Featuring: Human Torch
Release: April 9, 1963
Cover: July 1963
12 cents
Plot: Stan Lee
Script: H.E. Huntley
Art: Dick Ayers
13 pages
I read this story in Marvel Masterworks: The Human Torch vol. 1.
Wizard and Paste-Pot Pete team up.
First, we dedicate 3/13 pages to recapping the last encounter with each villain. It sticks pretty close to the original story.
I guess if paste is your thing, you use paste. Even for binocular lenses?
At first, Wizard seemed like a character with potential. That potential was squandered within a page or so of me thinking that in his first appearance. At his best, he had a distinctive visual style for his face, despite not having a distinctive outfit to match. Very long and contorted. That visual distinction has been somewhat softened in Ayers’ take.
Wizard’s plan in this story involves disguising himself as the Torch to frame the real Torch. That was also his plan in their first encounter. So maybe he’s not such a genius after all.
The plan falls apart because the two criminals fail to work together. In particular, they never quite agree on who the leader of the duo is. The actual battle is quite short; Pete barely seems to contribute at all.
Let’s talk about Johnny’s “flaming double” maneuver. He uses it a lot. In fact, he used it in his previous encounters with each of the two villains here. He also used it in issue 101 and Fantastic Four #9.
There are two other comic stories in this issue, in addition to a prose story. The next story is a science fiction tale by Larry Lieber about a space expedition searching for intelligent life. The third story… well, let’s cover that in the next post
Rating: ★★☆☆☆, 36/100
Characters:
- Paste-Pot Pete
- Wizard
- Johnny Storm/Human Torch
- Mr. Fantastic
- Thing
- Invisible Girl
Minor characters:
- Skelly (prison guard)
- Wayne (Johnny’s classmate)
Story Notes:
- Johnny doing training in backyard.
- Johnny studying history.
- 3 pages recapping previous encounters with each villain from #104 and 105 respectively.
- Wizard held in Cortraz Penitentiary.
- Paste-Pot Pete uses binoculars with lenses made of clear paste.
- Human Torch accused of being enemy spy.
- Disguising himself as the Torch to frame Johnny was Wizard’s plan in first encounter.
- Rest of team working on government case; Johnny too busy with schoolwork to assist them.
- Play showing at school: The Second Face.
- Cyrus Cartwright: one of the world’s richest men.
#77 story in reading order
Next: Strange Tales #110, Story C
Previous: Tales of Suspense #43
