JIM HAMMOND'S APARTMENT

"Flame On!" Jim Hammond felt the air around him ignite, his features and clothing engulfing in flame. His business suit burned away, but his red costume of unstable molecules remained.

The hired assassin known as Cinder narrowed his eyes. Apparition hadn't mentioned anything about this...Cinder had been told that this was to be a standard hit against some soft Oracle executive -- instead he'd found some guy claiming to be another Human Torch. Cinder's yellow flame burned brighter. "You're a mutant, too?"

The Human Torch tossed three fireballs at his attacker, noting that his living room was close to becoming an inferno. He hoped that his cat would be okay... "Sorry, pal, but no luck. I'm an android -- one of the first and still one of the best!"

The fireballs struck Cinder's fiery form, doing no damage. Instead Cinder merely absorbed the fireballs, adding them to his own body. "Not good enough, Mr. Hammond. I've had these powers since I was a kid...nothing you can do can hurt me."

The Human Torch couldn't resist a derisive laugh. "Is that so? Well, I was born with my powers -- over 50 years ago. My experience is a lot greater than yours. Truth be told, kid -- I'm playing with you."

Cinder narrowed his eyes, shooting twin beams of flame from his hands. "You're an arrogant bastard aren't you, Hammond?"

The Torch smiled as the fireblasts struck him. They tickled. "Not arrogant -- just honest." The Torch raised his hands, closing his eyes and concentrating. He felt for the flickering flame of Cinder's body, ignoring the young man's continuing attacks. He heard Cinder gasp in alarm and he opened his eyes to watch as Cinder's flame leapt from his body, merging with that of the Torch. "I can control flame, kid. That means yours, too."

Cinder howled, backing away. The fire was gone from him, just trace bits of flame flickering on his form. "How...?"

The Torch stepped forward and withdrew the flame from one of his fists. He delivered a powerful roundhouse to the killer's chin, sending him sprawling. While Cinder lay on his back, the Torch absorbed the rest of the flames that were in the apartment. He noted with interest that the sparkler system had failed -- he'd better report that to the landlord. The apartment was still ruined, though -- there were burns on the curtains, not to mention glass from the shattered window. He'd been planning to move anyway, but he still wasn't happy...

Hammond silenced his own flames and leaned down over Cinder, grabbing the youth by his hair. "Who hired you?"

"I told you...Killers Incorporated sent me." Cinder blinked in the harsh light, his over-developed senses reeling. "They told me to ice you for a special client."

Hammond shook him hard. Killers Incorporated...he remembered that name. Back in the 1940s he'd crossed paths with a bunch of petty gangsters who had adopted that name. Small-time hoods and easily dispatched. Still, there could be a connection. "Any word on who the client was?"

"No."

The Torch frowned. He'd figured as much...but maybe someone higher up would know more. "You're going to tell me where to find this Killers Incorporated -- and then you're going to jail."

Cinder sneered. "And why would I tell you anything?"

Hammond's frown transformed into a mischievous grin. "Because back in World War II we learned how to make guys talk...Want to see how?"

DENVER, COLORADO

Ann Raymond stared at herself in the mirror. Several long strands of gray hair was now mixed in with her normal brown locks, making her look even older than she was. The last few weeks had been rough on her...

Moving out from New York had been hard -- it had been like closing the book on her life with Tom. Tom Raymond, as the youthful sidekick to the original Human Torch, had operated under the name of Toro for years -- using his mutant abilities to aid mankind. He'd long since abandoned his heroic career by the time Ann and he had gotten married, but she'd always held a secret fear that he'd get caught up in the whole thing again...the constant fighting between Marvels...and she'd been right.

The Mad Thinker had drugged Tom and convinced him that he was the Torch -- sent him against the Sub-Mariner as part of some mad scheme. In the end, Tom's true nature had won out and he'd sacrificed himself by propelling the Mad Thinker's escape ship into a volcano. Ann had spent years hoping and praying he'd come back to her...but he never did.

The phone rang, making her jump. Her heart began pounding hard and she moved slowly towards the ringing phone. She whispered to herself, "Please, please be Jim...please..."

With a trembling hand, she lifted the receiver. "Hello?"

Silence, followed by a voice that made her heart skip a beat with both terror and joy. "Ann? You didn't call him, did you?" Tom Raymond's voice came through the phone lines -- different in some ways than she remembered...older and tinged with bitterness.

Ann felt tears sting her eyes. "No, no -- of course not. When...when are you coming home? You said it would be soon..."

"Yes, soon. I have some things to take care of -- you know how much I hate unfinished business." A pause. "Do you miss me?"

Ann nodded dumbly, her voice cracking. "God, yes. Why didn't you call in all these years? Why now?"

"Ann, try to be grateful that I called at all. Don't push me. Did you get the things I asked you for?"

Ann sighed, a terrible wracking sound coming from her throat. "All your old diaries and files? Yes. I've gotten them out of storage. Are you going to come and get them?"

"Soon, Ann. Soon." The line went dead abruptly.

Ann Raymond let the phone drop from her hand. It landed with a thud on the floor. "Oh my god..." she whispered. She closed her eyes tightly and prayed that Jim Hammond would come -- come and help her. Because right now she wasn't sure if she wanted this person to really be Tom...or not.

NEW YORK CITY

The citizens of New York are used to unusual sights -- and the sight of a flaming man flying overhead is nothing new to these jaded Gothamites. But the few who do take notice of the flaming figure this night almost make an incorrect assumption -- that this is Johnny Storm, the hotheaded youth from the Fantastic Four.

Jim Hammond wouldn't mind the confusion -- his ego had never been as large as Namor's. As long as he did his job, he was pleased. Personal recognition was fleeting and unimportant.

He saw the dark office building up ahead. K.I. Enterprises. The headquarters for Killers Incorporated, if Cinder was to be believed. He landed on the roof, his flame dissipating. He noted with some degree of interest that a spy camera was recording his every move. He flicked a fireball at the camera and watched as it burst into flame.

"Down we go." The Torch concentrated his flame on the rooftop, burning a hole straight through it. He dropped inside the gaping hole, landing on the top floor of the building, below the wiring and insulation.

"So you managed to defeat Cinder, did you? Not surprising -- now that I know you have your powers back. How did that happen, Torch?" The voice that filled the corridor sounded old and powerful, as if wrenched from the great beyond. Fog began to roll in around the Torch's legs.

The Torch narrowed his eyes. He scanned the corridor in both directions but saw no one. "Who are you?"

A vision seemed to materialize before him -- a cloak draped around an invisible body, gloves and a hat where hands and a head should be. "I am Apparition. It was I who sent Cinder after you."

The Torch ignited, a sense of impending danger washing over him. This Apparition, despite his parlor tricks, might be dangerous after all. "Mind telling me why? You might be able to talk me out of burning down this building and putting you out of business...but I doubt it."

Apparition chuckled, his laughter rolling throughout the hallway. "You can burn down this building all you like, Torch. I will merely rebuild and begin again. You can't stop me, you see -- you're responsible for my existence in the first place, after all. Thanks to you, I'm now a phantom -- my physical body dead and gone...but my soul still kept alive by my undying hatred of you."

The Human Torch moved into the air, flying in a circle around Apparition, encasing him in a wall of flame. "Why is it that every villain these days has a sob story? You're not going to tell me that I forced you into a life of crime, are you? I killed you, so I'm responsible for you forming a cartel of killers? Don't waste my time, Apparition."

The ghostly figure floated through the wall of flame. "Almost sixty years ago you defeated my cohorts and I -- the original Killers Incorporated. I was sent to prison, where I died in a brawl. But I got a second opportunity in Hell, Torch -- made a deal with the devil, so to speak. Now I'm back on earth with certain things to accomplish. One of them is getting my revenge on you."

Apparition raised a hand and moved it in a deadly arc, spraying ectoplasmic energy at the Torch. The greenish-yellow glop fastened itself to the Torch's flaming body, constricting.

The Torch struggled to no avail. _Whatever this stuff is, it tightens as I fight against it. I'm not willing to believe this guy is a walking/talking ghost just yet, but I'm starting to give him the benefit of the doubt._ The Torch relaxed and concentrated on his flame. It flared brighter and brighter, finally exploding outward. The ectoplasm shattered and burned.

Apparition was still floating there when the Torch hurtled towards him. The android hero collided with something decidedly physical and the two went through the wall, into an office. The Torch's blows set Apparition's hat and cloak afire and the ghost wrestled free, tossing aside his flaming clothing.

"Looks like you're pretty solid for a ghost, Apparition." The Torch continued pressing the attack, but suddenly noticed that the fireballs were now passing through the villain. "Density control, eh? Nice trick -- but hardly a supernatural one. I'll introduce you to the Vision sometime."

Apparition laughed again. "So you doubt my story, Torch? You'll learn eventually -- I have to admit I prefer it this way. When I first watched you and learned that you were now powerless, I had felt a keen sense of disappointment. But now...now I know I'll get my true revenge soon enough." Apparition's gloves winked out of existence, though his voice echoed for one moment more. "Don't look for me here in the future, Torch. I'm going to change my base of operations, I think. But you never know when I'll strike again...and you'll learn your fire is nothing compared to the flames in hell!"

The Torch allowed his flame to die out and sighed. He'd alert the Avengers -- warn them about both Appartion and Killers Incorporated -- but he wasn't sure how much good it would do. "Too bad I'm a more primitive android than even the Vision -- maybe I could talk Pym into making some modifications in my design. Sensors, scanners, something..."

The Torch rubbed his chin for a moment and then pushed the thoughts away. He'd have to let Apparition go for the moment -- he had to get home and take care of his apartment. The expenses were going to be enormous...But it could serve as a good excuse for him to leave town. Make a fresh new start.

He launched himself into the air, flying back home -- his mind all ready moving on to other things, including the strange phone call he'd received from Ann Raymond. Perhaps he could visit her until he'd made a decision about his future...She was in Denver these days and that might be nice. He'd never been there before.

From the rooftop behind him, Apparition watched in silence. The spectral villain seethed with rage and then floated away.

Jim Hammond sighed as he watched the airline attendant carry Leena off in her cage. The cat had become very dear to him over the last year and he could hear her fussing. He could have flown to Denver under his own power but he didn't want to carry her the whole way -- and he wasn't sure what kind of stamina he had with his returning powers just yet.

"She'll be fine, don't worry. I've had plenty of pets travel on my flights and they always do okay."

Jim turned at the sound of the pleasant female voice and gazed into the eyes of a dazzling brunette. She was shorter than he was, with shoulder length brown hair and dark eyes. She smiled. "My name's Sonya. I'm a flight attendant on your flight -- running late, I'm afraid."

Jim smiled in return. "My name's Jim. Jim Hammond." He held out a hand and she took it.

"Do you fly much, Mr. Hammond?"

"I used to fly all the time, then I got out of the habit. But I'm back into it these days..."

Sonya started walking, Jim beside her. "Well, I'm sure we'll have a very pleasant flight."

"I'm sure we will, Sonya. I'm feeling better about it all the time..."

NEXT ISSUE : The New Warriors guest-star as Jim Hammond takes them to task for their recent actions in Trans-Sabal (see New Warriors # 81-82)! Plus, Jim finds out more about the return (?) of Toro! Be here!

THE FLAMING LETTERCOLUMN

From Robin Sizemore :

I wish I could think of some more appropriate comments than "I enjoyed it," Barry, but I can't pick out anything that felt wrong to me, and praising the stuff I liked would take up too much space. I will admit, though, that I wish it'd been longer, so that the Torch could've wiped the floor with Cinder...

Thanks, Robin. Sorry the story seemed so short, but you got what you asked for this issue instead. :-)

I'm planning to beef up the Torch's rogues gallery, with a mixture of Golden Age revivals (like Killers Incorporated, sort-of) and all-new villains (like Cinder). I hope the new villains prove interesting.

Mark Bousquet wrote :

I love it, Barry. Definitely keep me on this list. The elder statesman position is perfect for Hammond and I look forward to seeing what he does with it and how it develops. You're dead on when you say that DC has long done this better than Marvel and I'm thrilled to see someone at MV1 doing something about this. Great to see Namor making an appearance, as well.

The only thing I didn't like, and it's not your fault, is the name of the series. I know you really can't call it HUMAN TORCH, but _The Original Human Torch_ seems a little ... bland, maybe? Maybe something a little more ... I dunno, Golden Age sounding would be a little more spicier? Something like _Human Torch Comics_, maybe? In the end it doesn't really matter because this should be a real fun ride. Can't wait to see where you go with all this, Barry.

Thanks for the kind words, Mark. Sorry about the title but I admit to having had a difficult time naming the book. In retrospect, _Human Torch Comics_ might have been more in keeping with the book's flavor but I figured that the OHT title made it clear right off the bat that this wasn't a Johnny Storm series.

Neil Gow, from across the ocean, sent these words :

Hmmm......nice concept!

One of the subtexts of MV1 that enthralls me the most is that we can take the best of all worlds in our writing styles - and the generational heroes thing is something that, as you quite rightly pointed out - DC does MUCH better than Marvel.

OHT fits into a wonderful niche of MV1 titles ( Liberators, Avengers 1958, Crusaders (ish) and Liberty Legion) that have firm historical roots. I like that a lot.

I suppose the real questions are....

1. Who will the 'young' heroes be?

2. Will there be another Invaders re-union?

3. In the Reese tradition, what Supporting Cast twists are we going to see?

Good work, could have been a bit longer, but I always say that 8)

I agree with you about the generational books in MV1 -- I'd love to see Marvel do more of the same. As for your questions :

1. Next issue guest-stars the New Warriors. After that, you'll have to wait and see. :-)

2. Hmmm. How about a definite maybe?

3. Now that would be telling! But look for more with Ann Raymond and a few surprises as well. The first four or five issues will set the status quo and introduce the overall themes of the series -- by issue six I'm expecting to have this book where I want it, in terms of supporting cast.

Barry Reese