Editing Human Torch (section)

==Powers and abilities==
Johnny Storm gained a number of superhuman powers as a result of the mutagenic effects of the cosmic radiation he was exposed to, all of which are related to fire. His primary ability is to envelop his body in fiery plasma without harm to himself, in which form he is able to fly by providing thrust behind himself with his own flame, and to generate powerful streams and balls of flame. He can also manipulate his flame in such a way as to shape it into rings and other forms, such as a fiery duplicate of himself that he can remotely control. Even when not engulfed in flame himself, Storm has the ability to control any fire within his immediate range of vision, causing it to increase or decrease in intensity or to move in a pattern directed by his thoughts. Additionally, he is able to absorb fire/plasma into his body with no detrimental effects.

The plasma field immediately surrounding his body is hot enough to vaporize projectiles that approach him, including bullets. He does not generally extend this flame-aura beyond a few inches from his skin, so as not to ignite nearby objects. Storm refers to his maximum flame output as his "nova flame", which he can release omnidirectionally. Flame of any temperature lower than this cannot burn or harm the Torch. This "nova" effect can occur spontaneously when he absorbs an excessive amount of heat, although he can momentarily suppress the release when necessary, with considerable effort.<ref>''Strange Tales'' #112/1. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Storm has demonstrated enough control with fire that he can safely shave another's hair,<ref>{{Cite comic| writer = [[Stan Lee|Lee, Stan]]| penciller = [[Jack Kirby|Kirby, Jack]]| inker = [[Sol Brodsky|Brodsky, Sol]]| colorist = [[Stan Goldberg|Goldberg, Stan]]| letterer = [[Artie Simek|Simek, Artie]]| editor = Lee, Stan| story = Chapter 2 Enter the Sub-Mariner!| title = [[Fantastic Four (comic book)|Fantastic Four]]| volume = 1| issue = #4| date = May 1962| publisher = [[Canam Publishers Sales Corp.]]| location = [[New York, NY]]| page = | panel = | id =| url = https://www.comics.org/issue/16933/#437830}}</ref> or hold a person while in his flame form without his passenger feeling discomforting heat. His knowledge extends to general information about fire as well, supported by regular visits to fire-safety lectures at various firehouses in New York. In one instance when poisoned, Storm superheated his blood to burn the toxin out.<ref>''Spider-Man/Human Torch'' #2. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Storm's ability to ignite himself is limited by the quantity of [[oxygen]] in his environment, and his personal flame has been extinguished by sufficient quantities of water, flame retardant foam, and vacuum environments. He can reignite instantly once oxygen is returned, with no ill effects. In early stories he could only remain aflame for up to five minutes at a time, after which he would need five minutes to recharge before igniting himself again.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lee |first1=Stan |title=Epic Collection: Fantastic Four: The World's Greatest Comic Magazine |date=2014 |publisher=Mavel Comics |isbn=978-0-7851-8832-2 |page=440}}</ref>

Storm was depicted as transmuting his body itself into living flame in the first two issues of ''The Fantastic Four''.<!--first 15 issues had "The" in cover title--> In all subsequent appearances, his power consists in the generation of a flaming aura.