Young Men #24

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Graded population

CGC records 145 graded copies for Young Men #24 (1953). Population is the number recorded by this grading source, not the total print run or all surviving copies.

The Return of the Human Torch

The headquarters of the Crime Boss are infiltrated by the Human Torch, whom the criminals thought they got rid of in 1949. The Crime Boss tries to employ the same weapon he used to stop the Torch before: Solution X-R. Spraying the Torch with the chemical snuffs out the hero's flame and immobilizes him, however the Torch's flame is now stronger than before and he uses it to melt through the chemical spray and quickly subdues the Crime Boss and his minions.

With the battle over, Chief Wilson and a police officer arrive on the scene and are surprised to see the Human Torch after being missing for years. The Torch explains to the Chief his originsMarvel Comics Vol 1 1 and how he fought in World War II, eventually killing Adolf Hitler himself. After the war he met his partner Toro and the pair began fighting crime until they went up against the Crime Boss who used Solution X-R to immobilize the two heroes. The Torch was taken out to Yucca Flat, Nevada where he was buried in the desert where he remained inert for years. However, a nuclear bomb test bombarded him with radiation that increased the power of his flame, making him stronger than ever before and allowing him to break free of his prison to get revenge.

Not knowing what happened to Toro over the years, the Torch threatens to burn the Crime Boss if he does not tell him what happened to boy. The criminal relents and informs the hero that Solution X-R was given to him by communist agents and that after they "eliminated" the Torch they handed Toro over to commies. With recent reports of a strange fire-ball seen flying over Korea, the Human Torch flies there and confronts it, realizing that it is his pal Toro. As it turns out Toro had been brainwashed by communist agents into fighting for their side. With his enhanced powers the Torch easily defeats his partner and rushes him back to the United States to get medical treatment to reverse the brainwashing.

As he is turning Toro over to hospital, Chief Wilson arrives and informs the Torch that his daughter Mary has been captured by a new leader of Crime Syndicate known as the Butcher who demands the Torch's surrender. The Torch agrees to turn himself over and to go to the arranged meeting spot in Knob Hill and allow himself to be sealed in a steel casket. With the Torch trapped inside, the Butcher has the casket lifted with a helicopter and dumped into the ocean. Toro, having been cured of the communist brainwashing arrives at the scene and flies down into the water and uses his flame powers to free the Torch. The pair then track down the Butcher to his hideout where he is keeping Mary Wilson. When the Butcher attempts to escape in his helicopter, the Torch and Toro blow it up with fire balls.

They then take Mary back to her father where the two partners announce that they are going to resume their crusade against crime.

Creative credits

Writers: Hank Chapman, Don Rico, Bill Everett

Interior art: Russ Heath, Carl Burgos, John Romita, Mort Lawrence, Bill Everett

Source records & attribution

Panel Profits keeps each source identity attached to its edition record.

COMICBASE: comicbase:1243173

GCD: 10962

PANEL PROFITS: 2525094