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| “ | Flame-on! | „ |
| ~ Johnny Storm's catchphrase. |
| “ | If you’re hearing this, I’m sorry, pal. Sorry that I’m gone. ‘Cause... well... I know how you feel when it comes to losing family. And that’s what you are to me. Family. So... if you’re thinking of this as my last will and all... I’m not leaving you my sports cars or stuff like that... I’m leaving you the best thing I ever had... My spot on this team. A place in this family. The best sister, two brothers, niece, and nephew a guy could ask for. They— We all love you, Pete. So? You up for it, bro? We’re all here for you. | „ |
| ~ Human Torch to Spider-Man. |
Jonathan Lowell Spencer "Johnny" Storm, better known as the Human Torch, is one of the main protagonists of the Marvel Universe, specifically serving as one of the titular main protagonists of the Fantastic Four franchise.
He is the brother of Susan Storm and one of founding members of the Fantastic Four. He is a reckless, mischievous superhero who enjoys tormenting the Thing - although incredibly self-centered and a little egocentric Johnny is still heroic and will fight to the death to protect his friends and family, as well as what he views as his - much like Spider-Man, Johnny is prone to mocking villains, sometimes providing a rather useful distraction, of course he can also get himself (and others) in trouble due to this trait as well.
Since his debut in the comics, he has appeared in numerous media. In the unreleased 1994 Fantastic Four film, he was portrayed by Jay Underwood. In the 2005 film and its sequel, Rise of the Silver Surfer, he was portrayed by Chris Evans, who would later portray Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In the 2015 reboot, he was portrayed by Michael B. Jordan, who also played Adonis Johnson Creed in the titular film series. In the 2025 Marvel Cinematic Universe film The Fantastic Four, he is played by Joseph Quinn, who also portrayed Eddie Munson in Stranger Things.
The character was created by the late Stan Lee, the late George Klein, the late Christopher Rule and the late Jack Kirby, and first appeared in Fantastic Four #1 in August of 1961.
Biography[]
Childhood[]
Jonathan Lowell Spencer Storm is the son of Dr. Franklin and May Storm, and the younger brother to Susan. The family lived on Long Island until May died in an automobile accident, and Franklin unable to save her life. Franklin became an alcoholic, and gambled the families' wealth, and forced Johnny and Susan to live with their aunt, Marygay Jewel Dickins. Living in Glenville, Johnny became attracted to automobiles, and became an expert mechanic. During his teenage years, he saved his friends from a burning building, and was saved from becoming the human host for Zarathos, by Max Parrish.
Becoming a Superhero[]
Johnny decided to join Dr. Reed Richards on his test flight to space with his sister, and pilot Ben Grimm. The crew were riddled with cosmic rays, due to Reed forgetting to place shields to deflect it. Johnny turned into a flamed monster when the ship was crashing, and decided to name himself the Human Torch, and founded the Fantastic Four with the others.
Adventures[]
Johnny became a volatile member of the team, due to him acting out, and left after battling Miracle Man. While on his own, he found Namor, and helped get his memory by dropping him into the sea. When Namor returned to Atlantis, he found in in disarray, and declared war on humanity. Johnny returned to the team to stop him, but left and joined his cousin, Bones' circus group. Despite enjoying his life as a circus performer, he returned to the team.
Being the youngest member, Johnny was still in Glenville High, and attempted to hide his dual identity from the public. This proved to be hard and pointless, as the team's public identities were learned pretty early on. Johnny would aid the team in fighting villains, such as the Puppet Master, Destroyer, Sandman, and many more. In high school, Johnny was bullied by Mike Snow, whom he accidently scarred when being pushed to his breaking point. Snow hid the incident since Johnny saved his life by flying him to the hospital.
Moving on in his life, Johnny dated Donnie Evans, but the relationship ended due to him disappearing to save the world. Around the same time, Johnny met Spider-Man, who had broke into the Baxter Building to impress the Fantastic Four. The two stopped the Fox, and became close friends despite the misunderstanding.
Johnny graduated from Glenville and went to Metro University, where he befriended his roommate, Wyatt Wingfoot. Johnny would invite Wyatt to come with him and the Fantastic Four to Wakanda, where they aided Black Panther to defeat Ulysses Klaue. Around this time, Johnny met and fell in love with Crystal, and Inhuman, and aided her alongside the team to overthrow Maxmius. The relationship was short lived, as Crystal returned home and married Quicksilver, and had children with him. Crushed, Johnny attempted to move on, and tried to rekindle his relationship with Donnie. He learned that she had married and had children, and Johnny left Metro University, but was still close to Wyatt.
He would join forces with Thing, Medusa, and Thundra to defeat Namor to make Reed and Sue make up from their separation. It was a success, and Johnny decided to look for a direction in his life, he attended a high class Security College. The college as a front for Monocle, an agent of Enclave, and Johnny was taken under their control. Spider-Man freed the Human Torch from their control, and the latter joined the team to stop the Skrulls from invading.
In other media[]
Ultimate Spider-Man game[]
Human Torch first appears at Midtown High School, challenging Spider-Man to a race. After being beaten, he tells Peter he could come challenge him again at the Baxter Building. If you got there and beat him a second time, Peter asks if he can ask Johnny's sister out.
Powers and Abilities[]
Johnny can encase himself in a fiery aura and fly. While surrounded by this fiery aura he has complete control over the flames, and can make them as hot as he desires - even going as far as becoming a supernova if he wants, though he risks serious damage doing so. He can also control existing flame within his range of vision and shape them into varied forms. He also has the ability to set things on fire via concentration and see heat-patterns, though this is done less often.
Love-Interests[]
Portrayals[]
Films[]
- In the 1994 Roger Corman Fantastic Four film, he was portrayed by Jay Underwood.
- In the 2005 Fantastic Four film and its sequel Rise of the Silver Surfer, he was portrayed by Chris Evans, who also played Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Curtis Everett in Snowpiercer, and also voiced Casey Jones in TMNT and Buzz Lightyear in Lightyear.
- Evans reprised his role as the character in the MCU film Deadpool & Wolverine.
- In Superhero Movie, he was portrayed by Simon Rex.
- In the 2015 Fantastic Four film, he was portrayed by Michael B. Jordan, who also played Steve Montgomery in Chronicle, Adonis Johnson Creed in the Creed films, Guy Montag in Fahrenheit 451 and Elijah "Smoke" Moore in Sinners.
- In the 2025 Marvel Cinematic Universe film The Fantastic Four: First Steps, he is portrayed by Joseph Quinn, who also played Eddie Munson in Stranger Things.
Television[]
- In the 1967 Fantastic Four animated series, he was voiced by Jack Flounders.
- In the 1990s Fantastic Four animated series, he was voiced by Brian Austin Green (who also played Bumblebee in Saturday Night Live) in season one and by Quinton Flynn (who also voiced Raiden in the Metal Gear series, Silver the Hedgehog in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, Mickey Mouse in Mickey Mouse Works, Marcus Damon in Digimon Data Squad, Meriadoc Brandybuck in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: The Video Game, and Elmer Fudd and Swiper the Fox in Robot Chicken) in season two.
- Flynn reprised his voice for the character in the 90s Spider-Man series and the 2005 Fantastic Four tie-in game as a bonus playable version of the character.
- In 2006 Fantastic Four animated series, he was voiced by Christopher Jacot.
- In The Super Hero Squad Show, he was voiced by Travis Willingham, who also voiced Roy Mustang in Full Metal Alchemist, Guile in the Street Fighter series, Knuckles the Echidna in Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic Boom, King Roland II in Sofia the First, Reggie Rowe in inFamous: Second Son and Doom 2099 in Marvel Rivals.
- Willingham also voiced the character in Pinball FX 2.
- In The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, he was voiced by David Kaufman, who also voiced Stuart Little in the titular animated series, Danny Phantom in the titular animated series, and Max Justice in Hot Wheels: Velocity.
- Kaufman previously voiced the character in Ultimate Spider-Man and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2.
- In Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H., he was voiced by James Arnold Taylor, who also voiced Obi-Wan Kenobi and Plo Koon in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Ratchet in Ratchet & Clank, Johnny Test in the titular animated series, and Milo James Thatch in Atlantis: Milo's Return.
Video Games[]
- In the 2000 Spider-Man video game, he was voiced by Daran Norris, who also voiced Cosmo, Jorgen Von Strangle, and Mr. Turner in The Fairly OddParents.
- In Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects, he was voiced by the late Kirby Morrow, who also voiced Goku in Dragon Ball Z Ocean dub, Trowa Barton in Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3, Jason Jenkins in Kong: The Animated Series, Jay in Class of the Titans, Champ Bear in Care Bears: Adventures in Care-a-lot, Anakin Skywalker in Lego Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles and Lego Star Wars: Droid Tales.
- In Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, he was voiced by Josh Keaton, who also voiced young Hercules in the titular animated film, Spider-Man in The Spectacular Spider-Man, Jak in Jak & Daxter, Valerian Mengsk in the StarCraft series, Anduin Wrynn in the World of Warcraft series, Nightwing in Batman: Arkham Origins, and HYDRA Stomper in What If...?
- In the Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer tie-in video game, he was voiced by Michael Broderick.
- In Marvel Super Hero Squad Online, he was voiced by Antony Del Rio, who also voiced young Kratos in God of War: Ghost of Sparta.
- In Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth, he was voiced by Roger Craig Smith, who also voiced Chris Redfield in the Resident Evil series, Ezio Auditore da Firenze in the Assassin's Creed series, Sonic the Hedgehog in the titular franchise, Batman in Batman: Arkham Origins, and Kyle Crane in Dying Light.
- Smith reprised his voice for the character in Lego Marvel Super Heroes.
- In Marvel Heroes, he was voiced by Matthew Yang King, who also voiced Kung Lao in Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms, and Liu Kang and Fujin in Mortal Kombat 11.
- Ying reprised his voice for the character in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order.
Quotes[]
| “ | Johnny Storm... The Human Torch... ...not a thief... not a spoiled kid... not a quitter... ...a hero. | „ |
| ~ Human Torch. |
| “ | In other words, gang... ...look out, world, the Fantastic Four are back! | „ |
| ~ Human Torch. |
| “ | So this is it. A billion to one... you think I'm afraid of that? You think I'm afraid of that?! Flame on! | „ |
| ~ Human Torch. |
Trivia[]
- Ranked 46th greatest comic book hero by IGN.
- Ranked 90th greatest comic book character by Wizard magazine.
- The powers of the founding Fantastic Four members are based on one of the four elements, with The Human Torch's being fire.
External Links[]
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 Heroes
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Comics Later Main Team Members Movies Television | ||
