| Issue | #2 |
| Published | November 1974 |
| Cover Price | 0.25 USD |
| Pages | 36 |
| Editing | Roy Thomas |
| Notes | Cover pencil credits from Nick Caputo (April 5, 2004). Original pencil credits went to: Gil Kane. |
| Characters | Wizard (disguised as Human Torch) |
| Synopsis | Cover pencils may be Larry Lieber, inks by Romita. I initially listed Romita as pencils and inks, but the?cop on the right has a distinctive Kirby-ish Leiber pose. information provided Aug 07 by Tony Caputo |
| Genre | Superhero |
| Script | Roy Thomas |
| Pencils | Larry Lieber |
| Inks | John Romita |
| Notes | Cover pencil credits from Nick Caputo (April 5, 2004). Original pencil credits went to: Gil Kane. |
| Characters | Human Torch [Johnny Storm]; Wizard (Origin, Intro); Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]; Destroyer (cameo) |
| Synopsis | As a crowd of theatre-goers watch a newsreel about Johnny (showing his adventure against The Destroyer), one in the crowd, The Wizard, thinks it would be a great challenge to match his skills against The Torch. The Wizard considers himself the world's greatest brain. He's designed an ultra-modern home, created inventions that have brought him fame and fortune, solved "impossible" puzzles, beaten chess champions and calculating robots, and even been a master escape artist. He sees beating Johnny as somehow "the ultimate achievement," and tricks Johnny into rescuing him when a digging machine he's trying out appeares to go wrong. Showing off his home in gratitude, he suddenly douses Johnny with flame-retarding chemicals! |
| Genre | Superhero |
| Script | Stan Lee (Plot); Larry Lieber (Script) |
| Pencils | Jack Kirby |
| Inks | Dick Ayers |
| Letters | Artie Simek |
| Editing | Stan Lee (Original Editor) |
| Notes | Part 1 of 2. First appearance (and origin) of The Wizard. Credits added, splash page reformatted and page numbers removed for this reprint. |
| Reprinted | from Strange Tales (Marvel, 1951 series) #102 (November 1962) |
| Characters | Human Torch [Johnny Storm]; Wizard; Invisible Girl [Sue Storm] |
| Synopsis | The Wizard makes Johnny a prisoner, and with a special suit, impersonates him, commits a bank robbery, performs a mass jail-break, extorts money from commuters on a bridge, all to make The Torch appear a criminal, and "prove" that he is superior to him. "You must have flipped your cork!" says Johnny. Later, The Wizard shows Johnny photos that prove he committed the crimes Johnny appears guilty of, but as Johnny won't kill an unarmed man, he'll have no choice but to watch as The Wizard burns the evidence. But the photos fly from The Wizard's hands on their own, and Johnny calls the police, turning over the pics and the Wizard. After they leave, we find he beat the Wizard with help-- from his sister! |
| Genre | Superhero |
| Script | Stan Lee (Plot); Larry Lieber (Script) |
| Pencils | Jack Kirby |
| Inks | Dick Ayers |
| Letters | Artie Simek |
| Editing | Stan Lee (Original Editor) |
| Notes | Part 2 of 2. With so much going for him, the only explanation for The Wizard turning to crime is what Johnny suggested-- he's nuts! Next appearance in Strange Tales #105 (February 1963). |
| Reprinted | from Strange Tales (Marvel, 1951 series) #102 (November 1962) |
| Characters | Original Human Torch [Jim Hammond]; Toro; Hyena (Intro); Lorraine Miller (owner, Miller Trucking); Mr. Lennox (manager) |
| Synopsis | A criminal called The Hyena is causing truck crashes, the latest of which resulted in the driver being killed. Although Lennox, the manager, advises Lorraine Miller, the company owner, to sell out, she's determined not to, and accepts help from The Torch and Toro. Following another crash, they capture 2 of the hijackers, and Lorraine figures someone inside the company tipped them to the truck's secret route. The Torch and Toro barely manage to save her life and capture the villains. After, The Torch says of Lorraine, "She's got everything it takes-- plus!" |
| Genre | Superhero |
| Pencils | Alex Schomburg |
| Editing | Stan Lee (Original Editor) |
| Notes | The Hyena's next appearance is in The Invaders Annual #1 (1977). The method of using a mirror to make vehicles crash was used in the Lon Chaney film The Monster (1925), and later reused in the 007 film Goldfinger (1964). |
| Reprinted | from Human Torch, The (Marvel, 1940 series) #30 (May 1948) |