Marvel's HOTTEST Playboy May Finally Be Settling Down
Warning: SPOILERS for the Fantastic Four #20
Johnny Storm, otherwise known as the Human Torch, has long been one of Marvel's hottest playboys as the hotshot of the Fantastic Four. The character has been in a number of relationships since debuting back in 1961, but none of them have really stood the test of time. However, his newest relationship with Sky might break the mold.
Johnny has been with some notable Marvel heroes and villains. He's romanced with Nova, Rogue, Lyja - a Skrull disguised as Alicia Masters, Crystal, and Medusa. When he's found love it doesn't seem to last. But, is his latest romance finally going to give the Marvel bachelor his first real long-term relationship?
In solicits for Dan Slott's upcoming Fantastic Four #20, a character named Sky is mentioned as potentially saving Wyatt Wingfoot as the Mole Man and "his biggest kaiju" return to Earth's surface. Sky's inclusion in the solicit is an obvious hint that the character will make it out of the Fantastic Four's current Point of Origin Arc.
The Mole Man and his biggest Kaiju return to the surface, with all of their righteous wrath aimed at one man… Wyatt Wingfoot! How can the Human Torch and Sky possibly save him? Y’know, this really would’ve been a good time to have brought ALL of the Fantastic Four! Also this issue: Meet a never-before-seen Elder of the Universe! Who are they, and how will they change the FF’s life…forever?
Introduced in Fantastic Four #15, Sky was a team member of the Unparalleled working under The Overseer from the planet Spyre. She gained wings and supersonic scream powers after intentionally being exposed to cosmic radiation. In a fascinating retcon, The Overseer is the entity responsible for creating the Fantastic Four. The Fantastic Four attempt to complete their fateful mission and end up on Spyre, where they're told they can't leave and Sky reveals to Johnny Storm that she is his soulmate and attaches a soul binding onto him. He is quite literally her perfect match, as all children of Spyre are brought before something called The Great Eye, where they're measured against the radiation signature of everyone on the planet. However, Sky's identification revealed her match was Johnny, 44 light-years away.
The strange thing is, Johnny feels an immediate connection to Sky right away. When Reed and Sue catch up with him as they try to escape the planet, Johnny tells them she's his soulmate, prompting her to say "unbelievable. This is Crystal all over again." Fantastic Four Issue #17 ends with The Overseer telling Sky to renounce Johnny as her soulmate and help him crush the Fantastic Four.
Considering Sky is showing up Fantastic Four #20 strongly suggests she declines The Overseers offer and leaves The Unparalleled to join Johnny and the rest of the team on Earth. Honestly, it's the one-and-a-kind romance that makes sense for Johnny - and similar to the one-in-a-galaxy technique Slott employed on his excellent Silver Surfer run. Sky is here to stay, at least for a few more issues. Perhaps, Johnny has found the one.