Human Torch (android)

The Human Torch, also known by the adopted alias of Jim Hammond, is an android created by Professor Horton, and is considered one of the 20th century's first superheroes. He is defined by an all-encompassing layer of flame across his body; initially, this flame was permanent as long as Torch was exposed to oxygen, but he soon gained control over his power such that he can turn it on and off at will. By Horton's design, Torch has memories that he can forget like any human. His connection to the modern Human Torch, Johnny Storm, isn't clear, though Storm's penchant for classic comic books suggests that he may have taken inspiration for his hero name from Hammond.

Biography

Origin

Human Torch was created to be an exact replica of a human, a "synthetic man," by scientist Professor Horton in Brooklyn, New York. Presenting his invention to the press and his scientific peers, Horton demonstrated how Torch, contained in an airtight glass case, would burst into flame when exposed to air. Representatives from the Scientists' Guild saw the Torch as a risk given the uncontrollable nature of his flame. Horton agreed to imprison the Torch until a solution could be found, placing him inside a tube and burying him in cement. But the encasement was not airtight, and that night Torch's flame activated, exploding his enclosure and freeing him. Confused and afraid, Torch ran through the city aiming to douse his own flame, concerned with how much damage he might do. He happened upon a mansion with a pool and dove inside to deflame himself. However, the mansion belonged to infamous racketeer Sardo and his associate Red, who saw Torch as an opportunity. The two placed the winter cover over the pool and removed the water and air, trapping Torch inside. They attempted to use Torch as a tool for their racketeering, offering local businesses "fire insurance" before letting him loose on their property. However, on their first attempt, Torch was able to figure out their plan and set out to stop them.

He returned to Sardo's mansion, easily burning down the front door. Sardo escaped into his underground lab, but in doing so allowed the Torch to start effortlessly burning down the rest of the house. Sardo's henchmen, including Red, fled the house, but were quickly tailed by the vengeful Torch. Red hid beneath a car, but Torch essentially melted the car on top of him, killing him. Returning to the house, Torch found the steel door to Sardo's lab, easily melting through it. As the fire department and Professor Horton arrived, Torch noticed a tank of nitrogen; rupturing it, he discovered that nitrogen quickly and effectively snuffed his fire. The fire chief shot the Torch in the head, but his intense body heat remained and melted the bullet on contact. Torch pursued Sardo once more and reactivated his flame, prompting Sardo to throw a tank of sulphuric acid at him. But Torch's intense heat caused the tank to explode before hitting him, killing Sardo instead. Torch took another tank of nitrogen and experimented with it, gaining the ability to control his flame at will. Torch showed himself to be no longer a threat to the authorities, and explained his actions at police headquarters. Horton was given custody over Torch, but after Horton declared his intentions to make money using Torch's unique abilities, Torch escaped, leaping free through the night.

1939-1940

Now able to control his flame, Torch assumed a life as a normal human. To that end, he attended a stock car race, where multiple cars suspiciously burst into flame, crashing and killing their drivers. Torch donned his flame and investigated, and spotted a conspicuous plane flying overhead, but was naturally blamed for the incidents. Torch was arrested, and went peacefully. He was put into a cell with a man, Pete Johnson, who claimed to be an associate of Blackie Ross: Ross, a driver himself, had a habit of sabotaging opposing racers in order to easily win races, and had in fact won the most recent race. With renewed motivation, Torch easily escaped his cell by melting through the bars and hid out for a few days before attending the next race. There he again encountered the plane from the previous race, and destroyed it; the plane had been shooting incendiary rounds at the opposing cars. The pilot escaped, and Torch was forced to as well when the authorities arrived.

Torch was soon approached by a woman, Lola, claiming that her brother had been killed in a race by Ross. She led him to Ross' hideout, but it was a trap; she, Ross, and Red forced Torch into a vat of water and drove him to the outskirts of town. There they dumped him into a pit of boiling lime, believing this to be sufficient to kill him. Of course, it wasn't—Torch burned away the lime and escaped, donning a disguise to avoid further suspicion. He learned of an upcoming race in Auson City and traveled there, finding Ross just as the race began. He chased down Ross' car, but was again caught in a trap, as Ross' men this time threw him in a vat of molten steel. Torch again escaped, but not before Ross himself again escaped. Johnson soon arrived and informed Torch that he was now working undercover for the police. Johnson suggested that Ross had made a break for the airport, and Torch quickly made his way there, barely arriving in time to take down Ross' plane with a fireball. Ross again tried to escape in a car, but Torch set it on fire. A panicked Ross begged for his life, and Torch agreed on the condition that he sign a confession. Ross agreed, and was taken into custody.

While traveling in Texas, Torch met with explosives manufacturer Mr. Carson on a train. Suddenly, the train was attacked by Martians who were looking to claim Carson's formula for super T.N.T.. Torch was able to repel them however, and Carson gave him the formula shortly before dying from his injuries in the attack. Torch brought the formula to Carson's daughter Diane in Galeton, who moments prior had been accosted by Mr. Ritton for said formula. The two decided to test the formula in the field, but were attacked once more by Martians, who captured and abducted Torch on behalf of Ritton, who was acting as their agent on Earth. Ritton sought the super T.N.T. for his own personal gain, while the Martians aimed to use it to destroy a celestial body that was on a collision course with Mars. They later apprehended Diane as well, but Torch was able to free her and himself and defeat Ritton, leaving him at a hospital. The Martians were remorseful for their actions and did not support Ritton's goals. Torch agreed to give them the formula, recognizing the advantage to taking it off of Earth for good.

When Torch returned to New York, he found that it was under martial law due to a new scourge known as the Green Flames. Confronted by police upon his entrance to the city, Torch devised the secret identity of Jim Hammond per the advice of his ally Johnson. He then quickly confronted one of the Green Flames a question, a man doused in green "fire" who was freezing cold to the touch. Having appeared where "Jim Hammond" once was, Torch was accused of murdering Hammond by the police inspector, putting him on the run once more. He went to Johnson's home, where he met Maizie, an undercover officer who explained that the mad chemist Dr. Manyac was responsible for concocting the Green Flame and employing a criminal army covered in it. Learning of the Torch's presence, Manyac was forced to enact his plan more quickly, sending the Flames into the city to wreak havoc and kidnapping Maizie. Torch was thus able to rescue Maizie and apprehend Manyac, effectively ending the Green Flame threat.

Johnson soon acquired a distress signal over ham radio from a small island town in Lake Superior named Orton, the people of whom were suffering from a pneumonia outbreak and shortage of medical supplies due to a mighty blizzard. Johnson and Torch commandeered a plane to Orton loaded with supplies, but crashed in the blizzard and were robbed by a pair of criminals, Hank and Blake. Torch was able to track them down and reclaim the medicine for the town, and the two men drowned in the freezing lake.

Some time later, Torch heard of an incendiary bomb being developed in Midtown. While driving there, he witnessed a forest fire and leapt into action. Saving the volunteer firefighters, Torch learned that there was a bank robbery happening in Midtown simultaneously. It turned out that the fire was a deliberate distraction from the robbery, committed by criminals Patch and Turgo. The two men also robbed bank president Barton of plans for the incendiary bomb, which had been entrusted to him by its inventor. Patch and Turgo attempted to test the bomb on the town, but were thwarted by Torch, who chased them down and killed them, destroying the plans in the process.

Torch soon expressed his desire to join the New York Police Department, and through his friendship with Pete Johnson, took the necessary exams and passed with flying colors. As a full-fledged policeman, Torch was soon made enemies with by Roglo, a crooked politician who uses his influence to control the police. Torch met with police chief John Wilson, who encouraged him in confidence to use his powers to do things other officers couldn't do. Later, Torch infiltrated Roglo's base, only to find a trap that doused his flame. As Roglo left for a prior engagement, his men, including Red, chained Torch up and attempted to kill him with an electric saw. But Torch was able to recover his power in time, burning through the chains and following the fleeing Red to Roglo. Roglo was in the process of burning down a building that he had recently bought insurance on, attempting to claim the money through arson. Roglo killed Red when he learned of his failure, and knocked out Torch as he entered, aiming to frame him for the arson. Torch recovered in time however and apprehended Roglo for murder, arson, and insurance fraud.

Upon returning to the precinct with Roglo, Torch learned of Namor the Sub-Mariner wreaking havoc across the city. Torch hadn't heard of Namor before, but wasted no time traveling around the city fixing the various problems that Namor caused. He also met with his police colleague Betty Dean—also the one human to come the closest to knowing Namor personally—who warned him of Namor's power and tried to assure him that there was good in him somewhere. Torch finally was able to confront Namor on a suspension bridge, battling with him briefly before the Sub-Mariner retreated to the water, having seemingly underestimated the Torch. Their battle continued across land, air, and sea, reaching a deadlock when Namor trapped the Torch inside an airtight cylinder: Torch couldn't escape, but Sub-Mariner couldn't release him without triggering his flame. Betty Dean and other officers arrived on the scene and convinced Namor to leave, with Dean vowing that Torch wouldn't bother him if he left peacefully. Namor complied, returning to the sea.

After the confrontation with Namor, Torch returned to his policeman duties and learned of a syndicate trying to raise the price of gas across town. One station had refused to comply and had been destroyed with a grenade. Torch tracked down the leadership of the gasoline syndicate, unraveling a multi-layered conspiracy and bringing those responsible to justice.