Invaders (1975) 22-A

"The Fire That Died!"

As Toro lays in a critical condition, the Human Torch reveals the full story about his young sidekick.

The reason both Namor and Toro were more susceptible to the drugs the Nazis gave them when they were held prisoner in Berlin, is the fact that they have in common, being Mutants.

Fred and Nora Raymond, a pair of scientists were both suffering from terminal illnesses caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos and radioctive materials. Their only son, co-incidently develops an immunity to fire from birth.

The hooded criminal known as Asbestos Lady visits the home of the Raymonds to threaten them with her thugs into co-operating and improving her abilities through their expertise.

The Torch shows up to save the Raymonds and their son, asleep in another room. But they make an obdurate enemy of the Asbestos Lady. When the Raymonds try to take a family train trip to the country, the embittered arsonist makes it a fatal excursion.

The Raymonds' son escaped the train wreck and was rescued prophetically, by a pair of fire-eating circus performers.

As the lad grows into adolescence as "Toro, the Fire-Eating Boy", the Asbestos Lady is alerted to the existence of a survivor of her ambush. The Torch rushes to the circus too, planning on protecting young Toro, and stimulating his latent flame powers in the process.