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Comics:Marvel Comics Vol 1 1

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"The Human Torch"
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—

Image:Quote1.png No Horton, I'll be free, and no one will ever use me for selfish gain - or crime! Image:Quote2.png
-- Human Torch

Appearing in "The Human Torch"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Villains:

  • Sardo - (First appearance) (Death)
  • Red - (First appearance) (Death)

Other Characters:

  • Mr. Harris (First and only known appearance to date)
  • Unknown press members
  • Unknown Firemen
  • Unknown policemen
  • Unknown citizens

Locations:

  • United States of America (First appearance)
    • Professor Horton's laboratory (First appearance)
    • Sardo's personal estate (First appearance)
    • Harris' warehouses (First appearance)
    • Spruce Street (First appearance)
    • Police headquarters


Synopsis for "The Human Torch"

Professor Horton is holding a conference with the press, ready to reveal his creation to the world - the first android. He reveals that there is difficult problem with his discovery. Leading the press into the lab, Horton points to a man in an air-tight, glass cage whom he calls The Human Torch. When air is let into the chamber, the man's entire body catches fire. The press in the room demand him to destroy his creation "before some mad man can grasp its principles and hurl it against our civilization!" The scientist refuses. Later, he is contacted by The Scientists' Guild, who come that evening. They also recommend destruction of the android since the flames cannot be controlled.

They come to a compromise. The Human Torch is sealed within a steal tube which is then sealed in a block of concrete. Horton vows to find the secret to controlling the flame.

However, some time later there is an explosion outside Horton's bedroom window. He finds the Torch gone. It is revealed that there was a slow oxygen leak in the steel tube. The Torch runs through the streets of the city, confused as to why everything he touches catches on fire. Some firemen douse him with water, but it just turns into steam. Realizing he is causing damage, the Torch dives into a pool in an effort to put out the flame.

Inside the house with the pool, there are two men: Sardo, a business men, and Red, his not-so-smart lieutenant. Sardo realizes the Torch could be worth a lot of money, if used correctly. The two men go to Acmen Warehouses - Inc. to sell some fire insurance. Sardo threatens that if the company doesn't buy it, they won't have any steel left. Mr. Harris, the company's president, refuses the offer and kicks the man out.

Sardo and Red place The Human Torch in a glass tube filled with water and transport him to a warehouse. There, they place him inside and throw a weight at the glass. As it shatters, the Torch bursts into flame. He quickly realizes what they are up to, and escapes with a mighty leap. The flames make him lighter than air. He burns Sardo's house down, but can't seem to find the criminal himself, who is hiding in the steel underground lab. After taking care of Sardo's men, the Torch locates the lab. Sirens catch the attention of both men.

Horton and the firemen arrive on the scene. The professor notices a nitro-tank in the flames and rushes towards it, but the Torch gets there first and melts it before it can explode. The gas puts out his flames. The fire chief fires a gun at him, but the bullet melts on his super-heated skin. The Torch returns to Sardo, who attempts to bargain for his life. The man ends up throwing a tank of sulfuric acid at the flaming android, but it backfires and explodes before even reaching the target. Sardo is killed in the blast.

After using another tank of nitro, The Torch discovers he can now control the flames and throw fireballs. While walking down the street, covered in flames, he is surrounded by the police. The Torch apologizes and demonstrates his control over the fire. The police take him to court where he explains Sardo's evil plans. They let him live with Professor Horton, who takes full responsibility. The Torch explains his control over the fire to Horton, who sees it as a money-making opportunity. The Torch realizes that humans will only continue to use him for their selfish purposes and escapes through the ceiling to be free.

Appearing in "The Angel"

Featured Characters:

Villains:

Locations:

Items:




Synopsis for "The Angel"

The Six Big Men terrorize the city, but their plans are hindered by the Angel, a vigilante who stops at nothing to bring criminals to justice. The Angel knocks them off one by one. Their leader, Dr. Lang, aka "The Big Boss," sends his girl Lil out to help the Angel find ways to stop the Six Big Men. His overall plan is that after the Angel takes care of the Six Big Men, he and Lil will not have to split up the money with the gang. But the Angel outsmarts them and stumbles onto their plan and arrests Dr. Lang and Lil.

Appearing in "The Sub-Mariner"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Villains:

  • Unknown Captain
  • Rod Nelson - (First appearance) (Death)
  • Ev Carley - (First appearance) (Death)
  • Anderson (First appearance) (Death)
  • Peters (First appearance) (Death)

Other Characters:

  • Domma (named only)
  • Karal (First and only known appearance to date)
  • Capt. Leonard McKenzie (First appearance)(Appears in flashback and main story)
  • Unknown Atlanteans

Locations:

  • Atlantis (First appearance)
  • Antarctica (First appearance)
  • Cape Anna Lighthouse (First appearance)

Vehicles:

  • S.S. Recovery (First appearance)
  • S.S. Oracle (First appearance)

Synopsis for "The Sub-Mariner"

A salvage diver is the S.S. Salvage vessel are working a wreck for treasure when he finds an ancient knife and brings down another diver. They search the wreckage and then they are attacked by Namor, the Sub-Mariner! He savagely attacks both men, stabbing one and crushing the diving helmet of the other. Namor then turns his attention to the ship, wrecking the propeller and running it aground. He heads back to his underwater home, where he is greeted by the "Holy One" who commends him on his attack against the humans. Namor brings the bodies of the two divers as trophies. His mother, Fen, congratulates him on beginning his war of revenge in such a decisive manner. Namor asks her to tell him the story of their past once again, and why their people hate the white earth men so much.

She explains that in the year 1920, a research vessel called the Oracle had journeyed to Antarctica and was doing "experiments" with explosives that killed many of their fellow citizens. Since Fen looked most like a human, she was sent to find out more about what was going on. She fell in love with Capt. Leonard McKenzie, and she became pregnant by him. The sailors could not understand how she was able to swim in the freezing water. She learned their language and sent back messages to the undersea army that the white men were too strong for them, but they sent an army to fight them anyway. The white men annihilated the attack force, and now, 20 years later, they are ready once again to press an attack against them, and Namor will begin this war.

Later, he takes his cousin Dorma with him to make an attack on the Cape Anna Lighthouse. Once there, they attack the guards who stand watch on the lighthouse and wreak havoc on the controls and equipment hoping to destroy some of the ships that use it's beacon for safety. Some naval men come on the scene, and in order to escape, Namor and Dorma commandeer a bi-plane which flies nearby, killing the pilot. Dorma wrecks the plane as Namor swims back home in the ocean.

Appearing in "The Masked Raider"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Lightning (First appearance)
  • Steve (First appearance)

Villains:

  • Cal Brunder (First and only known appearance to date)
  • Slick (First and only known appearance to date)
  • Bends (Only appearance; dies)
  • Rowdy (Only appearance; dies)

Other Characters:

  • Lordin (First appearance)
  • Bleck (Only appearance; dies)

Locations:

Items:


Vehicles:




Synopsis for "The Masked Raider"

  • Synopsis not yet written.

Appearing in "Jungle Terror"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Villains:

Other Characters:

  • Mike - (Only appearance; dies)
  • Slug - (Only appearance; dies)
  • Natives

Locations:

Items:


Vehicles:




Synopsis for "Jungle Terror"

  • Synopsis not yet written.

Appearing in "Burning Rubber"

Featured Characters:

  • Bill Williams (First and only known appearance to date)

Supporting Characters:

  • Fred Turner (First and only known appearance to date)
  • Ann (First and only known appearance to date)

Villains:

Other Characters:

  • C.G. Clark (First and only known appearance to date)

Locations:

Items:


Vehicles:




Synopsis for "Burning Rubber"

  • Synopsis not yet written.

Appearing in "Adventures of Ka-Zar the Great"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Villains:

Other Characters:

  • Sha the lioness (First appearance)
  • Chaka the gorilla (First appearance)
  • Quog the wild pig (First appearance)
  • Nono the monkey (First appearance)
  • Kru the buzzard (First appearance)
  • Wal-Lah the hippopotamus (First appearance)
  • N'Jaga the leopard - (First and only known appearance to date)
  • Trajah the elephant (First appearance)
  • Mubangi (Only appearance; dies)

Locations:

Items:


Vehicles:




Synopsis for "Adventures of Ka-Zar the Great"

John and Constance Rand, along with their three-year-old son David, are flying to Cairo, when their aircraft crashed into a Belgian Congo jungle. Though all three survived the crash, Constance shortly died of her wounds. John decided to look after and dedicate his life to his son, teaching him how to survive in the wild. Permanently deluded after being hit by a falling tree, he made the jungle their home. David grew up, strong and healthy, in harmony with the jungle and the creatures dwelling inside it, even saving Zar the lion from a cruel death, trapped in quicksand.

One day, they both encountered a group of natives led by a fat white man. John tried to make them leave the sacred jungle before they profane it. The white man, Paul DeKraft, was a vicious criminal on a treasure hunt and would not so easily be convinced to turn back. So John Rand was shot in his sleep, and his son would have met the same fate if not for Zar. The lion, remembering the young man who saved his life, scared the whole gang away.

The feline later took the boy into his lair, accepting him as brother. He would now be called Ka-Zar, brother of Zar, and would earn the respect of all the jungle creatures.

Notes


Trivia

  • This issue is sometimes referred to as "Marvel Mystery Comics #1", as the next series' storyline is in Marvel Mystery Comics #2.
  • Some copies of this issue will have a blackened Oct. on the cover and instead have Nov. in its place. This is due to Timely selling out with over 80,000 issues sold in with the first printing in 1939. This prompted Timely to print a second printing with the Nov. date added.


See Also


Recommended Reading

  • None.


Links and References

  • None.
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