Strange Tales #101

 "A commie sub!"

So now we have a regular solo instalment for the Human Torch in the pages of anthology book Strange Tales... and it begins with the Torch racing, rather alarmingly, an "atomic powered guided missile". What could be more atomic age than that?

And yet... it's quite good. We have a one off villain called the Destroyer who, given the nature of his dastardly scheme, has absolutely no reason to wear a supervillain costume, but let's go with it. Because the plot, while not completely free of bonkersness (we are, naturally, facing communists), is actually pretty solid, and I was impressed by the twist at the end.

But that's about it- a nice little one-off tale. What's interesting is the set-up, though- Johnny is living with Sue in the small town of Glenville. Hilariously, and alarmingly, he has an asbestos room to sleep in, and we even get a plan of it. And... Johnny has a secret identity, which he spends much of the story frantically trying to hide from his friends... why? Sue doesn't have a secret identity, they're siblings, so surely it's obvious that Johnny is the Torch?

 Still, overall, this is fine.