10 Heartbreaking Times The Fantastic Four Broke Up
9. Johnny Quit - Fantastic Four #285 (1985)
Like most kids, thirteen-year-old Tommy Hanson dreamed of being a superhero. His greatest desire was to obtain superpowers so he could fight crime alongside his idol, the Human Torch.
Over time however, his devotion to the fire-themed superhero became an... unhealthy obsession.
One day, Tommy poured jet fuel on his body and lit himself on fire, hoping to obtain powers akin to the Fantastic Four member. Tragically, Tommy's body was consumed by third-degree burns, killing him.
When his parents scolded Johnny for indirectly encouraging their son's actions, the young superhero walked away from the Fantastic Four. This decision was extra shocking since the Thing had only left the team several months prior, meaning the Fantastic Four had lost half their members in less than a year.
After Johnny left, the cosmic entity, The Beyonder, appeared and took the hot-headed hero back through time to show him Tommy's life. Johnny saw that Tommy was very unhappy but was always content when he heard the exploits of superheroes, especially the Fantastic Four. After having a heart-to-heart with the Beyonder, Johnny decided to return to the team. After the Thing came back several months later, the original gang were back together.