The Human Torch #5
In *The Human Torch* #5 (1975), the Wizard returns with a calculated plan, playing the model prisoner to gain access to a hospital’s chemicals—only to spring a jailbreak and set up a deadly trap in his fortified home. With the police locked out and the Human Torch drawn into a personal duel to prove who’s the better man, Johnny faces off against the genius villain, only to be outmaneuvered when Sue Storm arrives—again—to "help," leading to a near-fatal bomb blast. Written by Stan Lee and Larry Lieber, with dynamic art by Jack Kirby and inks by Dick Ayers, this issue’s cover by Gil Kane and Al Milgrom captures the high-stakes showdown.
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In prison, The Wizard becomes a model prisoner-- just so he can become a trustee, work in the hospital, have access to chemicals... and break jail! The police soon have him surrounded in his house, but can't get in because of its defenses. He challenges the Torch to a battle to decide who is the better man. Against Sue's advice Johnny accepts the challenge, and he does pretty well until Sue shows up to "help" him (again!). Thanks to her, he's caught, and both are almost killed in a bomb blast. But Johnny manages to free them both, getr rid of the bomb, and corral the "superior intellect."
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).