Key Collector Comics
Human Torch (Hammond)
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Creation & Design

Created by Carl Burgos, the Human Torch was one of the first superheroes in comic book history, representing the golden age of comics.

Early Years

Initially introduced as a character who could ignite himself and control fire, Jim Hammond's stories often revolved around his struggles with his identity as an android and his desire to be more human.

Character Development

Over the years, Jim Hammond has evolved from a wartime hero to a character who grapples with his identity and purpose, often reflecting on what it means to be human despite being an android.

Cultural Reception

The Human Torch has been well-received as a pioneering character in comic book history, often celebrated for his unique abilities and complex nature.

Character Details

Real Name:
Jim Hammond
First Appearance:
Marvel Comics #1
Aliases:
The Human Torch
Species:
Android
Gender:
Male
Affiliations:
Invaders, All-Winners Squad, The Avengers
Abilities:
Pyrokinesis, Flight, Superhuman Strength, Regeneration
Weight:
180lbs
Height:
6' 0"
Eye Color:
blue
Hair Color:
red

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Marvel Comics #1
Timely ⋅ 1939
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Marvel Comics #1
 
Low
$68k
Mid
$400k
High
$1.2M

Key Facts

1st appearance of the Human Torch, Jim Hammond

2nd appearance of Namor the Sub-Mariner - 8 pages of the 12-page story reprinted from Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1

1st appearance of Dorma, Namor's cousin

1st appearance of Ka-Zar, David Rand

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1st appearance of Angel, Thomas Halloway, a private detective and vigilante

1st appearance of the Masked Raider, Jim Gardley

1st comic book published by Timely, later becomes Marvel

Retitled Marvel Mystery Comics after this issue

80,000 copies were produced of the first printing with an October 1939 date on the cover

The second printing could be identified by the October 1939 date blacked out, replaced with November 1939

The first printing sold out within a week and was quickly reprinted at a quantity of 800,000, the same as Superman #1

Although published in October, the cover date was changed to have a longer on-sale period at newsstands

💰 In March 2022, a 9.2 known as the Pay Copy due to publisher notations that tracked creator payouts sold for $2.42 million

Marvel Mystery Comics #2
Timely ⋅ 1939
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Marvel Mystery Comics #2
 
Low
$6.5k
Mid
$18.2k
High
$63k

Key Facts

3rd appearance of Namor the Sub-Mariner

2nd appearance and origin of the Human Torch

2nd appearance of American Ace

Marvel Mystery Comics previously titled Marvel Comics

Marvel Mystery Comics #3
Timely ⋅ 1940
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Marvel Mystery Comics #3
 
Low
$2k
Mid
$6.2k
High
$32k

Key Facts

4th appearance of Namor the Sub-Mariner

3rd appearance of the Human Torch

1st appearance of Betty Dean, an ally of Namor during World War II

Marvel Mystery Comics #8
Timely ⋅ 1940
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Marvel Mystery Comics #8
 
Low
$1.7k
Mid
$6.3k
High
$21k

Key Facts

First battle of the Human Torch vs Namor the Sub-Mariner

Marvel Mystery Comics #9
Timely ⋅ 1940
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Marvel Mystery Comics #9
 
Low
$12k
Mid
$40k
High
$120k

Key Facts

Second battle of the Sub-Mariner versus the Human Torch

2nd cover appearance of Sub-Mariner

Marvel Mystery Comics #10
Timely ⋅ 1940
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Marvel Mystery Comics #10
 
Low
$1.2k
Mid
$3.5k
High
$16k

Key Facts

Sub-Mariner vs the Human Torch

Human Torch #2
Timely ⋅ 1940
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Human Torch #2
 
Low
$2.6k
Mid
$8.5k
High
$70k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Toro

Marvel Mystery Comics #17
Timely ⋅ 1941
View Details
Marvel Mystery Comics #17
 
Low
$500
Mid
$1.5k
High
$6.9k

Key Facts

Team-up of Sub-Mariner and the Human Torch

Young Allies #1
Timely ⋅ 1941
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Young Allies #1
 
Low
$1k
Mid
$3k
High
$10k

Key Facts

1st team appearance of Young Allies: Bucky, Toro, Knuckles, Jeff Sandervilt, Whitewash Jones, Tubby Tinkle

First meeting of Captain America and the Human Torch

Human Torch #5
Timely ⋅ 1941
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Human Torch #5
 
Low
$800
Mid
$2.2k
High
$12k

Key Facts

Sub-Mariner vs. Human Torch

This is the sixth issue in the series despite indicating #5 on the cover

Human Torch #8
Timely ⋅ 1942
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Human Torch #8
 
Low
$1.4k
Mid
$4.8k
High
$14k

Key Facts

Sub-Mariner vs the Human Torch

Human Torch #10
Timely ⋅ 1943
View Details
Human Torch #10
 
Low
$440
Mid
$1.2k
High
$7.9k

Key Facts

Sub-Mariner vs the Human Torch

All Select Comics #1
Timely ⋅ 1943
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All Select Comics #1
 
Low
$2.5k
Mid
$9k
High
$25k

Key Facts

Stories featuring Captain America, Human Torch and Sub-Mariner begin

All Winners Comics #19
Timely ⋅ 1946
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All Winners Comics #19
 
Low
$800
Mid
$2.4k
High
$11k

Key Facts

1st team appearance and origin of the All Winners Squad: Captain America, Bucky, Human Torch, Miss America, Sub-Mariner, Toro and the Whizzer

Marvel Mystery Comics #89
Timely ⋅ 1948
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Marvel Mystery Comics #89
 
Low
$750
Mid
$1.9k
High
$7.5k

Key Facts

First team-up of the Human Torch and Sun Girl

Marvel Mystery Comics #92
Timely ⋅ 1949
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Marvel Mystery Comics #92
 
Low
$350
Mid
$1k
High
$4.2k

Key Facts

Origin of the Human Torch

1st appearance of Witness

Final issue of Marvel Mystery Comics, retitled Marvel Tales

Young Men #24
Atlas ⋅ 1953
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Young Men #24
 
Low
$600
Mid
$1.8k
High
$6k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Captain America IV, William Burnside and Bucky, Jack Monroe

Revealed in a flashback that the Human Torch killed Hitler - the panel shows Hitler on fire, commanding his subordinate to tell the world he committed suicide

Fantastic Four Annual #4
Marvel ⋅ 1966
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Fantastic Four Annual #4
 
Low
$25
Mid
$85
High
$265

Key Facts

1st appearance of the Golden Age Human Torch in the Silver Age

Origin of the Human Torch retold

1st appearance of Quasimodo

Avengers, The #71
Marvel ⋅ 1969
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Avengers, The #71
 
Low
$10
Mid
$30
High
$115

Key Facts

Black Knight joins the Avengers

1st unofficial team appearance of the Invaders: Captain America, Human Torch and Sub-Mariner

Avengers, The #131
Marvel ⋅ 1975
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Avengers, The #131
 
Low
$3
Mid
$9
High
$20

Key Facts

3rd appearance of Wonder Man, second appearance in an original story, not a flashback as in Avengers #58

1st team appearance of Legion of the Unliving: Frankenstein's Monster, Wonder Man, Human Torch, Baron Zemo, Midnight, The Ghost, Swordsman

Avengers, The #133
Marvel ⋅ 1975
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Avengers, The #133
 
Low
$2
Mid
$8
High
$20

Key Facts

Origin of the Kree/Skrull war

Origin of Mantis

Origin of Vision

1st full appearance of the Cotati, a plantlike humanoid race

Avengers, The #134
Marvel ⋅ 1975
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Avengers, The #134
 
Low
$3
Mid
$10
High
$35

Key Facts

Vision learns his body was created from the first Human Torch, the android Jim Hammond introduced in the Golden Age

Invaders #1
Marvel ⋅ 1975
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Invaders #1
 
Low
$12
Mid
$40
High
$120

Key Facts

1st team appearance of The Invaders II: Bucky, Captain America, Human Torch, Sub-Mariner, Toro

Invaders #2
Marvel ⋅ 1975
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Invaders #2
 
Low
$2
Mid
$8
High
$25

Key Facts

1st appearance of Brain-Drain

Classic battle of Captain America vs Namor vs Human Torch

Invaders #24
Marvel ⋅ 1978
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Invaders #24
 
Low
$1
Mid
$3
High
$5

Key Facts

First team-up of Golden Age Human Torch & Golden Age Sub-Mariner

Saga of the Original Human Torch #3
Marvel ⋅ 1990
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Saga of the Original Human Torch #3
 
Low
$1
Mid
$2
High
$3

Key Facts

Origin of the Human Torch, Jim Hammond

Death of Hitler, incinerated by the Human Torch as originally seen in Young Men #24 (1953) and confirmed by Captain America in Secret Avengers #23 (2012)

Invaders #7
Marvel ⋅ 2019
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Invaders #7
 
Low
$1
Mid
$2
High
$4

Key Facts

Jim Hammond becomes the Iron Torch

Namor dons the Serpent Crown

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