MRL - Strange Tales (1951) #101-106

[sonotadream]

Strange Tales (1951) #101-106 - Stan Lee/Jack Kirby/Larry Lieber

Starting in October of 1962, the Human Torch starts having his own solo feature in the Strange Tales anthology book.

Johnny lives in Long Island with his sister and keeps his hero identity a secret - or so he thinks! Turns out, everybody in Glenville knows he’s the Human Torch, they were just being polite by not bringing it up, lol.

(Also, there’s a note in the first issue saying his formerly seen buddies have already graduated)

There are some fun adventures in these stories. Johnny comes off well, still hot headed but smart enough to figure things out on his own, with just the occasional Fantastic Four cameo.

Both the Wizard and Paste-Pot-Pete are introduced here. Fun fact: the Wizard is introduced as having the most impressive brain in the world, but still thinks starting beef with a teenager is good idea.

Johnny also visits the Fifth Dimension and almost has a thing with a pretty girl and meets an evil acrobat that tricks him into leaving the team (temporarily).