The Torch

Anyone else getting this book?

For me this has been a real surprise packet. I did not go in with high hopes but was interested enough to check it out and it's turned out to be pretty good.

I think all the reasoning used for bringing Jim Hammond back has been pretty sound (makes more sense than why Toro's back). I liked the idea that it actually made no sense that an android was "dead". I also like the idea put forward this issue that Hammond's presence actually triggers Toro's mutant ability.

That art's been solid and suitable for the title and the villain, The Mad Thinker, has had a bit more depth to him than you'd normally see.

I really think AIM need to update their look though. Those helmet things really look ridiculous.

Aussiemandias wrote:Anyone else getting this book?

For me this has been a real surprise packet. I did not go in with high hopes but was interested enough to check it out and it's turned out to be pretty good.

I think all the reasoning used for bringing Jim Hammond back has been pretty sound (makes more sense than why Toro's back). I liked the idea that it actually made no sense that an android was "dead". I also like the idea put forward this issue that Hammond's presence actually triggers Toro's mutant ability.

That art's been solid and suitable for the title and the villain, The Mad Thinker, has had a bit more depth to him than you'd normally see.

I really think AIM need to update their look though. Those helmet things really look ridiculous.

I'm really liking this book too. Carey's done a great job with the Mad Thinker, he's made him into a truly menacing villain in just 3 issues. I really like the way Thinker is going about this plot with harnessing the Horton cells used to create Jim Hammond. And yeah it was cool to see how The Torch triggers Toro's abilities. I always enjoy that kind of logical pseudo-science in my books.

I was kinda bummed to see what happened to that guy Toussant, cuz he was an interesting character, but it seems like he's not quite done yet so that's good. Plus, next issue should be pretty crazy since it looks like we might see another classic Torch/Namor battle.

Bigtymin504 wrote:
I was kinda bummed to see what happened to that guy Toussant, cuz he was an interesting character, but it seems like he's not quite done yet so that's good. Plus, next issue should be pretty crazy since it looks like we might see another classic Torch/Namor battle.

Agree about Toussant but like you say something's happened to him so I don't think it's the last we'll see of him. It was interesting that he was introduced because he could have been a bit superfluous but it appears Carey's got more in store for the character.

Aussiemandias wrote:

Bigtymin504 wrote:
I was kinda bummed to see what happened to that guy Toussant, cuz he was an interesting character, but it seems like he's not quite done yet so that's good. Plus, next issue should be pretty crazy since it looks like we might see another classic Torch/Namor battle.

Agree about Toussant but like you say something's happened to him so I don't think it's the last we'll see of him. It was interesting that he was introduced because he could have been a bit superfluous but it appears Carey's got more in store for the character.

Another thing I'm really looking forward to is seeing how this story and Brubaker's Marvels Project relate to eachother. That book has been an instant classic IMO. Hopefully once this Torch book is done, we get to see Bru taking parts of the story and running with them. He's really mastered these Golden Age concepts and seems to be building to something big with them.

Issue #4 was another good issue. Ross and Carey are really doing a good job on this series bringing back Jim Hammond. Patrick Berkenkotter's art, which I've never seen before, seems to fit the style of book quite well although I wouldn't say it's a style I'd normally be that big a fan of. He has a very simple but realistic style and I have to admit draws some really nicely structured panels (I really liked the panel where Jim and Tom have just landed in the DB offices with flames still coming off Tom).

Anyway, everyone seems to be doing very good work on this book. I'm interested to see if we'll get to learn the full extent of Tom Raymond's powers by the end of the series which appear to be more than just being a Human Torch clone.

#5 was good too. Its awesome seeing all the "Torches" (original, Toro, and Johnny Storm) together. Cool to see Johnny meet his idol Jim Hammond. Plus the revelation that the Torch is slowing "dying" was a surprise...he just got back! Haha I'm pretty sure they'll resolve that by the end though. I wonder what role, if any, he'll have in the MU after this.

The Torch #6

This book has lost some of its early steam, but it's still an enjoyable read. Nice to see the Torch and Toro teaming up again. I hope they figure out how to cure whatever is killing Jim Hammond, there are a lot of potentially great stories to be told with him in the present. This whole New Berlin concept is pretty cool…not to mention the Inhuman Torch! I wonder if it’s just a play on Torch’s name or if he’s really an Inhuman. The latter would be pretty interesting.

Bigtymin504 wrote:The Torch #6

This book has lost some of its early steam, but it's still an enjoyable read. Nice to see the Torch and Toro teaming up again. I hope they figure out how to cure whatever is killing Jim Hammond, there are a lot of potentially great stories to be told with him in the present. This whole New Berlin concept is pretty cool…not to mention the Inhuman Torch! I wonder if it’s just a play on Torch’s name or if he’s really an Inhuman. The latter would be pretty interesting.

I agree - not bad but has definitely lost some momentum. I'm thinking this maybe should have just been a six issue mini.

Aussiemandias wrote:

Bigtymin504 wrote:The Torch #6

This book has lost some of its early steam, but it's still an enjoyable read. Nice to see the Torch and Toro teaming up again. I hope they figure out how to cure whatever is killing Jim Hammond, there are a lot of potentially great stories to be told with him in the present. This whole New Berlin concept is pretty cool…not to mention the Inhuman Torch! I wonder if it’s just a play on Torch’s name or if he’s really an Inhuman. The latter would be pretty interesting.

I agree - not bad but has definitely lost some momentum. I'm thinking this maybe should have just been a six issue mini.

Yeah I think so too, this story could have been told in 6 issues.

Bigtymin504 wrote:

Aussiemandias wrote:

Bigtymin504 wrote:The Torch #6

This book has lost some of its early steam, but it's still an enjoyable read. Nice to see the Torch and Toro teaming up again. I hope they figure out how to cure whatever is killing Jim Hammond, there are a lot of potentially great stories to be told with him in the present. This whole New Berlin concept is pretty cool…not to mention the Inhuman Torch! I wonder if it’s just a play on Torch’s name or if he’s really an Inhuman. The latter would be pretty interesting.

I agree - not bad but has definitely lost some momentum. I'm thinking this maybe should have just been a six issue mini.

Yeah I think so too, this story could have been told in 6 issues.

Hey after saying this I actually thought issue #7 wasn't bad at all. I have really enjoyed the portrayal of the Mad Thinker in this mini series - he's actually been a fun villain - he was in classic form in this issue. I don't know why they give bad guys like this unsupervised access to labs - there's no telling what they can whip up while nobody's watching!

Anyway, not a bad issue and I continue to find myself enjoying the art although it's the kind of art I would normally not be too excited by. Not sure what it is but I really don't mind it. Suits the book I guess.

Aussiemandias wrote:

Bigtymin504 wrote:

Aussiemandias wrote:

Bigtymin504 wrote:The Torch #6

This book has lost some of its early steam, but it's still an enjoyable read. Nice to see the Torch and Toro teaming up again. I hope they figure out how to cure whatever is killing Jim Hammond, there are a lot of potentially great stories to be told with him in the present. This whole New Berlin concept is pretty cool…not to mention the Inhuman Torch! I wonder if it’s just a play on Torch’s name or if he’s really an Inhuman. The latter would be pretty interesting.

I agree - not bad but has definitely lost some momentum. I'm thinking this maybe should have just been a six issue mini.

Yeah I think so too, this story could have been told in 6 issues.

Hey after saying this I actually thought issue #7 wasn't bad at all. I have really enjoyed the portrayal of the Mad Thinker in this mini series - he's actually been a fun villain - he was in classic form in this issue. I don't know why they give bad guys like this unsupervised access to labs - there's no telling what they can whip up while nobody's watching!

Anyway, not a bad issue and I continue to find myself enjoying the art although it's the kind of art I would normally not be too excited by. Not sure what it is but I really don't mind it. Suits the book I guess.

I'm with you man. This issue definitely picked things up. Thinker has been well written throughout but especially in this issue. And I actually really liked the addition of that new character Freya. She adds a bit of the human element to what the whole idea of New Berlin means, hopefully she makes it out of this series, maybe even ends up as a love interest for Toro.

Bigtymin504 wrote:
And I actually really liked the addition of that new character Freya. She adds a bit of the human element to what the whole idea of New Berlin means, hopefully she makes it out of this series, maybe even ends up as a love interest for Toro.

Certainly looks like it - "Richtig! I like them eager." LOL!

Well the series wound up with issue #8 and my take on the whole thing was that issues #1-4 were good, dropped off a lot for #5 & 6 and picked up again with #7 and 8. Like a lot of series of this size it was probably between 2 and 4 issues too long.

I think the star of the series was the Mad Thinker. Carey and co. really did a good job with him. He was entertaining and I felt that they made him a little more real than I've seen him before.

The character I was probably most interested in with this series was Toro. It was The Torch's book but for me Toro had the story that I was keen to see more of. Anyway, I think it's kind of weird now having three Human Torches running around the Marvel Universe. If Johnny Storm ends up being the FF member who leaves the group there are some automatic replacements!

Overall I'd probably say this series was okay. Not outstanding but not bad either. I can't see myself picking up the Invaders series.

Aussiemandias wrote:

Bigtymin504 wrote:
And I actually really liked the addition of that new character Freya. She adds a bit of the human element to what the whole idea of New Berlin means, hopefully she makes it out of this series, maybe even ends up as a love interest for Toro.

Certainly looks like it - "Richtig! I like them eager." LOL!

Well the series wound up with issue #8 and my take on the whole thing was that issues #1-4 were good, dropped off a lot for #5 & 6 and picked up again with #7 and 8. Like a lot of series of this size it was probably between 2 and 4 issues too long.

I think the star of the series was the Mad Thinker. Carey and co. really did a good job with him. He was entertaining and I felt that they made him a little more real than I've seen him before.

The character I was probably most interested in with this series was Toro. It was The Torch's book but for me Toro had the story that I was keen to see more of. Anyway, I think it's kind of weird now having three Human Torches running around the Marvel Universe. If Johnny Storm ends up being the FF member who leaves the group there are some automatic replacements!

Overall I'd probably say this series was okay. Not outstanding but not bad either. I can't see myself picking up the Invaders series.

Pretty much agree with you on everything here. The story lagged in the middle but the beginning and end were really good. Mad Thinker and Toro definitely stole the show too. I hope to see Toro and Freya develop a relationship after this.

I'm not sure about Invaders yet either, but that cover alone makes me want to get it. It should be interesting to see the old gang back together though.