Phineas Horton
Encyclopedia
Professor Phineas T. Horton is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics Universe, and was the creator of the original Human Torch.
#1 (October 1939), and was created by Carl Burgos
.
The character subsequently appears in The Avengers #134-135 (April-May 1975), and Avengers: Forever #8 (July 1999).
Phineas T. Horton received an entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89
#3.
. Timely admired Horton's potential and helped foster his studies with frequent long talks, which eventually led Horton to the ability to create a lifelike synthetic android in 1940. Horton first revealed his android creation's existence to the world at a press conference in New York City
; it was dubbed The Human Torch by the press because of its habit of bursting into flames the moment it was exposed to air. The reactionary press dubbed the android a menace and Horton felt pressured into burying the Torch in cement until he could devise a way to control the Torch's flames. However, the Torch was able to escape; Horton was ostracized from the scientific community, and the government impounded his equipment. The Torch learned to control his powers and cut his ties with his creator.
Horton moved to Boston
and created another android named Adam II
, who rebelled against his creator. The Torch and his partner Toro
came to visit professor Horton, but Adam captured them as well. The Patriot
freed Adam's captives, and the All-Winners Squad
defeated Adam (at the cost of the second Captain America
's life), leading to Adam's destruction in an automobile accident.
In 1955, the Human Torch was believed to have been destroyed, shattering Horton's dreams of glory once more. Horton disappeared from the public eye, working as a repairman under the alias "Thomas Raye" and drinking heavily. He married late in life to a woman with a daughter named Frankie
, who was given her stepfather's assumed surname. Her mother died soon after the marriage, leading Horton to drink even more.
When Frankie was a young girl, Horton learned of the existence of the Fantastic Four
, a member of which team went by the name of the Human Torch
. Horton took Frankie to an abandoned chemical company to try to construct a new Human Torch of his own. As Frankie was carrying a drum of chemicals for her father, she fell and the chemicals engulfed her in flames, mutating her into a superhuman being like the Torches. Horton felt responsible for what happened and planted a post-hypnotic suggestion in Frankie that would make her forget what happened and fear fire. Horton was ashamed, and he disappeared while Frankie was still in a trance, never to have contact with her again except for the money he sent her regularly.
The android superhero Vision
had been duped by Immortus
into believing that Horton had created him out of the remains of the original Human Torch. When an international agency captured the Vision and erased his memory, they tracked down the now elderly Horton to force him to reprogram the Vision. Horton, of course, had never worked on the Vision before and did not know how to fix him. When the West Coast Avengers
came to rescue the Vision, they instead found him dismantled along with the imprisoned Phineas Horton. Horton was able to help the Avengers find the Torch's resting place, and the Scarlet Witch
was able to use her powers to reactivate the android Human Torch. It would later be revealed that this Horton was actually a Space Phantom, used by Immortus to further deceive the Avengers.
Horton has a granddaughter named Victoria Anderson.
, a display is shown during the World's Fair of the Synthetic Man, credited to Dr. Phineas Horton.
Publication history
Phineas T. Horton first appeared in Marvel ComicsMarvel Mystery Comics
Marvel Mystery Comics is an American comic book series published during the 1930s-1940s period known to fans and historians as the Golden Age of Comic Books...
#1 (October 1939), and was created by Carl Burgos
Carl Burgos
Carl Burgos was an American comic book and advertising artist best known for creating the original Human Torch in Marvel Comics #1 Carl Burgos (né Max Finkelstein, April 18, 1916, New York City, New York; died March 1984) was an American comic book and advertising artist best known for creating...
.
The character subsequently appears in The Avengers #134-135 (April-May 1975), and Avengers: Forever #8 (July 1999).
Phineas T. Horton received an entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe
The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe is an encyclopedic guide which details the fictional universe featured in Marvel Comics publications...
#3.
Fictional character biography
A talented and promising young student in the early days of bio-engineering, Phineas Horton visited the small, quiet town of Timely in northern Illinois where he met the brilliant town mayor Victor TimelyKang the Conqueror
Kang the Conqueror is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in Avengers #8 , and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby...
. Timely admired Horton's potential and helped foster his studies with frequent long talks, which eventually led Horton to the ability to create a lifelike synthetic android in 1940. Horton first revealed his android creation's existence to the world at a press conference in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
; it was dubbed The Human Torch by the press because of its habit of bursting into flames the moment it was exposed to air. The reactionary press dubbed the android a menace and Horton felt pressured into burying the Torch in cement until he could devise a way to control the Torch's flames. However, the Torch was able to escape; Horton was ostracized from the scientific community, and the government impounded his equipment. The Torch learned to control his powers and cut his ties with his creator.
Horton moved to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
and created another android named Adam II
Adam II
Adam II is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe, a supervillain and most known as an enemy of the All-Winners Squad. He is an android created to duplicate another android success, the Human Torch...
, who rebelled against his creator. The Torch and his partner Toro
Toro (comics)
Toro is the name of two characters from Marvel Comics. The first Toro was originally featured in Timely Comics and later as a Marvel Comics superhero who appeared as the partner of the original Human Torch.-Publication history:...
came to visit professor Horton, but Adam captured them as well. The Patriot
Jeffrey Mace
Jeffrey Solomon "Jeff" Mace, also known as the Patriot and Captain America, is a fictional character, a superhero in the Marvel Comics universe, created during the 1940s period which fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books...
freed Adam's captives, and the All-Winners Squad
All-Winners Squad
The All-Winners Squad is a fictional superhero team in the Marvel Comics universe. The company's first such team, it first appeared in All Winners Comics #19 , published by Marvel predecessor Timely Comics during the period fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books.While the comic-book...
defeated Adam (at the cost of the second Captain America
Spirit of '76 (comics)
The Spirit of '76 is the name of two fictional comic book characters, one each from Harvey Comics and Marvel Comics.-Harvey Comics:The first comics character by this name is a patriotic superhero created by writer Gary Blakey and artist Bob Powell in Harvey's Pocket Comics #1...
's life), leading to Adam's destruction in an automobile accident.
In 1955, the Human Torch was believed to have been destroyed, shattering Horton's dreams of glory once more. Horton disappeared from the public eye, working as a repairman under the alias "Thomas Raye" and drinking heavily. He married late in life to a woman with a daughter named Frankie
Frankie Raye
Nova is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared as Frankie Raye in Fantastic Four #164 , and as Nova in Fantastic Four #244 .-Fictional character biography:...
, who was given her stepfather's assumed surname. Her mother died soon after the marriage, leading Horton to drink even more.
When Frankie was a young girl, Horton learned of the existence of the Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
, a member of which team went by the name of the Human Torch
Human Torch
The Human Torch is a fictional character and superhero appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, he is a member of the superhero team the Fantastic Four, debuting in The Fantastic Four #1...
. Horton took Frankie to an abandoned chemical company to try to construct a new Human Torch of his own. As Frankie was carrying a drum of chemicals for her father, she fell and the chemicals engulfed her in flames, mutating her into a superhuman being like the Torches. Horton felt responsible for what happened and planted a post-hypnotic suggestion in Frankie that would make her forget what happened and fear fire. Horton was ashamed, and he disappeared while Frankie was still in a trance, never to have contact with her again except for the money he sent her regularly.
The android superhero Vision
Vision (Marvel Comics)
The Vision is the name of three fictional characters that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:The first Vision was created by the writer-artist team of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby in Marvel Mystery Comics #13 The Vision is the name of three fictional characters that...
had been duped by Immortus
Immortus
Immortus is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe. He is the future self of Kang the Conqueror, and first appeared in Avengers #10, and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby....
into believing that Horton had created him out of the remains of the original Human Torch. When an international agency captured the Vision and erased his memory, they tracked down the now elderly Horton to force him to reprogram the Vision. Horton, of course, had never worked on the Vision before and did not know how to fix him. When the West Coast Avengers
Avengers (comics)
The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
came to rescue the Vision, they instead found him dismantled along with the imprisoned Phineas Horton. Horton was able to help the Avengers find the Torch's resting place, and the Scarlet Witch
Scarlet Witch
The Scarlet Witch is a fictional comic book character that appears in books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in X-Men #4 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby...
was able to use her powers to reactivate the android Human Torch. It would later be revealed that this Horton was actually a Space Phantom, used by Immortus to further deceive the Avengers.
Horton has a granddaughter named Victoria Anderson.
Other media
In the film Captain America: The First AvengerCaptain America: The First Avenger
Captain America: The First Avenger is a 2011 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Captain America. It is the fifth installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe...
, a display is shown during the World's Fair of the Synthetic Man, credited to Dr. Phineas Horton.