10 Most Tragic Moments In The History Of The Fantastic Four

10. Johnny Storm Quits - Fantastic Four #285 (1985)

One day, a doctor called Janet Darling arrives at the Baxter Building and informs the team she has been sent to find Johnny Storm.

She informs him that one of her patients, a 13-year-old called Thomas Hanson, has suffered third degree burns over his entire body and is expected to die shortly. For his last request, Thomas asked the doctors if he could meet his favourite superhero, the Human Torch. Upon hearing this tragic story, Johnny heads to the hospital immediately.

When he arrives in Thomas' ward, Johnny discover the boy voluntarily set himself on fire, hoping it would endow him with fire-based powers like the Human Torch. Just before he dies, Thomas tells Johnny he "only did it to be like you".

After Thomas' parents berate Johnny for encouraging their son, the hot-headed hero is overcome with guilt and shame. Believing he was indirectly responsible for the child's demise, he quits the Fantastic Four.

Fortunately, everyone's favourite jheri-curled cosmic being, The Beyonder, shows up in the nick of time to convince Johnny to stay on the team. Nevertheless, the story is heartwrenching due to Thomas Hanson's needless death.