12:01 PM
Brad
Plot Overview: Johnny Storm has a date with Doris Evans and arrives in style as the Human Torch. Doris isn't impressed at all and constantly complains about Johnny's "Flaming On". Johnny is torn on Doris. He appreciates her liking him for him but the glory hound in him is not pleased with the prospect of being a normal person. While on their date, her father gets into an argument with the gardener Samuel Smithers and fires him.
Smithers has been experimenting and trying to increase the I.Q. of plants. A freak accident suddenly makes his device work. He decides it's time to get revenge on Mr. Evans for firing him. Smithers dubs himself Plantman and robs the jewelry store that Mr. Evans works at. He leaves a watch behind so that the police suspect him.
Johnny promises to help Doris out and later encounters Plantman. Plantman uses the dew on the various plants to put out the Torch's flames. He then has the plants hold the Torch captive until he escapes. Johnny was beaten but he vows to win the next time he encounters Plantman.
Plantman takes over a local park and starts his plans of world domination. The Torch hears of the events and arrives on the scene. Plantman again manages to dose the flames of the Torch but this time Johnny has one last ace up his sleeve. He creates a giant fireball that wilts the plants in the area. The plants turn on Plantman for getting them into this situation. The Plantman flees and vows revenge.
Doris thanks Johnny and then complains about his "Flaming On" as he flies away as the Human Torch.
My Take: This issue was a really quick read for some reason. Sometimes, these older books can feel like a real chore to get through with all the text. This one felt like there was a little less text than normal. It made it a more enjoyable experience that's for sure.
The story was competent. It felt very monster of the week to me. Your standard bad guy gets powers and gets beaten by the hero. Plantman himself is a standard archetype of villain. He actually looks a lot like the Shadow in this book, only with green clothes. They give him a more super villain kind of getup later on.This issue also continues the trend of introducing some villains with a little staying power this month. Rama-Tut, the Porcupine, Crimson Dynamo and even Molto the Lava Man make some repeat appearances for Marvel throughout the 60s and into the 70s. I said it a few issues back but it's really nice to see Marvel introducing some super villains into the fold instead of having the good guys beat up on generic Communists all the time.
This was a pretty throwaway story though. It was a fun and quick read but I doubt I'll remember it a couple of weeks from now. It was more there to fill up space for a month. Don't mistake that as bad though. It was a competent story and I've easily read worse and will probably read worse.
The art was rock solid in this issue. Nothing looked terrible. The trees and plants attacking the Human Torch didn't look as ridiculous as it could have looked. There were some good backgrounds in this issue too. There always seemed to be something behind the characters. I noticed every little blank backgrounds throughout the issue.
I give this ** out of *****.
Notes: This issue marks the first appearances of Doris Evans and Plantman. I believe Doris Evans will hang around as a sort of love interest for the Human Torch for a little while. Plantman is another one of those C list villains that shows up off and on again. He'll eventually get hired by Count Nefaria and form a team with the Eel, Porcupine, Unicorn and Scarecrow. That team up is a favorite of mine and that happens in X-Men #22. Unfortunately that's in the far distant future but it's something to look forward to. I consider him to be another classic low level villain though.
Next Issue: Strange Tales Annual #2
Posted in: Doris Evans,Human Torch,Plantman,Strange Tales
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