Strange Tales #117 (Human Torch) : SuperMegaMonkey : chronocomic

1964-02-01 00:01:30
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1964 / Box 2 / Silver Age
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Fantastic Four #23

Issue(s): Strange Tales #117 (Human Torch story only)
Cover Date: Feb 64
Title: "The return of the Eel!"
Credits:
Stan Lee - Writer
Dick Ayers - Penciler
Dick Ayers - Inker

Review/plot:
After hearing a news report saying that it has just been learned that the Eel is "now at large again", the Human Torch, very reasonably in my opinion, assumes that he broke out of jail. Sadly, the Eel was actually let out early for good behavior, and the Torch's "re-capturing" action is a bit embarrassing.

Looking for a way to save face, the Torch focuses on the fact that Stryke (i just want to point out that the Eel's civilian name is Leopold Stryke, which has to be up there among the top civilian names for villains) was wearing his costume when the Torch re-captured him, and reasons that it means that the Eel must be up to no good. And it's true; the Eel has a plan to steal somebody's stamp collection.

His success at that heist makes him overconfident, and he falls for a set-up by the Torch wherein he's lured to a penthouse where he expects to steal Prince Singh Ram of Turkistan's Ram Ruby, said to be the largest in the world.

The Eel must have an amazing fence considering the types of things he likes to steal.

The Eel escapes the Torch's trap thanks to the fact that his helicopter is armed with laughing gas.

Johnny throws a little fit after failing to capture the Eel.

But Sue notes that the Eel's helicopter has pontoons, meaning that the Eel must land it on the water, so Johnny realizes that he must be hiding at the aquarium. In the rematch fight, the Eel one-ups the Asbestos Man by revealing that his costume is covered in asbestos grease.

He's also wired his suit so that it gives an electrical charge. Unfortunately, the Torch's flame somehow screwed up the Eel's suit, causing the electric charge to backfire (Johnny somehow knew that this would happen).

The rest of the Fantastic Four congratulate Johnny on his victory by giving him a fishtank, which really isn't that good a gag.

These Strange Tales Torch stories are generally everything that a Silver Age Marvel comic is not. They're very bland, with no character development and simple art. Some of them are really out there, so crazy they're good, but others like this one are too straightforward to be memorable.

Like last issue, there's another instance where the Torch is seemingly a non-solid object when flamed on; he is able to fly out of a tiny chimney hole.