Featuring: Human Torch
Release: March 20, 1940
Cover: May 1940
10 cents
Credits: Carl Burgos
11 pages
After a pretty complex first adventure, Human Torch has settled into the routine of being a fairly standard superhero. Each issue has had its own adventure where the Torch foils some plot. He’s adopted the identity of Jim Hammond in civilian form, and made friends with a police officer named Johnson.
The one oddity comes from the beginning of Marvel Mystery Comics #2. A newspaper article tells us that the Torch burned down Horton’s home, killing him. We hadn’t seen anything like that in the previous issue. But the Torch defends–rather than denies–the killing.
A note to quell any confusion. Human Torch and Sub-Mariner were introduced in Marvel Comics #1. That series has continued, but it was renamed to “Marvel Mystery Comics” beginning with issue #2. Each issue has featured both a Human Torch and Sub-Mariner story, among others. Other regular features include Angel, Masked Raider, and Ka-Zar.
In this issue, Human Torch decides to join the police force. There is a time jump while the Torch is in Police School. He’s now ready for his first mission against the corrupt politician Roglo and his henchman, Red.
I’d say having a superhero join the police force was pretty novel, but it was 1940. The genre as we know it was about 2 years old. So lots of things were novel then. But it remains something of an oddity to this day. Most superheroes have preferred to be vigilantes to police officers. The most famous counterexample is Erik Larsen’s Savage Dragon, a superhero on the police force. But it’s uncommon.
But why are we even reading this story? And why now? Why this, when we skipped the last 5 Human Torch adventures.
Because this issue sets the stage for an epic adventure where Human Torch battles Sub-Mariner. The first superhero crossover of the Marvel Universe.
I thought about reading this story after Fantastic Four #12 and Amazing Spider-Man #1 gave us the first Marvel Age crossovers. But following the battle between Sub-Mariner and the new Human Torch in Strange Tales #107 seemed more appropriate.
That said, the story doesn’t really begin here. Most of the issue is an unrelated plot. The relevant thing is that Torch becomes a police officer. And then the final two panels which set up next issue’s crossover…
The Torch and the Sub-Mariner have spent the last 6 issues each appearing in separate stories in the same anthology. But this is the first hint they coexist in the same universe. You could say the very concept of the Marvel Universe began right here.
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 50/100
Characters:
- Jim Hammond/Human Torch
- Officer Johnson
- Roglo
- Red
Story notes:
- Johnson references Orton adventure, a reference to the events of Marvel Mystery Comics #5
- Human Torch decides to become a policeman. His friend Johnson helps.
- Time passes while Human Torch is at school.
- Jim Hammond graduates with honors from Police School
- Torch’s police uniform keeps burning off, so he is allowed to not wear a uniform.
- Torch’s shield number: 234001
- Roglo sets trap at 339 Dawson Street
- Roglo kills red
Next post: PRELUDE: Marvel Mystery Comics #7, Story C
Next in order: Fantastic Four #13
Previous: Strange Tales #107
