Johnny Storm vs X-Men Villain Pyro: Who Wins In The Comics?

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Summary

  • The Human Torch is more powerful than Pyro in Marvel Comics due to his ability to generate and control fire independently.
  • The showdown between the two in Deadpool & Wolverine showcases Pyro manipulating Johnny's fire, a simplified version compared to the comics.
  • Pyro's limitations in controlling existing flames give Johnny Storm the advantage in the fight, emphasizing his immunity to fire and higher stamina.

Spoiler alert. This article contains spoilers for Deadpool & Wolverine.
Marvel’s two most famous fire-based characters, the Human Torch and Pyro, had a thrilling showdown in Deadpool & Wolverine, but comparable duels from the source material reveal some notable complications. Deadpool & Wolverine featured a litany of cameo appearances, including Chris Evans’ Johnny Storm and Aaron Stanford’s Pyro from the 20th Century Fox Marvel movies. A gripping showdown between the pair in Deadpool & Wolverine referenced Marvel Comics instances but deviated somewhat from the comic book precedent.
The Human Torch, AKA Johnny Storm, was a founding member of Marvel’s first family – the Fantastic Four. Meanwhile, Pyro is a mutant who typically appears as an adversary to the X-Men. While their powers are superficially similar, there are some vital distinctions, with each character's powers providing distinct advantages and vulnerabilities.
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Of Human Torch And Pyro, Human Torch Is More Powerful In Marvel Comics In Marvel Comics, Pyro Appears At First To Have The Upper Hand Close While Pyro has demonstrated the ability to control the Human Torch's flames on multiple occasions, Johnny Storm's inherent power and versatility ultimately grant him the upper hand. The two have clashed twice in Marvel Comics, each encounter highlighting their respective strengths and weaknesses. In Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #31, Pyro easily manipulated Johnny's flame form, physically moving him with ease. However, when Johnny reverted to his human form, he quickly overpowered Pyro with a simple punch to the face.
In X-Men/Fantastic Four #1, Pyro surprised the Human Torch and was able to launch him into the air, demonstrating his capacity to manipulate Johnny's fiery form, yet couldn't slow the hero down for long. Yet, these instances where Pyro appears more powerful are misleading. Johnny's true advantage lies in the nature of his powers. The Human Torch boasts a broader range of offensive and defensive capabilities that far exceed Pyro’s abilities.
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Human Torch And Pyro's Powers Explained Both Characters Control Fire, But There Are Distinct Differences The Human Torch's powers were granted when the Fantastic Four were hit by cosmic rays in space. They include the ability to generate and control fire. This allows him to create fireballs, project heat beams, surround himself with a protective flame aura, and even fly. More importantly, he is completely impervious to fire. This versatility allows him to attack from a distance, evade attacks through flight, and withstand fiery assaults.
On the other hand, Pyro's mutant powers are limited to controlling existing flames. He cannot generate fire independently and relies on external sources, such as his fuel, to create the flames he manipulates. While he can shape and control fire with precision, forming constructs like fiery creatures and streams of flame, Pyro's effectiveness diminishes without a continuous supply of fuel. Vitally, Pyro needs protective gear to protect him from the fire he manipulates.
Therein lies the crux of the Human Torch versus Pyro debate: both characters control fire, but only one is immune to its effects. Pyro could not hurt Johnny Storm explicitly, just control his flames and fire form. While Pyro may be able to deflect Johnny’s attacks, any that strikes him will cause significant injury. This gives Johnny a significant edge in fighting the foe.
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1 Moreover, the Human Torch can control heat alone, proffering an attack with no fire for Pyro to redirect. As depicted in Fantastic Four #250, this allows Johnny to inflict injury on Pyro with no chance for retaliation. Johnny could even use this to destroy Pyro’s protective suit or fuel tank, severely injuring the villain and hampering his ability to respond or defend himself.
Finally, the Human Torch retains a much higher stamina rate than Pyro. If a battle came down to an effective stalemate as Pyro manipulated Johnny Storm’s fire at the same rate Johnny produced it, the Human Torch would simply need to wait for Pyro to become fatigued. Johnny could overwhelm Pyro while waiting for a lapse in control or concentration and strike immediately.
How Deadpool & Wolverine's Human Torch Vs Pryo Fight Compares To The Comics Deadpool & Wolverine Sees Pyro Sap Johnny Storm's Powers The encounter between the Human Torch and Pyro in Deadpool & Wolverine provides a simplified version of their interactions. In this storyline, Pyro's ability to control Johnny's fire is highlighted, but it does not capture the full extent of their powers and limitations. While Pyro can manipulate the Human Torch's flames, in the comics, he cannot diminish or extinguish them completely, as depicted in Deadpool & Wolverine.
In Deadpool & Wolverine, Pyro effectively removes Johnny’s powers, causing him to plummet from the sky. Arguably, this is the only way that Pyro could hurt the Human Torch. While this is accurate, it does ignore the other powers in Johnny’s arsenal, such as heat projection, which could have been used to dismantle Pyro’s protective gear and hurt the villain. Regardless, the adaption in Deadpool & Wolverine allowed for a thrilling showdown between 20th Century Fox’s fiery forerunners.
Deadpool & Wolverine R A follow-up to the highly successful Deadpool and Deadpool 2 films starring Ryan Reynolds as the Merc with a Mouth. The third film will be the first in the franchise to be developed under the Marvel Studios banner following Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox.
Director Shawn Levy Release Date July 26, 2024 Runtime 127 Minutes Upcoming MCU Movies
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