The blazing pillar of fire radiated rolling waves of heat. Its metal-melting temperature slammed into Hulk, who stood in the middle of the street, while an enormous fireball spread outward, transforming into a boiling inferno.
The surging blast wave erupted with thunderous booms, shaking the tightly packed skyscrapers. Gushing flames engulfed a broad stretch spanning half the street and rapidly expanded with terrifying destructive force. Streetlights melted like candles, while cars ignited and exploded in succession.
"See that? Human Torch Johnny is about to show everyone what he can do!"
Aside from Human Torch Johnny, the other three members of the Fantastic Four had arrived as well. Hulk's rampage had been too massive to escape S.H.I.E.L.D.'s notice. Seeing that General Ross's Army National Guard could not subdue the green beast, Nick Fury decisively ordered Iron Man to intervene while requesting the deployment of New York's only superhero team.
The wildly spreading tongues of flame were blocked by a transparent barrier, concentrating the scorching heat upon Hulk's massive body. This move had once nearly melted Doctor Doom's steel body completely. Flames exceeding a thousand degrees burned freely, baking the air until it steamed and warped, refracting bizarre, illusory images.
Amid the heat and thick smoke, Johnny charged in wreathed in flames. He wanted to see whether the big guy had been burned into charcoal. As a superhero, the thought that he had stopped a massive crisis even Iron Man could not resolve filled Human Torch with smug satisfaction.
Tomorrow's newspaper headlines would surely read something like "Fantastic Four Save New York," and he would undoubtedly occupy the most prominent position. Everyone would know the name Human Torch Johnny.
"Hey, you big green fatty... ah!"
Reckless and impulsive Johnny paid dearly for his carelessness. That savage green face emerged from the smoke,