Human Torch (Jim Hammond)

The Human Torch
Real Name	Jim Hammond
First Appearance	Marvel Comics #1 (October, 1939)
Creators	Carl Burgos
Team Affiliations	Invaders All-Winners Squad, V-Battalion, West Coast Avengers, Heroes for Hire, Legion of the Unliving, Secret Avengers, The Descendants, S.H.I.E.L.D.
Aliases	Jim Ames, "Firebug", the Fire Master, Badge #234001, Pappy (Thomas Raymond/Toro's nickname for him), First of the Marvels, The Torch
Base of Operations	New York City
Powers	Fire manipulation and resistance, Flight, Ability to survive without oxygen for long time periods
Skills and Abilities	Accomplished street fighter, Skilled unarmed combatant
Paraphernalia	None

The Human Torch (Jim Hammond) is aa android superhero in the Marvel Universe and a member of the Invaders.

Origin

An android created by Phineas T. Horton, the Human Torch discovered that he would catch fire when exposed to oxygen. Though initially abandoned by his creator and shunned by humanity, the android learned to control his ability and used it to help people.

Biography

The Human Torch was created in the year 1939 by the scientist Professor Phineas T. Horton.  Horton was a scientific genius and an expert in artificial intelligence and robotics and his life's work culminated in an android that was capable of mimicking all human functions.  One notable aspect that powered the android was specially designed solar cells, named Horton Cells, covered it's entire body and was the android's power source which had a key flaw: when exposed to oxygen, the cells erupt into flame.

In November of 1939, Horton revealed the android's existance to the world at a press conference, keeping the android in an airtight tube in order to safely expose his flammibility, which Horton explained.  The reaction of the media and the public was that the android was a potential menace and Horton was given a presidential order to bury the android in his tube in cement, and Horton waited for the day he could overcome the android's design flaw.

However, the tube had a tiny leak in it, that eventually allowed oxygen into the tube, causing combustion to bust it open and freeing the android.  The android, brought to life for the first time and in exploring his new world, inadvertantly caused damage and panic.

In other Media

This character appears in Super Hero Squad Show (in the episode in which Wanda travels in time), was mentioned in an old Fantastic Four cartoon, and appears in the film Captain America, deactivated in an oxygen-free tube.