Episode 55: Crying wolf - Johnny Storm is alive! Also, Thor is a movie star? (Strange Tales #108 & Journey Into Mystery #92) -- June 1963

In this episode:

In this episode, Mike and Ed discuss the ramifications of Johnny Storm lying about his death. Was it really necessary to defeat this villain? Also, Thor is starring in a new movie. Will “movie star” become a right of passage for every hero?

In this issue:

Strange Tales #108

Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, breaks up a robbery and helps put the criminals behind bars yet again. The criminal underworld is frustrated by the Torch’s heroic efforts. Just when they are about to give up hope on their morality free life, a strange man with the ability to bring his paintings to life shows up and offers his services. The Painter then battles the Torch with his strange and powerful paintings-come-to-life and seemingly kills him. The world mourns the young hero’s passing. Then, just when the Painter and his gang have let their guard down, the Torch re-appears, having faked his death. He destroys the Painter’s magic paints and brings the criminals to justice.

Journey into Mystery #92

Loki grits his teeth while imprisoned in Asgard. Meanwhile, a couple of thugs bring their injured colleague to see Dr. Donald Blake after hours and threaten him into removing two slugs from their friend. Blake secretly turns into Thor and captures the criminals. Thor then goes to Norway to work on a movie as himself. Loki, watching all of this happen, somehow causes Thor’s hammer Mjolnir to veer off course and head from Norway to Asgard, where it shatters the chains keeping him imprisoned in Asgard. Thor is afraid that he will revert to Blake after being apart from his hammer for more than 60 seconds. Fortunately, Odin hears Thor’s silent prayers and scoops his son up and transports him to Asgard, where he will remain Thor despite having lost his hammer. Thor figures out that Loki must be behind his hammer going missing, and hunts for his brother. He recovers his hammer, and Loki is captured once more.

Assumed before the next episode:

The world learns that Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, is not dead - it was all a cruel and unnecessary ruse. Also, people hear that Thor is filming a movie as himself.

This episode takes place:

After the world has learned that the Human Torch faked his death to capture a B level villain, and after they have heard about Thor’s attempted transition to movie stardom.