Marvel Mystery Comics #63 (1945)

At the McArthy Steel Factory, Old "Steel" McArthy prides himself over his two eldest sons, Harry and Ed, but bemoans his meek, youngest son Bill who is a complete push over. This is compounded when Bill confronts some of the workers about their underweighted loads. The two men become angry at the accusation and when Bill tries to passively defuse the situation he is punched in the face. As the other members of the McArthy clan chastise Bill, the Human Torch and Toro arrive on an appointment to help melt down scrap metal. Seeing the scene, the two flaming heroes break up the fight and remind them that there is war going on and that they should be working together instead of fighting and everyone gets back to work. Meanwhile, at rival Apex Steel Mills, owner Carter Blackstone is informed by his step-daughter Anne Gibson that men that he has hired have arrived. Blackstone invites them in and they begin hatching a plot. That evening, the Torch and Toro walk Bill home and listen as Bill confide in them. He believes that he is going to have to move out of his fathers home due to his passive behavior. When the Torch and Toro part company they spot Anne being hassled by the men that her step-father hired. The Torch and Toro easily knock the men out and surround them in a circle of fire until the authorities arrive. Anne explains who she is and that she intends not to return home. Suspecting that something is up, the Torch invites the girl back to the apartment he shares with Toro. There, Anne tells the two heroes that her step-father has hired men to wreck the McArthy Steel Plant in order to win a bid on a contract both mills are competing for. She explains that her step-father will resort to any means to obtain wealth and power. She explains that at lunch time tomorrow, the hired men will use Apex's overhead cranes to dump loads of steel on McArthy's equipment, ruining it. The Torch tells Anne that they will handle the situation. While at the Apex Mill, one of the escaped thugs returns to Blackstone's office who tells his employer of their encounter with the Human Torch. Blackstone realizes his daughter will talk and decides to do something about it. He calls in his three best men, called the Three Aces. He takes the professionals to the Torch's home to knock out the heroes. The three crooks rush upstairs to the Torch's apartment and the succeed in knocking out the two heroes and Anne. Blackstone and his men then drive the trio out to a lake outside of town and toss the three in to drown and leave. The water revives the Torch and he uses his flame powers to evaporate the lake so he can rescue Anne and Toro before they drown. The Torch and Toro then take Anne to the McArthy mill where they use their flame powers to stop the dumping of steel on the equipment. Before they can knock out the Three Aces and Blackstone, the Torch and Toro are surprised when Bill rushes on the scene and knocks the men out. With Blackstone and his men turned over to the authorities, the McArthy's congratulate their weaker sibling for finally being brave and the Torch and Toro note a budding relationship between Anne and Bill.