t mention that my favorite aspect of the Torch’s history is that he and the Sub-Mariner eventually became pretty much BFFs. I always enjoy scenes between those two, even if “Matchstick” and “Water Rat” are the dumbest nicknames, ever.