Super-obscure Android Human Torch Story Missing from MCP

Discuss chronologies for characters in the main "Marvel Universe"

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vanhornluke
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Super-obscure Android Human Torch Story Missing from MCP

Post by vanhornluke »

I just learned of a super-obscure Torch story while reading The Secret History of Marvel Comics. This book is mostly about Martin Goodman's various pulp publishing companies and how many of the artists who worked on his comics also did artwork for his pulps (e.g., Jack Kirby, Joe Simon, Bill Everett, Carl Burgos, and Alex Schomburg). It reprints a lot of interior artwork from the pulps. Along the way, the book also reprints an original Human Torch story that only appeared in three of his pulps. The idea was that Goodman wanted a 1-page Torch story to try to entice his pulp readers to also try his comics. The story is of the Torch talking to Chief Wilson about whether or not "that Sub-Mariner will keep his promise and not disturb the peace again?" The conversation turns to the importance of being vigilant against "5th column disturbances." It's just a single page, but it's an original story, with the art by Burgos. So, where in the Torch's chronology should the story be placed? (If there's any doubt that it's a canonical story, remember that it's been established that Goodman's pulps are also 616 stories.)

According to the book, the story was published in:

Two-Gun Western Novels Magazine vol. 2 #3 (Oct 1940)
Best Western vol. 4 #5 (Nov 1940)
Marvel Stories vol. 2 #2 (Nov 1940)
The book adds that this story "ran about the same time as the release of Marvel Mystery Comics #13."
vanhornluke
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Re: Super-obscure Android Human Torch Story Missing from MCP

Post by vanhornluke »

So, no ideas about where to place the story in Torch's chronology?
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Re: Super-obscure Android Human Torch Story Missing from MCP

Post by Col_Fury »

Marvel Mystery Comics #9-10 is the Human Torch / Sub-Mariner story that this thing is referencing.

Marvel Mystery Comics #10/2 is a standalone gasoline syndicate story.

Marvel Mystery Comics #11-12 is one two-part story involving a slumlord and his crappy tenement building, attempted arson and the black plague.

Given that the Torch and Chief Wilson are talking about Sub-Mariner keeping his word, I’d imagine this happens shortly after Sub-Mariner leaves in M/MC 10 (and by extension, SAGASUB 4-FB).

So:

HUMAN TORCH/JIM HAMMOND

M/MC 10
SAGASUB 4 (22:6)-FB
***right here***
[M/MC 10/2]
M/MC 11


WILSON, JOHN

M/MC 9
SAGASUB 4 (16:5 - 16:7)-FB
***right here***
HTC 4


Good find!
-Daron Jensen
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