Warning: contains a preview of Fantastic Four #8!The resident hothead of the Fantastic Four, Johnny Storm has been known to pull off some impressive feats as the Human Torch. Johnny's most powerful trick is his Nova Flame, which allows him to create an inferno matching the heat of the sun... or so he claims. A new comic, however, reveals that this trick is less fantastic than readers were led to believe.
Fantastic Four #8 by Ryan North, Ivan Fiorelli and Jesus Aburtov follows the recently-reunited team following the Fantastic Four's temporary separation. While the team spends their downtime teaching Johnny to construct a complex shape, the Human Torch questions why he needs to hone his skills at all. Alicia Masters responds by teasing Johnny about the repetitive uses for his powers (such as fireballs and "flame number fours"), which Ben Grimm s in on, saying his wife is leaving out "makin' a slightly hotter fire than usual an' tellin' everyone it's a 'nova flame'." Read a preview of the issue and its official summary below:
Human Torch's Nova Flame Isn't What He Claims
The Fantastic Four are finally settling into their new normal…but something very ABNORMAL is happening outside their farmhouse. Sue and Alicia get to spend some quality time together in town, but when they return, everything is not how they left it…and a very different Fantastic Four are left in their place! It’s Sue and Alicia versus the world—and the start of a special two-part story!
The Human Torch's nova flame is an ability that describes what is essentially the upper limit of his powers. While Johnny can traditionally stay in his fiery form for hours at a time, his nova flame is a super-hot burst meant to expend all of this energy in a single blast. Though this nova burst has the drawback of u all of the Human Torch's reserved energy, the tradeoff is generally worth it, as he blazes with the power of a star. Rather than simply burning at his traditional heat of several hundred degrees, the nova flame is considered to have the heat of an atomic bomb. Though power levels are often changed according to story, the nova flame's massive inferno often meets or exceeds the temperature of the surface of the Sun. At least, that's what Johnny has always claimed.
Human Torch's Nova Flame Has Never Made Sense - Now Fans Know Why
Ben's claim that Johnny's nova blast is usually just a slight upgrade from his traditional heat would come as a major upheaval of what is typically considered one of the Fantastic Four's greatest powers, but it's a change that makes sense. Despite Johnny's claims, there are many, many stories where his nova flame clearly reaches nothing like the Sun's temperature. Villains like Ultron and Doctor Doom have shrugged off this heat in the past - often as a way of emphasizing how powerful they are. However, this retcon explains why the nova flame doesn't do more damage, as it turns out Johnny is exaggerating his ability.
What's great about this subtle retcon is that it can work both ways. Some Human Torch feats suggest he can reach Sun-like temperatures at his best, while others make it clear that many 'nova flame' moments don't come close. If the Thing is right, it makes sense that Johnny's boastful nature often drives him to claim he's reached nova levels, even when he doesn't have the stored power to reach his maximum heat. That way, his ultimate power still exists, but he often lies about being able to use it.
The conversation in the preview hits a lot of what makes the Fantastic Four one of Marvel's most endearing properties. They may get under each other's skin (Ben and Johnny most of all), but the Fantastic Four are first and foremost a family of adventurers always looking for new opportunities and solutions. In poking fun at Johnny's inflated ego, this conversation gets straight to the heart of why the Fantastic Four remain one of Marvel's most charming groups.
Fantastic Four #8 is available June 7 from Marvel Comics.
