Considering how many heroes are in Marvel’s comic universe, it would make sense for Doctor Strange to dislike at least one. Fantastic Four #12 has realized exactly which iconic character the Sorcerer Supreme just can’t stand. However, he’s still not to the point of wanting to kill his hot-headed ally.
Fantastic Four #12 has the creative team of Ryan North, Iban Coello, Jesus Aburtov, and Joe Caramagna. The issue follows the titular team as it enters an alternate universe where Marvel’s iconic Avengers are dinosaurs instead of humans. While fighting the Fantastic Four in a typical misunderstanding, Doctor Strange’s prehistoric counterpart reveals that he isn’t particularly fond of Johnny Storm.
The Human Torch Isn’t An Easy Hero To Get Along With
Doctor Strange isn’t always the easiest character to get along with, thanks to his occasional arrogance and generally impulsive nature. However, he often has great respect for his allies and their heroic contributions, even when in disagreements with them. Yet Johnny Storm seems to be a hero that regularly gets on his nerves. While engaged in combat with the Earth-616 Fantastic Four, Dinosaur Doctor Strange says, “Well, no matter what’s happened to Johnny — or how annoying he was before this — I don’t wanna kill him. But I am gonna absorb his flame…and send it back to him as pure energy!“
Johnny Storm is usually known for being a bit of a nuisance to his teammates, as well as other heroes. He is even more impulsive than Doctor Strange, jumping headlong into danger and being a bit of an adrenaline seeker. The Human Torch is also notoriously bad with relationships. All that, combined with his youthful, snarky attitude, makes him a tough-to-handle teammate, even for the Fantastic Four. It stands to reason that he would not be an ideal hero for some of Marvel’s iconic Avengers. Doctor Strange is very serious-minded and studious by comparison, making his dislike of Johnny Storm not just believable but understandable.
However, as this instance reveals, Doctor Strange does not completely hate the Human Torch enough to want to eliminate him. He still readily recognizes him in an alternate form and isn’t to the point where killing him would be beneficial, necessary, or even satisfying. Yet the Sorcerer Supreme still has no qualms with hurting him just a little with his own powers – and could even enjoy it thanks to the annoyances he’s experienced from his universe’s version of Johnny. It’s no longer a secret that Doctor Strange doesn’t like the Fantastic Four’s Human Torch, but when danger arises, he will still save his fellow hero despite the moments when they appear to be at odds.
