HUMAN TORCH: Matchstick

"I'm shallow ... all surface glitter and flash -- just like my stupid powers!"
--HUMAN TORCH

Who is HUMAN TORCH?
The HUMAN TORCH is Johnny Storm), a Marvel Comics superhero. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, he is a member of the superhero team the Fantastic Four, debuting in The Fantastic Four #1 (Nov. 1961). Like the rest of the Fantastic Four, the HUMAN TORCH gained his powers on a spacecraft bombarded by cosmic rays. He can engulf his entire body in flames, is able to fly, can absorb fire harmlessly into his own body, and can 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 beautiful and compassionate sister, Susan Storm, his sensible brother-in-law, Mister Fantastic, and the grumbling Thing.
First Appearance

When the HUMAN TORCH first appeared he looks like a big ball of fire but by third issue of Fantastic Four and onwards, he began to develop his features became clearer.

Here is HUMAN TORCH explaining to readers how he could fly. (Fantastic Four #9)

Johnny Storm is not the first HUMAN TORCH that honor goes to Jim Hammond an Android during World War II that has similar abilities with that of Johnny Storm. Johnny chose the name as a tribute to this war hero.
Original HUMAN TORCH

In Fantastic Four Annual #4 Johnny Storm meets the Original HUMAN TORCH

One of the fascinating team-up or at times match-up of HUMAN TORCH is his X-men opposite number, the Iceman. Their first meeting happened in Strange Tales #120

One of HUMAN TORCH closest friend, aside from the members of the Fantastic Four, is the Amazing Spider-man. The two heroes first met in Amazing Spider-man #1. Despite their early misunderstandings, the Torch and Spider-Man eventually became good friends and friendly competitors, with Spider-Man revealing to Storm his secret identity
Here is a funny look at the relationship of these two characters (Amazing Spiderman #657)

HUMAN TORCH's Costume
HUMAN TORCH mainly wears what the current regular uniform of the Fantastic Four is, with his fire-based power he still looks visually unique.

The only time HUMAN TORCH veered from the traditional Fantastic 4 costume is when he changed his costume's color scheme from blue to red, he calls this outfit his "Combat Red" uniform.

The Hothead HUMAN TORCH has wooed fair share of women in his life. Here is a few of the superpowered ones.
Crystal whom the HUMAN TORCH met in Fantastic Four #45

The similarly powered Frankie Raye

Skrull impostor Lyja

Like his sister, he also found some affection in one of the Atlanteans, Namorita

There is much more of course, HUMAN TORCH is so hot he gets to bag many women.

However, HUMAN TORCH's has more love than the one he has for the ladies, and that is his love of adventuring with his family, the Fantastic Four.

That is why in his death, his sacrifice, his family will sorely miss him.

For now as he rest, his family wish to honor him by continuing the fight, he will never truly be replace on the team but one of his good friends is just keeping his position warm.

ANIMATED APPEARANCES
Fantastic Four (1967)
HUMAN TORCH first appeared in animated form in the 1967 Fantastic Four series, Jack Flounders voiced him.

Fantastic Four (1994)
The HUMAN TORCH also appeared in the 1994-1995 Fantastic Four TV series voiced by Brian Austin Green in the first season and by Quinton Flynn in the second.

Fantastic Four : World's Greatest Heroes
Christopher Jacot voiced HUMAN TORCH in the 2006 Fantastic Four TV series. The series focuses purely on his impulsive, irresponsible side. His personality also reflects his abilities.

Wolverine and the X-Men
HUMAN TORCH also appeared in the animated series Wolverine and the X-Men

Super Hero Squad
HUMAN TORCH appears in The Super Hero Squad Show voiced by Travis Willingham.

LIVE APPEARANCES
Jay Underwood
The HUMAN TORCH, Johnny Storm, appears with the rest of the Fantastic Four in the film produced by Roger Corman. Jay Underwood played the Torch.

CHRIS EVANS
Chris Evans plays the HUMAN TORCH/Johnny Storm in the big budget 2005 movie Fantastic Four. In the film, he is an intelligent, but arrogant, young man in his early twenties who loves extreme sports.

Here is a funny pic of HUMAN TORCH exchanging powers with the Thing in the movie Fantastic Four : Rise of the Silver Surfer

POWERS & ABILITIES
Note: Due to the nature of comicbooks being an on-going tale, the character's powers along with his appearance, is in a constant state of flux.

Pyrokinesis: The HUMAN TORCH possesses the mental ability to control ambient heat energy and the physical ability to transform his entire body, or portions of his body into a fiery, plasma-like state of will.

Plasma Form: The HUMAN TORCH possesses the physical ability to envelop his entire body or portions of his body with fiery plasma without harm to himself.

Fire Manipulation: The HUMAN TORCH can generate shapes composed of fire from any point on his body.

Nova Flame: The Torch refers to his highest, hottest levels of plasma that he can create as his "nova flame." The exact temperatures that his "nova flame" can attain are not known.

Flight: The HUMAN TORCH's plasma has high hydrogen content, and is surrounded by an exuded cloud of mono-atmoic hydrogen atoms. The hot cloud provides sufficient positive buoyancy for him to float.

Thermokinesis: The HUMAN TORCH has the ability to mentally control the ambient heat energy within his immediate environment, even when he himself is not aflame.

Immunity to Fire & Heat: The HUMAN TORCH is unaffected by heat and flames, including his own, even when part of him is aflame and the rest of him is not. His flesh cannot be scalded or burned by any heat source whose level is below that of his maximum output.

Abilities
Expert Mechanic: An expert mechanic since his teens, Johnny was able to totally overhaul a car's transmission by the age of 15. His design and mechanical acumen went into the creation of the Fantasticar Model-2. Johnny also has experience as a professional racecar driver.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Torch : http://marvel.wikia.com/Jonathan_Storm_(Earth-616) : http://marvel.wikia.com/Jonathan_Storm_(Earth-616)/Gallery : http://marvel.wikia.com/Category:Jonathan_Storm_(Earth-616)/Images : http://www.comicvine.com/human-torch/29-2120/ : http://kesslerkomics.com/?p=9988 : http://geek-news.mtv.com/2011/02/11/a-history-of-the-fantastic-fours-replacement-members/ : http://thecoolkidztable.blogspot.com/2011/03/many-loves-of-human-torch.html :

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6/7/2011
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