Strange Tales Issue 120 - The Torch Meets The Iceman

May 1964

In which Bobby Drake and Johnny Storm briefly clash over a woman, before uniting in their superhero guises Iceman and Human Torch to take on Barracuda and his pirates.

Cover Story

It had to happen, well that's what it says on the cover before presenting 'The Human Torch meets The Iceman', the logo is red on yellow and would no doubt catch the eye of an X-Men fans looking for an extra comic to buy,

Strange Tales 120 Cover
Jack Kirby

The main scene shows Iceman and Human Torch facing down the gun toting pirates of Barracuda's crew. Barracuda himself rallies his crew in a classically dynamic Marvel pose. Iceman and Human Torch are both posed dynamically, with Torch just touching down from flight and Iceman poised to attack.

Behind them a variety of cruise passengers, some of which are posed defensively, although curiously one suited gentleman appears to be taking a look of Iceman's bottom. Perhaps wondering how things work down there. It is very much one of those 'once you see it, you can't unsee it' moments.

It;s a functional cover that does it's job well, one which will attract fans of X-Men and Fantastic Four by placing their characters front and centre. It's not going to stand out as one of the all time great covers, Iceman's 'snowman' form is still holding back the artwork to a degree and Barracuda just isn't a very interesting villain, but functionally there is nothing at all wrong here. 

The Human Torch meets The Iceman

Date Night

Credits Written by Stan Lee Drawn by Jack Kirby Inked by Dick Ayres Lettered by Sam Rosen

The Fantastic Four read about the X-Men in the newspaper. Human Torch wonders about meeting Iceman someday, Thing isn't so interested. Human Torch heads out for a date with Doris,

At the school Iceman worries to Professor X that he will never be able to ask Marvel Girl out on a data. Professor X suggests he heads into New York and see the sights, Iceman finds a advertisement for a river cruise and decides there will be plenty of girls on board,

Iceman almost misses the cruise but uses his powers to reach the ship.Iceman tries to chat up Doris but she explains she is taken and reveals her date is the Human Torch. Iceman freezes his soda solid in frustration.

Barracuda Strikes

Two of Barracuda's henchmen, in disguise as passengers, smash up the radio on the ship and give the signal for Barracuda to strike. Barracuda and the pirates board the boat and try to rob the passengers, but Human Torch attacks.

Guest Starring The X-Men Iceman, Professor Xavier Marvel Girl and Angel The Fantastic Four Human Torch, Mr Fantastic, Invisible Woman and Thing Doris Evans

Iceman joins the fight, but far from being a team they end up getting in each others way. Barracuda douses Iceman in water trapping him in a block of ice, but Torch rescues him. Then Barracuda causes Torch to set fire to the boat and he is forced to jump overboard. Iceman creates some snow-balls to douse the flames.

Finally Torch and Iceman work out how to fight together to defeat Barracuda and trap him, leaving him for the authorities. Iceman quietly leaves the ship to protect his identity, while Torch and Doris wonder who he might have been; Torch is sure Iceman must have a girlfriend of his own.

Mutant Evolution

Mutant	Power Evolution
Iceman	While it appears Iceman can be trapped in ice he did not willingly form, Human Torch didn't give him long to escape by himself.

 

A Date With Disaster

Nine or so romantic interests later, and many, many more failed attempts Iceman will finally come to accept his sexuality in the 2010's. It's interesting that so many of Iceman's failed relationships and issues with women seem to lay the foundation of this.

Iceman goes cruising.
Strange Tales 120

It's of course extremely unlikely that Stan Lee created Iceman as a gay character, but created him as a character who never really understood girls, wasn't that comfortable with them and couldn't get the hang of dating. In essence Stan created a character that a lot of gay kids would have related to. Intentionally or otherwise here was a character experiencing many of the same struggles as gay children.

Not only is this is evidence through his relationships, but also through his secret identity as a super hero, through the persecution and hatred he has faced since his early teens and through the leaving of his family, into a new family of people of similar heritage.

Ultimately Stan really did create a closeted gay character, he just didn't realise that is what he was creating at the time.

Strange Tales

Starting out as a Horror comic-book Strange Tales has had something of a strange history. It ran for 100 issues of traditional tales of suspense, horror and science fiction before picking up it's first super-hero in issue 101, The Human Torch.

Doris Evans who appears in this issue was a regular feature as the girlfriend constantly left behind while Torch did his heroic deeds. Doctor Strange was introduced in issue 110 and the book became a split between Torch and Strange, it is during this period that our issue occurs.

In issue 137 Torch is replaced by Nick Fury and Strange Tales ended with issue 168, with Doctor Strange picking up the numbering from 169. Except it didn't end there, Strange Tales was relaunched again with issue 169 and the series continued. It has been relaunched for various special occasions as recently as 2010.