Real Name: Jonathan "Johnny" Storm
Powers: The Human Torch, who possesses the mental ability to control ambient heat energy, can transform his body into living flame upon command. In this state, he can fly and expel bolts of fire in varying degrees of intensity, up to a super-charged nova-blast. His uniform and clothing consist of unstable molecules, enabling him to "flame on" without damaging them in any way.
History: Jonathan Storm, the second of two children born to a physician and his wife, grew up comfortably on Long Island. In high school, he developed an attraction to fast cars and beautiful girls. But a trip to California to visit his sister -- Susan, an aspiring actress -- forever shattered Johnny's small-town status quo...and offered him the opportunity to experience the ultimate thrill ride. Sue's fiancé and longtime sweetheart, aeronautical engineer Reed Richards, had designed and fabricated an experimental starship capable of interstellar travel. When the government threatened to cut off its partial funding of the project, he chose to make an immediate test flight with best friend Ben Grimm as his pilot. Rounding out the four-person crew were Sue and Johnny.
In space, the starship unexpectedly encountered intense radiation, causing Johnny and company to abort the flight. After surviving a crash-landing, all four discovered that the cosmic rays had mutagenically altered their bodies. Sue could turn invisible at will, while Johnny gained the ability to envelop his body is fiery plasma. Ben's transformation was perhaps the most shocking: He had become an orange-colored, thick-skinned, heavily muscled, superhumanly strong "thing." Newly elasticized, Reed convinced his friends that they should use their unique powers for humanity's benefit. Under Mr. Fantastic's leadership, the Human Torch, Invisible Woman and the Thing continue to challenge the unknown as the greatest team of adventurers ever assembled: the Fantastic Four.
Following the freak accident that granted him his powers, Johnny and his sister attempted to return to their quiet life on Long Island. Johnny tried to finish high school, hoping no one in the community would realize he was the Human Torch -- a fact that soon proved impossible to conceal from the townspeople. Upon graduation, he moved to the Fantastic Four's Baxter Building headquarters in New York City.
Like any family, the members of the FF have endured their share of squabbles. However, they always manage to right the ship. Never was this fact more evident than when Johnny began a romantic relationship with Ben's former girlfriend, the blind sculptress Alicia Masters; the two even married. Though this act strained his relationship with Ben, the teammates were able to salvage their friendship. Later, "Alicia" was revealed to be Lyja, one of the alien race of shapeshifting Skrulls. Pregnant with Johnny's child, she claimed to have fallen in love with him. But Johnny felt betrayed, and he was unable to face her. During a mission to rescue the true Alicia from the Skrull homeworld, Lyja apparently was killed. Johnny and the Fantastic Four returned to Earth, where he has continued his adventures as one of the most eligible bachelors of the superhuman set. |
