DC Comics‘ dark revamp of a Justice League origin story fixes a problem with the original. It is not uncommon for superheroes to have their histories changed to fit modern sensibilities. In this case, however, the new origin addresses some more logical issues with a classic comics story.
The fix came in The Fury of Firestorm #3 by Jeff Lemire and Rafael de Latorre. The new series puts a dark twist on the beloved Justice League member. In the original story, the matrix that empowered student Ronnie Raymond and scientist Martin Stein had its own independent intelligence restrained by their combined minds when they fused to become Firestorm. However, it overpowered Raymond and went berserk when he tried to become Firestorm without Stein.
The Fury of Firestorm #3 makes this situation even worse. A flashback shows that Martin Stein had worked with the American government to create superhumans under controlled circumstances. This was necessary in case the Justice League turned on them. However, Stein became convinced that his idea for a nuclear-powered hero who could control matter on a molecular level — Project Firestorm — was the best option of all available.
To that end, Stein sought out a test subject who could be easily manipulated toward his ends. Ronnie Raymond fit the bill. However, to ensure that his Firestorm concept worked, Stein contrived to be a part of the process himself. He hired Ronnie Raymond as a lab assistant despite him having little talent for science or academics. Stein also staged the accident which Raymond believed forced the two of them to merge into Firestorm.
Why the new Firestorm origin makes more sense
It is easy to see why Justice League fans might be displeased by this retcon. Part of the charm of the Firestorm comics was the “odd couple” relationship between Martin Stein and Ronnie Raymond. However, the two slowly came to respect each other, with Stein becoming the father figure Raymond needed.
The origin in 1978’s Firestorm #1 was built upon the sort of clumsy coincidences that don’t fly in modern comics. Originally, Ronnie Raymond and Martin Stein were total strangers. Raymond accidentally got involved with a criminal effort to bomb the clean nuclear power plant Stein had designed. Stein also just happened to be there that night, activating the plant in defiance of a court order.
Dr. Stein was also originally unaware of his double-life. Whenever he and Raymond separated, Stein lost all memory of his time inside the Firestorm Matrix. This led to much confusion, as he began vanishing mysteriously from work.
The new origin eliminates all these elements while retaining the core relationship between Stein and Raymond. While that relationship is ruined when Raymond learns that the creation of Firestorm was no accident, Stein is shown to have honestly come to like his partner in crime-fighting. His new motivation for wanting to create a controllable superhero in the first place is also revealed — the loss of his son to superpowered violence. Apart from the thrilling horror story, this offers a deeper and less contrived origin for one of the Justice League’s greatest heroes.
The Fury of Firestorm #3 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
Originally reported by Matt Morrison for SuperHeroHype.
