4. The Human Torch Got Replaced So Kids Wouldn't Set Themselves On Fire
When Marvel's first family made their second venture to the small screen in 1978, they found themselves replacing one of their number with a wise-cracking robot. Where Mr Fantastic, the Invisible Woman and The Thing all appeared in the NBC cartoon, the Human Torch found himself superseded by by HERBIE (Humanoid Experimental Robot, B-type, Integrated Electronics, which is a bit of a stretch, even from the creators of SHIELD). The plucky android was created especially for the 'toon and has since been ported over to the comic books, where he was not quite as successful in giving Johnny Storm the boot. Why exactly the Torch had been relegated from the team he made his name on was unclear for years, giving rise to speculation that it was down to the network's concern that kids watching the show might be inspired to "flame on!" in a way that was less heroic, more fatal and litigious than in the comics. Perhaps inspired by an issue of John Byrne's run on the Fantastic Four comic that saw a young fan of the team engaging in a little self-immolation in imitation of his favourite member, this legend became the accepted explanation for the Human Torch's absence from the TV show. As it happens, much like a lot of these stories, the real purpose behind keeping Johnny Storm off the screen was far less interesting than the rumour. In fact he was left out of the cartoon's line-up because the rights to the Human Torch character were tied up in a mooted live-action pilot Universal were working on with him, which never saw the light of day.
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
