Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Fantastic Four #8.Johnny Storm, the Human Torch of the Fantastic Four, just leveled up his powers with a new trick. Despite a well-deserved reputation for being a hothead, Johnny Storm has shown amazing creativity in utilizing his ability to generate flames and control ambient heat beyond throwing fireballs. Yet the most recent application of his cosmic powers is a quantum leap beyond anything he has done before.
Johnny and his sister Susan were shown honing their respective powers in the opening scene of Fantastic Four #8 by Ryan North, Ivan Fiorelli, and Jesus Aburtov. While Susan had no trouble forming her invisible force fields into complex geometric shapes under the direction of artist Alicia Masters, Johnny couldn't manage the same level of accuracy. However, Johnny discovered an arguably more impressive use of his powers, which literally doubled his firepower.
The Human Torch Can Make A Fire Clone
While Alicia and Susan were out shopping, Ben Grimm and Reed Richards were abducted by an alien called the Mighty Xargorr, who had the psychic ability to cause anyone they wished to claim as a servitor to forget their past and be forgotten by everyone who knew them. While Alicia and Susan were protected from this power thanks to Susan's invisible shields, Johnny Storm completely forgot about the other half of the team. Susan tried to jog her brother's memory by asking why they were called the Fantastic Four if there were only two of them. Johnny responded by conjuring up Flame-O, a clone of himself made of fire, whom he counted as the fourth member of the team. Exasperated, but lacking any better plan, Susan led her family into battle against the Mighty Xargorr and her followers, where Flame-O proved to be more than just a simple distraction, allowing the Human Torch to effectively be in two places at once.
Johnny's powers are certainly the flashiest of the family. While it's been long-established that the Invisible Woman is the most powerful of the Fantastic Four, Johnny's ability to generate fire, absorb energy, and fly is incredibly useful and, more importantly, versatile. While Ben Grimm, "the Ever-Loving Blue-Eyed" Thing, is certainly one of the classic powerhouses of the Marvel Universe, his effectiveness is limited to the things he can punch. As he demonstrated when he beat Annihilus to become the ruler of the Negative Zone, the Human Torch's powers make him a cosmic-level hero, if only he was a little more creative with them.
Flame-O is Human Torch's First Real Upgrade
In fact, Flame-O's introduction came at an ironically appropriate time, as the rest of the Fantastic Four were chiding the Human Torch for being too reliant on the same old applications of his powers, like fireballs and cages made of fire. Ben Grimm specifically singled out Johnny's habit of "making a slightly hotter fire than usual" and dubbing it the Nova Flame, as if it were some perfect ultimate attack. While Johnny Storm may be a little too reliant on the tried-and-true applications of his powers, his creation of Flame-O proved the perfect upgrade and a sign of his strength.
Fantastic Four #8 is now available from Marvel Comics.
