LAST ISSUE : The Torch defeated the assassin named Cinder and learned of the apparent ghost known as Apparition. With the destruction of his New York apartment, the Torch is now arriving in Denver to visit Ann Raymond. Ann, however, has recently been plagued by a series of phone calls from someone claiming to be Toro, the Torch's former partner...

DENVER, COLORADO

Ann Raymond stood on the front porch of her home and felt her heart pound. She'd only seen Tom use his powers a few times and even then it had filled her with dread that he might rush off and fight Galactus or Dr. Doom...but it had been thrilling too. He'd looked so...full of energy, on the precipice between life and death. The fire had danced on his skin in a frightening, terrifying way -- but underneath the flickering flames Tom would smile at her in that lopsided way of his...and she'd smile back.

She saw Jim Hammond approaching, leaving a fiery trail in his wake, and she felt a similar thrill rush through her. Tom had talked so often about the Torch, almost reverently. When she'd finally met him for herself, she'd started to understand why. Jim Hammond was a hero. He made things right.

And right now, she needed him to do just that.

He landed softly in front of her, his flames disappearing. A broad smile was etched on his handsome features and Ann found herself admiring him in his red leotard. When he spoke, it was like he was a man coming home after a long voyage. Ann felt both touched and frightened. "Ann! You look great!"

Ann smiled wanly. "Thanks -- you're sweet to say that. You're looking good, too. I saw you a few times on SCN*, you know...kept up with you a little."

(*SCN stands for Super Channel Network.)

Jim laughed, "Well, you can see I got rid of the beard. It wasn't really me."

Ann nodded, feeling some of her depression lifting. He was here...the Human Torch was here with her -- and that meant that everything was going to be okay. "I think you're right. You look better without it. Want to come inside?"

Jim followed her in, admiring the surroundings. "Thanks. Your place is gorgeous -- what made you move out west?"

Ann shrugged. She felt self-conscious suddenly. It occurred to her how lonely Jim Hammond must be -- he looked as youthful as ever, while she had aged considerably in a short period of time. What must it be like to watch all your friends and lovers grow old and die while you stayed forever young? "I don't know. I wanted to get out of New York...I was associating it with Tom too much, I think."

The Torch noted the catch in her voice and frowned. "You called me about Tom, didn't you? What's wrong?"

Ann sighed, feeling tears coming again. She hated that, hating the crying -- but it was all she did these days. The words tumbled out of her in a rush. "He's alive...or someone claiming to be him is. He started calling about two months ago, being vague...wanting me to get together his papers and things..."

Jim shook his head, placing a firm hand on her shoulder. "No. Toro's dead. Tom is dead. Do you understand that, Ann? Whomever is doing this isn't Tom."

Ann looked up at him. "Did you ever go and look for his body, Jim? Did you?"

The Torch looked away. "No. But there's no way he could have survived. He was weak and hurt...he directed the Mad Thinker's plane right into a volcano, Ann. He died."

"How do you know that? He had fire powers, didn't he? Couldn't he have absorbed most of the explosion and have just been injured? For God's sake, Jim, you hang around with people who come back from the dead every day! The Avengers came back, didn't they? What about the Fantastic Four? All of them! Why can't Tom come back?"

Jim stared at her. She was near hysteria. "Ann. Calm down. If it's Tom, then where has he been all these years? And why hasn't he come home all ready?"

Ann shrugged. "I don't know. He won't tell me...he just says that he's got 'unfinished business' and that he'll come home after that."

"Have you tried tracing his calls?"

"No...Do you think I should?"

Jim nodded. "Definitely. I don't believe it's Tom out there, Ann. He would have come back to you by now. He would have contacted me...Someone is playing a very sick game -- and they're going to get burned. I promise you that."

Ann sank into his arms, feeling how warm his arms still were. She buried her face in his chest and she felt Jim's arms come awkwardly around her. "You'll stay, won't you, Jim? Until we find out what's going on?"

"Of course I will. I have some business to take care of here in Denver anyway -- and after that, I'm all yours."

Ann looked up at him with a look of such pain that the Torch almost backed away. "He warned me not to call you...said that if I did, he'd never come back. Do...do you think I did the right thing?"

Jim leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "You did the right thing, Ann." He closed his eyes then and tried to silence the turmoil in his own soul...Toro. Tom. Alive. He couldn't, wouldn't, believe that Tom would ever put Ann through this. Never.

TAYLOR FOUNDATION OFFICES -- NEW WARRIORS HQ, DENVER

The upper three floors of the Taylor Foundation have undergone extensive renovation as of late, becoming home to the youthful group of heroes known as the New Warriors. While that information is not common knowledge, it's also not a secret to those with Avengers Security Clearance.

The Human Torch landed on the roof, his mind still awash with mixed emotions. He had to put Ann's problem out of his mind for now, though -- he'd contacted the Avengers West Coast all ready and they were sending him some state-of-the-art phone tracing equipment, so it was only a matter of waiting now.

Jim heard someone clearing their throat and he looked about to see two of the Warriors' finest. The armored youth known as Night Thrasher regarded him coldly, while a well built young man of obvious Native American background stood near by.

Thrasher spoke first. "What can we do for you, Torch? Is this official FF business?"

The Torch started for a moment, but then remembered that he hadn't doused his flame. He did so and continued, "I'm not Johnny Storm -- I'm Jim Hammond, the original Human Torch."

Thrasher grunted. "The android."

The Torch frowned somewhat. He'd heard that Thrasher was something of a hard case -- but Jim felt sure he could be reasoned with. Heck, if Namor could be reasoned with, anyone could be. "Yes, the android. I've come to talk to you about a few things."

"Such as?"

"First, your actions recently in Trans-Sabal*. They were reckless and foolish. Second," The Torch reached inside a hidden pouch on his uniform and withdrew a plush doll -- it was a tiny Speedball toy. "I'd like to know why you're suddenly marketing your image** -- you've never seemed to be glory hounds in the past."

(*See New Warriors # 81-82. **Check out New Warriors # 83 for more.)

Proudstar was speechless. On the one hand, he'd heard of the original Torch -- who hadn't? -- but on the other hand, he felt his pride forcing a response. "Who the heck are you to call us on the carpet? What business is it of yours?"

Hammond stared at him. He could see that Proudstar was an honorable guy -- that much was evident in his bearing and in his eyes -- but he was also proud and troubled. Again, the image of Namor came to Jim's mind. "I've been in the hero business since the late '30s. I've seen it all, from the guys who played it straight and survived until they could retire...and I've seen the guys who fell along the way. I've taken it upon myself to make sure that the young heroes of today become the older heroes of tomorrow -- and not the villains."

Thrasher grunted. "Very noble of you. Come inside, Torch. We can talk this thing through."

The Torch smiled. He was glad this was going well -- he'd prepared himself for the requisite 'hero meets hero, hero fights hero' scenario that always seemed to play itself out, but the kids seemed to be fairly cool-headed about the whole thing. Maybe this would go smoothly, after all...

"You're acting like an arrogant ass. We're not children."

Thrasher's words hung heavily in the air. The Torch stood before the New Warriors meeting room table, calmly looking at the youths before him. Night Thrasher was standing as well, with the attractive Silhouette nearby. Sorceress and Bengal stood very close to each other, conversing quietly, while Proudstar and Speedball both seemed somewhat uncomfortable with the tone of the conversation. Hammond liked Speedball a lot -- his enthusiasm reminded Jim of Toro. Sitting in the final seat was a pert blonde that Jim recognized as Ultra Girl.

"I never meant to imply you were. But you have to admit that the Warriors have made a lot of mistakes. Rage stole an Avengers quinjet...Justice went to prison...as a group, you just violated a United Nations order..."

Silhouette interrupted him. "Sometimes you have to push the laws, Mr. Hammond. When Dwayne founded the Warriors, it was because there's a war going on out there -- war between innocent people and the criminal element. The Warriors aren't perfect, but we try our best."

Jim nodded, smiling. "I know. I don't consider any of you to be out of control -- I just want to impress upon you the huge impact your actions have. Back in the '40s there wasn't an Internet, or action figures, or a media as large as today. Today we have a network out there that covers superheroes 24 hours a day! Every action you take impacts the public perception of us -- are we dangerous to them or are we heroes to be respected? That's what every person out there decides -- and the only thing they have to go on are our actions. Now, you're selling your image"

Thrasher folded his arms. "Funny to hear you say that. Didn't you go rogue several times back in the 1940s? Or what about when you attacked the Fantastic Four a few years back? Your actions haven't always branded you as a hero, Torch."

"You're right -- but most of those times, I was under the control of someone else. Your actions have been taken with a clear mind, Thrasher. There's a difference."

Proudstar leaned forward. "So what is that you want of us, Torch? You want us to go on television and apologize for everything we've ever done?"

Jim shook his head. "No...not unless you want to. All I want is to ask that you think things through in the future...remember that even if you know what you're doing is right, everyone else doesn't have the same facts you do...Then make the decision as to whether or not your actions are worth the damage you might be doing to the superhero community as a whole."

Night Thrasher said "I can you promise you this much, Torch. We're not going to go around acting like loose cannons. We've got an agenda and we're going to enforce it. But if a decision comes down to whether we want to be liked or we want to do what's right, we're going to choose the latter. Every time."

"Good. Just what I wanted to hear. By the way -- I'm going to be in the Denver area for quite awhile. If you guys need me, I'm available."

Speedball held up a hand. "Uh -- Torch? Before you go, could I have your autograph?" Robbie Baldwin looked embarrassed as Night Thrasher shook his head in disbelief. "I mean, I have all the comic books they ever made about you."

Jim smiled. "My pleasure, Speedball."

ELSEWHERE

"We have a confirmed sighting, Mr. Raymond. He's definitely in Denver." The man speaking was young, in his early twenties, with a short, trendy haircut and dark green eyes. He wore an expensive suit for he was very well paid and he had the air about of him being impatient and unkind.

The man to whom he spoke stood with his back to him, staring out the window of his office. He was tall, with short dark hair. "Thank you, Sebastian. I knew it was only a matter of time, I suppose..."

Sebastian pursed his lips. He was wearing lip gloss, making them appear moist and inviting. "Are you going to deal with him sir?"

"Eventually. But not yet. You don't realize how long I've waited for this, Sebastian. No need to rush things. I want he and Ann to suffer. Suffer for all they've done to me..."

Sebastian smiled. He liked it when his employer was in this sort of mood. Powerful. Full of deadly energy. "I'm sure you'll make them pay severely, sir."

Mr. Raymond turned and fixed Sebastian with a steady gaze. "You're right about that, Sebastian. They've played with fire for too long. It's time for them to get burned."

THE HOME OF ANN RAYMOND

"Is it wrong for me to feel this way, Jim? Sometimes I almost wish it's not him -- not just because of how he's been acting, but because...well, I'd just started to move on." Ann Raymond stood at the kitchen sink, loading the dishes into the dishwasher. It was evening and she'd cooked a large meal -- feeling somewhat foolish as she did so. Did the Torch even need to eat, she wondered? He'd done so with gusto, but that could have been mere politeness.

Jim sat at the kitchen table, stroking his cat Leena. The cat was purring and obvously enjoying the attention. "Nothing wrong with that, Ann. You should move on -- Tom would have wanted you too. And like I said before, this isn't Tom."

"Yeah...well, let's talk about something else. How about you? Are you seeing anyone?"

"No, not really. I met an interesting girl on the flight over but I wouldn't call it more than a passing flirtation."

Ann dried off her hands on a dish towel and smiled at him. "Well, it's only a matter of time, I think, before some woman sinks her claws into you. It's hard to find such a nice guy. Tom always said you taught him right from wrong."

The Torch nodded. "I tried... How about you? Seen anyone else?"

"Off and on. I've tried dating, but it's hard. It's tough to find someone who understands what I've gone through..."

An uneasy silence fell in the room. Neither Ann nor Jim looked at the other. Finally, Jim stood up, brushing the cat from his lap. "I'm going to turn in, Ann. If you need me -- let me know, okay?"

Ann nodded as he left the room. "I all ready know I need you, Jim Hammond. The problem is, do you need me?"

NEXT ISSUE : The mystery of 'Mr. Raymond' continues, while the Torch's life takes an interesting turn!

THE FLAMING LETTERCOLUMN

TJ Burns wrote :

Hey Barry! I love the way you write the Torch! He's gotten a little bit of arrogance back, as can be seen by the way that deals with the Apparition. (Great name!) I can't wait to see what the truth is about the return of Toro. I hope to see the Torch's cat stick around in the series. It's about time we get a hero with a pet. Keep up the great work!

Thanks, TJ. Leena (the Torch's cat) will stick around, don't worry. Apparition will turn up again, too, but not right away.

The arrogance thing...well, I'm not so sure I'd call it arrogance but he always seemed almost borderline cocky back in the Invaders days.

Randy Lander wrote :

Okay, Barry, now that the Angel mystery has been solved over at AGC, I've got another one to follow...the true nature of the Vision/Torch relationship. Big tease early on, and I'm dying to know more.

I think what strikes me most about your work in MV1 is the originality you bring to it. I sometimes struggle with new characters and ideas, rather playing with the toys that are already in the sandbox, maybe a little too much. But you've always had an original twist, such as the introduction of Chloe in Moon Knight, or Fannin in Seekers, or the creation of a new Killers Incorporated here. You manage to play with the old toys while always bringing something new to the table.

Also a signature of your work is multiple plot threads, and this one is no different...aside from the "A" plot with Jim and KI, we've got the mystery of his relationship to the Torch and something going on with Toro's widow.

Thanks, Randy! The Torch/Vision mystery will simmer for awhile before moving onto center stage. I can guarantee you that the true revelation will be a shocker. :-)

I'll continue to try and inject new ideas into the book, while not ignoring anything that's come before. Jess Nevins (he of the encyclopedic Golden Age knowledge) has given me a list of Golden Age Torch foes, so expect to see a few more of them getting modern updates.

JCB wrote :

This is good. I read the first and second story, and I must say, This is good. Since I know virtually nothing about OHT it's good to have him back, so we can know something. I'm thinking maybe it's Toro who is behind the new Killers Inc. but I could be wrong, although it would've been fun. Intriguing, almost Melrose Place-like. Only question I have is, why is it set in year 4. Why not earlier(or later?)?

The young heroes OHT would take under his wing, could be Cinder, he would be perfect, and for the heck of it, John Storm. That should be funny to read.

Toro may or not be related to the new Killers Incorporated. Gee, I love sounding like Kurt Busiek...

As for the setting in continuity, partly it's because in early Year Three Jim Hammond's life is turned upside down by the situation in Power Man & Iron Fist # 128 (soon to be on the Marvel Knights site) and I wanted to have a bit of time between those events and my series. Also, by setting it in Year Four it's pretty much up to speed with my other fanfic series, The Black Knight. These two series will cross over in OHT 11-12 and Black Knight 13-14, in a story dealing with Immortus and, possibly, the Torch/Vision mystery. Hope that clears things up for you. As for Cinder...interesting idea. Very interesting, indeed. We'll see.

Barry Reese