Written by: Stan Lee
Drawn by: Jack Kirby
Inking: Steve Ditko
Lettering: Art Simek
It's training day at the start of this annual, and a rare Sue and Johnny scene. Considering they're brother and sister, surprisingly little time is given to this relationship, to the two characters interacting as siblings, rather than as heroes or team-members. It's a source of drama and story that future writers would mine far more successfully than Lee and Kirby. Of course, Sue refuses to acknowledge this relationship, referring to her brother as 'Torch'.
But all of that aside, we're here to take a look at Johnny's training. See how he successfully shapes his flame into that of a key. Presumably the right key, as well. Marvel at how his flame totally doesn't melt the tumblers and pins into molten slag, forever buggering up the locking mechanism, and most likely incinerating whatever was inside the safe.
Check out our coverage of Strange Tales Annual #2 on our sixteenth episode: The Best Of Annuals, The Worst Of Annuals. It's the one where Steve walks out over the utter ridiculousness of the story, leaving the show in the hands of Andrew and guest-host Jon M. Wilson.
[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_16.mp3]