There are certain characters from the Golden Age of Comics that are simply so iconic that their stories, when well executed, resonate with the reader like no other. This is the case with the original Human Torch. In Alex Ross’ The Torch we are part of a resurrection of the character, not an origin story as such. This makes this incarnation that much more refreshing and desirable. The Torch is forcefully revived by the Thinker to fulfill a contract. The initial plot is that simple, but in the hands of Ross and company the story shows that even in simple plots we can get a depth of storytelling that can bring the reader to this title for the eight issues that are required to unravel all the twists and turns.
Each of the main protagonists has a story to tell. We have The Torch with the transition from machine to human so well depicted; Toro with trying to understand why he is back to the future and bring closure to his relationship with his mother; and the Thinker with his urge to leave any legacy behind as a monument to his genius. These three characters fuel the story out of this world like a rocket propelled by an explosive chemical mixture.
There is the Vision playing the Ghost of Christmas Past as he guides Toro through his journey of discovery. Here I think Ross and company missed a grand opportunity to place The Vision’s creation and The Torch’s not so unique origins into a better contrast. I have a great affinity with Androids that emerge to become more human than humans, so a deeper treatment of this issue would have been to my liking. The Pinocchio effect is compulsive and extremely engaging. Maybe here is a good idea for a future series.