STRANGE TALES 106 (1963)
by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber & Dick Ayers
cover by Jack Kirby & Dick Ayers
The Human Torch lasted quite a bit on this title, but an appearance by the Fantastic Four so soon makes me think that the sales needed some help.
Some guy shows up at Johnny’s place, asking to speak with the Human Torch.
Wait wait wait. Wasn’t the Torch’s identity a secret in this series!?
NOPE! Everybody knows that Johnny is the Human Torch!
Just hope Spider-Man never learns about this, Johnny. He’d never let this go!
Back to the plot: who is this guy?
He wants Johnny to join the Torrid Twosome.
I would make a joke about that name, but come on, that’s too easy.
The real reason why this little speech works: money!
I’m sorry, what? “Reward money” for… what, exactly? I find it hard to believe most of the FF enemies have bounties on them.
Also: even if Reed keeps “most of the money”, you still live rent free in a skyscraper in central Manhattan! You’re never shown to lack money, AND you’re a freakin’ world-class celebrity!
The Human Torch’s second costume ever was forgotten for a reason.
I wonder why the Torrid Twosome never caught on as a super-team.
Their first case is to free someone who locked himself inside a bank vault. However, once the Torch melts the door to the vault…
Did Stan Lee know that asbestos is a real thing and not a made-up substance like Kryptonite!?
Then the acrobat shoots the Human Torch (!!!), and he doesn’t downright kill him thanks to sheer dumb luck.
Unfortunately for this guy, he’s NOWHERE NEAR the same weight class of the FF.
Turns out the Torch only got a minor wound on his arm, and he’s eventually able to get even.
The FF take Johnny back into the team since he never actually fell for the acrobat’s tricks.
What was that, Johnny? About 6 pages ago?
Unless he thought the acrobat was also a telepath, I call bull##t on Johnny’s claim.
He completely fell for the most blatant scam imaginable.
Historical significance: 0/10
The Acrobat actually does have a somewhat significant appearance later on, but otherwise this is utterly forgettable.
Silver Age-ness: 10/10
The entire story is ridiculous, but the idea that in the previous 5 issues everybody was just humoring the Torch’s obsession with a secret identity is just unbelievable.
Especially since it’s really, REALLY not compatible with the first appearance of the Wizard.
Does it stand the test of time? 0/10
Obviously “Johnny is tricked into joining a bad guy” is easily adaptable, but you’d have to throw away everything else. Now, if he had joined the Torrid Twosome because the Acrobat was an incredibly hot girl…
Cancer count: 8
Liquid asbestos. For when you’re thirsty for cancer.