Fantastic Four #14: Flame On 30

Fantastic Four #14, page 13, panel 3 Script: Stan Lee

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

It's time for another instance of Johnny bursting into flames that really should be cross-posted under 'Flamin' 'Eck'.

The Four (plus Alicia) are heading into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean, hunting for Namor. Unfortunately, Namor is the one hunting them, sending a giant needle-firing anenome and a whirlpool to challenge them. Therefore, Johnny decides that he's actually immune to the flame-dousing effects of water - as long as he burns white hot - and can actually do something about this underwater.

This is a trick that Stan's tried a couple of times to pull off, where Johnny burns so hot that the water evaporates around him. Unfortunately, he also goes to extreme lengths to make domestic amounts of water a threat to the Human Torch, culminating in a moment where a few drops of dew extinguish his flame. It's very hard to marry these two moments. But then again, it's very easy to ignore Strange Tales...

Assuming this actually works, what happens to all the salt in the waters? Surely Johnny should be covered in it!

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #14 on our twelfth episode: HYPNOFISH!!!

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_12.mp3]