Human Flame

Infobox superhero
character_name = Human Flame


caption = The Human Flame from "Justice League of America" #21
Artist Carlos Pacheco
publisher = DC Comics
debut = "Detective Comics" #274
(December 1959)
creators = Jack Miller (writer)
Joe Certa (art)
alter_ego =
full_name = Michael Miller
species =
homeworld =
alliances = The Society
partners =
aliases =
supports=
powers = Uses a special flamethrowing suit.

The Human Flame is a comic book character, a supervillain in DC Comics' main shared universe. He first appeared in "Detective Comics" #274 (December 1959), and was created by Jack Miller and Joe Certa.

Fictional character biography

The Human Flame, real name Michael Miller, was a low-level villain captured by the Martian Manhunter early in his career, incarcerated and embarrassed. ["Detective Comics" #274(1959)] Although at first he was able to deplete the Martian Manhunter of energy with his built-in flamethrower, the Manhunter eventually grabbed the ground out from under the Flame and took him to a high enough altitude where the flames could no longer burn due to lack of oxygen. Flame is also known to have at least at one point been responsible for a wife and child, but was a failure in his familial role.

After this one off appearance, he was not seen in publication for nearly fifty years. Recently, in "Justice League of America" (vol. 2) #21, he was seen robbing a bank and reluctantly fighting Red Arrow and Hawkgirl. It was stated in this issue that in the reality of the DC Universe, eight years have passed since his arrest in "Detective" #274. ["Justice League of America" (Volume 2) #21 (2008)] He hated the Martian Manhunter more than anything for "ruining his life," and attempted to avoid superheroes at all costs.

Final Crisis

He has recently enlisted with Libra and the Secret Society of Super Villains. As a reward for joining him, Libra promised him power and his heart's desire: "revenge against the Martian Manhunter."

In "Final Crisis" #1 (after the events of "Salvation Run") the Martian Manhunter has been released from his imprisonment on Cygnus 4019 by Libra at the behest of the Human Flame. Preaching about granting the Society's wildest dreams, Libra stabs the Manhunter with his flaming staff while the Human Flame looks on, his wish having been the first granted by Libra. He films the murder to post on the internet later. ["Final Crisis" #1(2008)] While dying, Martian Manhunter telepathically attacked the super villains present with visions of their deaths by their arch-rivals with Vandal Savage imagining being killed by Manhunter himself. However, the Human Flame is ignored and cowers from the side.

In "Final Crisis" #3, the Human Flame is given a new suit by Libra, the helmet of which emits the Anti-Life Equation, which turns Flame into a mindless drone known as a Justifier.

Grant Morrison on Human Flame

Grant Morrison, the author of "Final Crisis", explained why he picked such an obscure character: [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=16005 ALL STAR GRANT MORRISON I: Final Crisis] , Comic Book Resources, April 15, 2008]

With The Human Flame, I wanted a Martian Manhunter villain, and I couldn't find a really good one. Then, looking through the old "Showcase Presents" books, I discovered this stupid guy called Mike, who declared himself to be The Human Flame. And he wore a homemade costume with six nipples that shot flames. So I just thought this is a great way to start this book because the idea is that Libra gives all the villains a very simple choice, he says, 'Follow me and I'll give you your heart's desire.' And that's it. And some of the villains naturally say, 'Prove it.' So the Human Flame is one of the first to fall in with Libra and he says, 'If you can get revenge on my old enemy, who has had me stuck in jail for the last five years, I'll follow you anywhere.' I needed a small-scale dumb guy, who could make very big waves and open the book with a shock moment and The Human Flame fit the bill.

Powers and abilities

Human Flame has no powers, but he wears a costume that has twelve nozzles on its chest. Each one contains a mini flamethrower.

References

External Links

*
* [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=16706 FINAL CRISIS FLASHBACK: Libra & Human Flame] , Comic Book Resources, June 5, 2008
* at the DC Database Project