Human Torch Comics #35
Flame of Fury!
When the Human Torch visits a circus his powers suddenly flare out of control, starting a stampede of elephants. Unable to shut down his flame, the Torch is extinguished by some firefighters.
Returning home, the Human Torch wonders why he couldn’t control his powers. Eventually, he falls asleep and has a nightmare where he is terrorizing the citizens of Venus by using his flame powers to burn their crops. Waking up from this dream, the Human Torch decies to go out for a walk where he is arrested by the police. The chief of police tells the hero that they received radio contact from the planet Venus where its people blame the Torch for burning their crops.
Realizing his dream was somehow real, the Torch flames on and flies to Venus to try and get to the bottom of this strangeness. When he arrives on Venus, the Torch’s power snaps off causing him to fall to the ground. This stuns the Torch long enough for the locals to take the Torch to their leader, Queen Alura. She orders that he be sentenced to death and the Venusians toss him into a pit of lizards.
Recovering, the Torch uses his flame powers to force back the lizards. As he leaves the pit he spots another Human Torch flying through the air. As it turns out, this impostor has been responsible for everything. The last survivor of a dead star, this flame creature terrorized Venus and intends to take over Earth. A freak telepathic link between the two was the cause for the Torch being unable to control his powers on Earth and his strange dreams. The two battle it out and at first the Human Torch is too weak to fight back. Ultimately, he regains his strength long enough to grab his impostor and force each other to crash land in a nearby lake. Because the impostor is entirely comprised of flame he is snuffed out of existence.
With the real threat gone, Queen Alura clears the Torch of wrongdoing and promises to let the authorities on Earth know the truth as well.
Recurring Characters
Human Torch
Continuity Notes
It seems highly suspect that these alien creatures originate from the planet Venus. This was a common science fiction trope until the 1960s when it became common knowledge that none of the other planets in our solar system can sustain life. Although there is no explanation for these aliens, a typical explanation from Marvel is that these aliens did not originate from planets in the Sol system but only temporarily resided on these planets. A prime example of this are the Kronans who claimed to live on the planet Saturn when they first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83
This story features the Human Torch using his flame powers to travel to the planet Venus. The first impossibility is the fact that the Human Torch could not flame on in space as there is no oxygen. As established in Marvel Comics #1, the Torch requires oxygen in order to be able to use his flame. The second problem with this plot would be the length of time the Torch can remain aflame and how fast he can travel. At normal levels the Torch can only maintain his flame consistently for 16.5 hours and can fly at a speed of 700 MPH. The distance between Earth and Venus is 25 million miles. Even if the Torch could sustain his flames indefinitely in space it would have taken him 1488 days (or roughly 4 years) to reach Venus from the Earth. The other issue is the fact that the Torch cannot fly fast enough to reach escape velocity from Earth's gravitational pull. Clearly the writer of this story was limited by what was known about outer space circa 1949 and all these inconsistencies can be chalked up to creative license.
Flaming Victory!
While visiting a small town in Mississippi, the Human Torch walks into a bar and overhears two boat captains arguing over whose ship is faster. Captain Reed thinks his boat, the River Lady, is faster than Captain Blook’s ship, the Belle Blue. The Torch suggests that the two men prove whose right by engaging in a race. Both men agree, but Captain Blook suggests that they also put up a $500 wager to make things interesting. On the day of the race, Captain Blook had planted some of his friends among Reed’s crew and are feeding slate in place of the coal that is needed to generate the steam needed to propel the ship. When the race begins and the River Lady is unable to generate any speed, Captain Reed suspects that something must be wrong. They check the engine room and discover that the coal has been replaced with slate. The Torch decides to help out by using his flame power to create the needed steem. This way the Captain Reed wins the race.
Recurring Characters
Human Torch
The Killer Ray
The Human Torch and Sun Girl are taking an commercial airliner across the country. While they are over the Grand Canyon the plane’s engines stop running thanks to a heat ray created by Mister Stang. Before the plane can crash, the Human Torch flames on and uses his powers to keep the plane aloft so it can finish its flight. Once they land, the Human Torch and Sun Girl decide to investigate the strangeness by talking to the pilot. They are joined by Mr. Stang, who none are aware are responsible for the plane failing. As it turns out, he is the vice-president of the troubled airline company which has been having troubles with planes failing and could be facing bankruptcy. This upsets the pilot as the own — Mae Hartley — is the womamann he secretly loves.
Hearing this, the Human Torch suggests that they all go on another flight with Miss Hartley in their company. Sure eTnough, once they are over the Grand Canyon, Stang attempts to unleash the heat ray upon them. However, this time, the Human Torch is there to deflect the ray with his own body. Mister Stang proves to be no match for the Human Torch and surrenders after the Torch destroys his weapon. With the crisis averted, the pilot and Miss Hartley reveal their feelings for one another.
Recurring Characters
Human Torch, Sun Girl
Continuity Notes
This is the last Timely Comics appearances of the Human Torch and Sun Girl. The Human Torch will reappear in the Atlas Era in 1954’s Young Men #24, while Sun Girl will appear again in a solo story in Marvel Tales #97.
The Outer World of Doom
The planet Earth has been struck with a freak cold snap that has caused winter-like conditions throughout the summer. Concerned about what' is going on the United States government calls Captain America to Washington for help. There he meets with Professor Balkison who suggests that they are victims of attacks on the planet Xelos. Xelos is a world without its own orbit and has been using gravity to affect Earth’s weather. Balkison is working on a rocket that will take Captain America to Xelos, and he agrees to go on this mission.
However, the construction of the rocket will take some time, Captain America wonders what he can do in the meantime. As fate would have it, a ship from Xelos has crashed landed on Earth. The passengers try to attack Captain America but he easily overpowers them. He finds a woman on board named Zena. She explains that her people became aware of Earth and kidnapped a man and brought him back to their homeworld. She learned English from this man but he was killed. Wanting to help the planet Earth she stowed away on this ship in order to warn people.
Captain America then uses the ship to fly to Xelos. There he helps Zena and her lover, Arl help lead a resistance against bandit named Tahn. However, they are captured and taken prisoner. Captain America plays into Tahn’s ego and is allowed to see the device that they are using to alter Earth’s axis. Captain America then destroys the weapon but this causes the planet Xelos to spin out of control. With the planet about to fall into the sun, Captain America leads the people of Xelos to the one spaceship left to escape. As Xelos crashes into the sun, Zena wonders where her people will go next, but Captain America assures them they can start a new life on planet Earth.
Recurring Characters
Captain America
Continuity Notes
Per What If? #4, the appearance of Captain America here is attributed to Jeff Mace.