The Return of the Wizard!
Featuring: Human Torch
Release: November 8, 1962
Cover: February 1963
12 cents
Plot: Stan Lee
Script: Larry Lieber
Art: Jack Kirby
Inking: Dick Ayers
13 pages
I read this story in Marvel Masterworks: The Human Torch vol. 1.
It’s time to reflect back on this series so far: it’s not very good. Now, the Fantastic Four comic is pretty good. This has the same creators and features a character from that comic. But they don’t seem to be bringing their A-game to this title.
There’s a couple things to notice about the Fantastic Four comics. The first is that Johnny has a pretty minor role in those stories. Most of the focus and character development is on Reed and Ben. Those are the characters Lee and Kirby seem interested in, notably the two male characters about their age, as opposed to the woman and teenager, who almost seem to be there as token characters.
Also, notice the Fantastic Four comic never gives any hints that this series exists. It’s never mentioned Glenville. Johnny continues to be open about his Human Torch identity there, while hiding it here. Johnny seems to always be in the Baxter Building; it seems like he lives there. Johnny’s solo adventures are just never mentioned.
On the other hand, this series does refer to the Fantastic Four. The whole team appears in this issue. In fact, one aspect of this series is the need to constantly justify why the rest of the Fantastic Four won’t help Johnny. In the first issue, Johnny rejects Ben’s offer of help out of pride. In another, the FF are off on another mission without the Torch. Here, Reed and Ben think Johnny needs to grow up and take care of things himself. Has Johnny not already proven himself by beating the Destroyer, the Wizard, and Paste-Pot Pete, as well as by leading an interdimensional revolution against Zemu??
The Wizard returns in this issue. I thought he showed such promise at first. The first two pages where we meet the odd-looking man and learn about his inventions and accomplishments seemed to set the stage for a good adventure. But then it had a really stupid ending.
This comic recaps that ending as though it weren’t stupid.
Wizard had pictures that cleared Johnny of the crimes he’d been framed for. But Torch had no way to get those pictures without either killing Wizard or turning off his flames to reveal his secret identity. Both of those things are absurd. It’s absurd that they act like Johnny has a secret identity; it’s absurd the genius Wizard couldn’t have figured it out. Wizard had earlier in the issue doused Johnny with flame retardant, but avoided his head for some reason. And, we know Johnny can turn off parts of his flame. He just has to leave his head flaming (like earlier in the issue) and go punch Wizard. Or whatever. Instead, Sue takes the pictures from Wizard. Perfectly fine except that Wizard is tricked into believing Johnny has magical powers. Which is stupid. And this causes him to surrender. Also stupid.
Now, he must prove himself against the Human Torch again. Even though, if he’s really such a genius, proving himself against the genius Mr. Fantastic would make way more sense.
Sue helps Johnny escape Wizard’s traps. At the end, she weirdly claims Reed will be furious Johnny went after Wizard on his own, even though earlier in the issue that’s exactly what he said he wanted Johnny to do.
Other stories in this issue are: “Man Alone” and “The Supernatural”.
Rating: ★★½, 42/100
Significance: ★★☆☆☆
Characters:
- Johnny Storm/Human Torch
- Wizard
- Invisible Girl
- Mr. Fantastic
- Thing
Story notes:
- Wizard escapes prison; plan involves making wall-dissolving solution out of cleaning chemicals, and then not escaping through it.
- Electromagnetic force field surrounds Wizard’s house
- Invisible Girl says to leave Wizard to police; Johnny won’t listen; Reed and Ben won’t help
- The Torch’s flame hot enough to stop artillery from reaching him
- A flame can make a shield to keep gas away
- Wizard’s house full of traps.
#40 story in reading order
Next: Incredible Hulk #5
Previous: Fantastic Four #11, Story B
