Marvel Masterworks: Golden Age Human Torch, Vol. 1

Human Torch (1940-1954) #2-5A

by Carl Burgos, Bill Everett

Marvel presents more Golden Age goodness, reprinting the first four issues of HUMAN TORCH, #2-5a, from 1940-41. (Yes, folks, odd numbering was not solely the province of modern comic books; the Torch's solo book started with issue #2 and had two #5s.) This hardcover collection remasters and restores these early adventures, including the introduction and origin of Toro, the Flaming Torch Kid. See the Torch and Toro fight side-by-side with the Sub-Mariner, as he once again crashes into New York City! Also featuring the adventures of Microman, Mantor the Magician, the Fiery Mask and the Patriot.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Superheroes

264 pages, Hardcover

First published April 9, 2013

About the author

Max Finkelstein created Jim Hamond, the Human Torch, for Timely Comics (later evolved into the Marvel Comics) in 1939, using the pen-name Carl Burgos. He also created the Thunderer for Daring Mystery Comics. Both series were published by Timely Comics, the forerunner of Marvel. He was drafted in 1942 and did mostly commercial art in subsequent years, occasionally drawing science fiction stories for Marvel, by that time known as Atlas. He also drew the first story featuring the Beetle (Abner Jenkins) in Strange Tales #123, starring Johnny Storm, the second Human Torch. Two years later, in Fantastic Four Annual #4, Marvel published a battle between the two Human Torches, resulting in the death of Jim Hamond. Although his daughter tried to preserve as much as possible, Burgos set fire to much of the Human Torch materials he had retained from the 1940s, considering the story an excuse to reassert trademark on a character they were not using simply to spite him.

Reviews

[John Peel · Rating 2 out of 5]

The original 1940s Human Torch got his own comic, and the first set includes the origin of his boy sidekick. The stories are okay, and the backup strip starts as just the Sub-Mariner and then adds The Patriot, a pretty nothing character. Unless you're a completist (like me), this isn't one you'll want to rush to get.

[Michael Neno · Rating 2 out of 5]

Receiving his own book after twelve issues of Marvel Mystery Comics appearances, The Human Torch and sidekick Toro are still drawn here by creator Carl Burgos. The problem: the stories are uniformly uninteresting and contrived concoctions geared towards the kiddies. Backup stories starring second stringers The Patriot, The Falcon, the Fiery Mask and Mandrake-ripoff Mantor the Magician aren't any better, making the book a chore to read. Only Bill Everett's vital Sub-Mariner stories keep the collection from being of use only to comics historians. The enterprise is worsened by Jamison Services' truly horrendous digital "reconstruction", resulting in distorted faces and embarrassing loss of detail - a final product with little relationship to what was originally published.

[Mads ✨is balls deep in the Animorphs reread✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

*cracks out Erasure cover* OHHHH NAMOR!!! broke my heart now I'm aching for youuuuu! Oh NamoooOoOOOOR! What's a girl in love supposed to doooo?

5 stars for the Submariner battling leotard wearing Nazi zombies (NAZOMBIES!!) because I've never had so much fun in my life. 5 stars for the Submariner infiltrating a U-boat with a stripy shirt and terrible fake German accent, and yelling at American generals for not declaring war on the Nazis. 5 stars for the Submariner using his under the sea beef shreddington biceps to singlehandedly repel Operation Sea Lion from the White Cliffs of Dover. We stan a British themed comic! (ahahaha Stan geddit I'm clever ahahaaa).

In fact just 5 stars any time the Submariner appears, because he's a sexy speedo wearing GOD with a bitch arse temper and en fleek eyebrows and I ADORE him!!!*

*(except when he's stalking Sue Storm, luckily there's none of that here).

2 stars for Human Torch though. Sorry mate, but you're boring as fuck! Toro is also absolutely pointless. Why is this child 1. permanently shirtless 2. named Spanish for cow? I just can't wrap my head around it. Anyway, stuff him, who cares, whatever. MORE SUBMARINER!

This collection contains a few genuine zingers (THE NAZOMBIES, and the one where the Torch burns off Hitler's mostache lmaoooo) tucked in between a whole steaming pile of sleep-inducingly mediocre content. If some of Marvel's early output is not exactly great literature, at least it is all heart warmingly bonkers (did I mention the Torch burning off Hitler's mostache??) Plus, the subtextual commentary on WW2 politics and American society make this collection a fascinating piece of social history nonetheless.

BIG MOUSE, GIVE US THE SUBMARINER FILM ALREADY!!!!

[L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

These Golden Age comics did not sugar-coat death for their young audience. As per the style of the times, The Torch (say, does he have an actual name?) puts young Toro's life and well being in constant danger as they battle spies and fifth columnists. But Torch is just the headliner, not the sole star of this collection. You also get Sub Mariner, The Falcon (no, not that Falcon, the other Falcon), The Patriot, and some advertisements for a new kid on the block called Captain America. I had an unintentional laugh at one of the adventures. The Sub Mariner has one job and that's to get some much-needed medicine to an Alaskan town suffering from an epidemic. Once there, Namor causes more death and destruction than the flu ever did. Thanks for all the fire and flood, Namor.

[Dimitris Papastergiou · Rating 2 out of 5]

Straight out of the golden age, comes an android who's on fire, punching people and saving the day. Again, and again, and again. Not much else is happening and the old age of the fellow really shows.

[Dominick · Rating 2 out of 5]

For classic comics, these involve some pretty lame stories and uninspired art; sometimes, even how to read a page properly isn't clear.

[DOUGLAS J BERRY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge amount of content.

Good color artwork. The zoom panels work to display it well. Plenty of stars , Torch, Toro, Sub Mariner, Patriot and Angel. A big roster.

[Edward Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled through this collection of 40s kitsch, filled with forgotten characters alongside characters that have been improved over the years. Again, Namor stood out from the pack, with the Human Torch stories being a little better than those in 'Marvel Comics', but I can see why so many of the backup strips have been forgotten over time.

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very nice collection of rare Golden Age comics. It is nice to be able to read these rare issues and see how comics began. The art and plotting were very different that today's comics. Recommended unless you are a comic fan the very recommended

[ISMOTU · Rating 4 out of 5]

Early adventures of the Human Torch where fire behaves in ridiculous ways. Also Namor the Sub-Mariner gets in on the action along with some lesser stars of the pre-Marvel firmament.

The art is raw and dynamic and the stories are bonkers. Everything you want from Golden Age comics.