Review: Marvel Legends Human Torch from The Fantastic Four: First Steps
- Mephitsu
- Jul 3
- 5 min read
“Flame On”
Our reviews of The Fantastic Four: First Steps Marvel Legends wave is written ahead of the movie release. It contains no spoilers other than the imagery used on the packaging and figures, all of which has been seen in the trailers.
The first MCU Fantastic Four figures landed on the 1st of July 2025 to collectors worldwide, a six figure wave that incorporated the full Fantastic Four team as well as a ‘flame on’ version of Johnny Storm and the new Silver Surfer. The packaging mirrored the dimensions and layout of the current Legends packaging, but completely redesigned everything else. The look of the Fantastic Four figure boxes moves away from the usual sleek black to an off white base colour, with deep blue logos and nameplates, and even a blue colour to the ‘Legends’ wording of the Marvel Legends logo. This is very much intended to give the figures the same feel as the movie, as though coming from an alternative timeline with a 50s and 60s vibe. This even extends to the use of the old Hasbro logo bottom right.
The artwork on the box side is retained, but shaped in an offcentre blue frame. These are realistic illustrations against deep orange coloured backdrops. The full image is placed on the box reverse, where we find the character posed against a bold orange circle. Unusually, there is no background text or synopsis for the movie itself. The figure is set against a blue card back which incorporates the four circular designs that are applied to our four main characters - designs that are also used on the box itself around the character name plates, apart from on the Silver Surfer.
The Human Torch is one of two Johnny Storm figures included in the six-figure wave, and both this ‘Flame On’ version and the standard suited version share the same base body & head. For this fully flamed version, that original FF suited body is cast in translucent red plastic throughout with only minor paint application in black on some of the lines of the suit and on the Fantastic Four logo on the centre of the chest. Over this, we get more fire effects in a translucent orange. These flames are applied on the feet and lower legs, around the hands and wrists, and over Johnny’s shoulders. They help in translating the base body into one you can visualise as being engulfed in flames. These parts are mainly non-removable, with Hasbro making a decision to glue these into position. You can get the wrist pieces off once the hands are removed, but the ones on the feet, hands and shoulders are not readily accessible. That feels like a missed opportunity in allowing these to perhaps be cross-functional with the other Johnny Storm, as we do see him use some of his flame powers while retaining his normal suited look.
The headsculpt is the same as the other figure, although the likeness to actor Joseph Quinn is less obvious in this format, with the only decor in the eyes, which are a glowing orange against the red of the head itself, and in some darker patches around the forehead and cheeks to further define those features. The standard blonde hair piece has been replaced with a flaming version in the same orange flames used elsewhere, with some red applied to the edges as the flames lick outward.
Comparing the figure as a whole to the on-screen scenes, there is an obvious colour issue with the figure, which is far too red in its colour choice compared to the lighter orange flaming look we see when Johnny is fully transformed. Whether this is a deliberate decision to best create a character who is essentially on fire in 6-inch scale, or whether the colour palette is from concept art or earlier CGI, we may never know.
The Human Torch has only two further accessories to allow you to vary the look. These are alternative hands, each with non-removable flamed effects over the translucent red plastic. These mean you can vary the hand options through clenched fists to open palms or a mix of the two. As you swap out the left hand, you will find that the removable Fantastic Four wrist device is still present on the Human Torch version as an individual piece.
Articulation is identical to the standard figure, with 19 pinless joints in total. The translucent plastic does reveal some of the internal workings of these joints, with particular visibility in the arms and knees. This may be another reason a darker base red was chosen. None of the flame sections present any kind of obstruction, so our Human Torch has a full range of motion within the joints provided, but like Silver Surfer - and more so in this format as a flying character - the choice of a basic ball joint torso over a full pivot leaves the central body mass limited on abcrunch. Similarly, the head has a single neck joint and not the newer dual joint necks we’ve seen on other Hasbro lines, does stop the head from looking up and away in a flight position.
That being said, Johnny Storm will sit comfortably on an after-market flight stand and achieve a number of flight positions, mainly vertical rather than horizontal, due to the joint restrictions.
Including both versions of Johnny Storm in the launch wave was a relatively strong move by Hasbro, allowing collectors a choice between the two looks in any group setting. The flame on Human Torch version is probably the weaker of the two choices, with some issues around colour choice for the burning effect being too dark with earlier iterations of the character from the comics being a more accurate orange (see Walgreens exclusive 2018).
The figure is also lacking in accessories and parts. A stand would have been nice, considering such a large version was afforded to the Silver Surfer. Flame blast effects are also lacking in the set, as is the ability to remove the flame effects Hasbro has created and to then be able to share them between both versions of Johnny. There is perhaps a perfect Johnny Storm somewhere between the two figures, with a suited Johnny more widely engulfed in flames as seen when he flying and carrying The Thing. Those with some desire to make this a reality should be able to with the application of some basic customising techniques. The Human Torch is the decidedly average release and the least accurate of the wav,e and the one that may end up hanging around longer than the other members of the team.
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About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...
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