9:28 PM
Brad
Cover Date: January 1963
Plot Overview: Johnny Storm is at the bank when Paste-Pot Pete enters the scene to rob the bank. Storm can't turn into the Human Torch because it will expose his secret identity. Pete makes his escape and Storm uses his flames to have a fake Human Torch chase him. Pete escapes on a motorcycle until Storm can finally become the Human Torch.
Pete arrives on a military base and uses his paste to subdue the guards. He steals a top secret missile and plots to sell it to the highest bidding nation. The Human Torch arrives and makes several failed attempts at stopping Pete's truck and the stolen missile. Storm flames expire and Pete glues him to a missile. The missile accidently fires with Storm still attached. Storm regains his flames and manages to escape the missile.
The Torch melts the truck around Pete and ruins his tank with his flames. Pete has one last shot and uses it to grab on to a plane. The Torch runs to the radio tower and warns the plane that Pete has attached himself to the wing. Pete bails out as the plane turns around.
Pete climbs aboard a getaway boat and escapes into the fog. The government thanks the Human Torch for his help and he wonders if Pete will return as the issue comes to a close.
My Take: Paste-Pot Pete as presented in this issue is completely ridiculous. He is the worst excesses of Silver Age super villain creation. I would actually have expected him to show up in a DC book the way he's presented. He comes across like a Batman villain from that era.
The art was really poor in this issue. It felt really rushed and there were no real backgrounds to speak of. Considering the art in some of the other issues from this month it was easily the worst issue to come out.
The story was typical for an anthology title. Quick paced and a lot of action. It works even if Pete is really lame as a villain. The Human Torch is actually working really well as a solo character. I have to admit that I'm surprised by that. I always thought that he needed the other members of the Fantastic Four to play off of to be interesting. I do hope that the Thing starts to show up a little more in this title though. I like the way the two interact with each other.
Back to the story. It was very typical of the early 60s. Bad guy wants to sell top secret military plans to the Communists and the hero foils him. I don't think Paste-Pot Pete was right for this story in that regard though. It was a little ridiculous seeing a guy break into a military base using only glue. They did sort of reference how ridiculous it seemed in the issue but it was still pretty ridiculous to me. Even with Pete's flaws it was still a fairly fun little read and I only rolled my eyes a handful of times.
I'd give this ** out of *****
Notes: This is the first appearance of Paste-Pot Pete. He'll eventually assume the identity of the Trapster and become an iconic C list super villain. Okay, I might be exaggerating there slightly. For me, the Trapster is the poster child for your C or D list Marvel villain. His primary targets as a villain are the Fantastic Four and Spider-Man. He'll have a stint in the Frightful Four and the Sinister Six. He's also appeared on several of the Marvel cartoons.
Next Issue: Fantastic Four #11
Posted in: Human Torch,Strange Tales,Trapster
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