Firestorm, the Nuclear Man

Firestorm (collected editions)

by Gerry Conway, Al Milgrom (Illustrator)

For the first time, the stories that introduced Firestorm are collected from issues #1-5 of his 1970s series, plus stories from THE FLASH #289-293. After Ronnie Raymond is tricked into nearly blowing up a nuclear reactor, he and Professor Martin Stein are caught in a nuclear incident. Their personalities merge, forming the being called Firestorm!

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book

176 pages, Paperback

Published August 9, 2011

About the author

Gerard Francis Conway (Gerard F. Conway) is an American writer of comic books and television shows. He is known for co-creating the Marvel Comics' vigilante the Punisher and scripting the death of the character Gwen Stacy during his long run on The Amazing Spider-Man. At DC Comics, he is known for co-creating the superhero Firestorm and others, and for writing the Justice League of America for eight years. Conway wrote the first major, modern-day intercompany crossover, Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man.

Reviews

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it funny that this issue kind of takes that Spider-Man-esk origin and flips it around.
The main character - Ronnie Raymond - is not the shy geek, he's the quiet jock who gets picked on by the obnoxious nerd!

I didn't like the fact that for most of these issues when Ronnie and Martin Stein broke apart, Stein had no memory of being Firestorm.
However, I did like the fact that there were times you could tell how young Ronnie was and see that he was learning from his experiences.

[Bill Riggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent introduction to a fascinating new hero. Too bad it was cancelled after only 5 issues. I had read the revived series but never the original 5.

[Christian Zamora-Dahmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was definitely magic when Gerry Conway created Firestorm. What’s not to like about him? Ron is quite relatable even if he’s a misunderstood jock instead of a misunderstood nerd. Martin Stein is a lonely scientific who gets trapped in something way bigger than he can handle. In spite of their age difference, they’re both some lonely men and they become friends in the most unusual way.
When I was a kid I was so amazed at Firestorm’s concept, and rereading it now, I can still feel it.
The original book got some serious bad luck as it got hit by DC’s Implosion, but at its revival, Firestorm ran over the 100th issue landmark.
I really hope he makes a return and stays around for good.

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

This collection shows why Gerry Conway was one of the worst comics writers at DC in the 1970s. Hackneyed plots, just plain bad writing, and unbelievable situations (even for comics), i'll give him credit for creating a great character, but that's about it. The art is pretty good for it's day, too.

[Cybernex007 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love going back and seeing the original runs that set the groundwork’s for characters, even if there ends up being some questionable dialogue. And even though it only ran for 5 issues (with an unpublished 6th issue), it certainly packs a lot of characters and defining traits for firestorm that set the groundwork for a more obscure character that I absolutely love seeing.

First I want to shout out just how many first appearances these issues have. Obviously with killer frost being the most recognizable, and having partially one of the saddest and hilarious debuts. Trapped in a freezer to get abilities? (Hahaha) Heart of ice due to the rejection and confusion throughout her life and being looked down on because of misogyny in her field. (Not so funny) But also getting the additions of multiplex and hyena. Which honesty I don’t know where this original run was going with hyena, and this was really the first I heard of the character, but imagining the character talking and having that underlying hyena laugh is so creepy and I love it.

Lastly I want to talk about the primary characters of firestorm themself. I absolutely love the dynamic between Ronnie and Martin. I love how much personality and creativity Ronnie brings, while Martin is able to stay secondary and bring intelligence and strategic side to the pair. Even though it can cause trouble, some of the best moments are due to the fact that Martin does not remember his time as firestorm. Those moments where he go so far as to hire a private detective to watch him because he feels like he is going crazy. And then we get to see this PI slowly go crazy himself because of how hard it is to follow Martin. This dude has a faster elevator just to he can start following his clients faster? How many times do people ask to be followed? Even though just like that detective, somehow villains like killer frost just forget their minds whenever Martin disappears right in front of them and firestorm appears. (What do you mean what happened to him! Think for 2 seconds lol!) Overall I quite enjoy the character and the special fusion relationship it brings to the table to exist in the first place.


Also special note, it feels like the cw flash writers read these comic run and got like 90% ideas from it and then just kept copying and pasting for every time they needed a new bad guy. Ronnie and Stein get their abilities from an explosion at a nuclear plant. (Almost sounds like a particle accelerator explosion.) This explosion also happens to create one of their enemies Multiplex. Sounds really familiar huh? Multiplex was even in the flash show. After that it’s like every time they needed a new villain that wasn’t a speedster they just had some random guy in range of the explosion lol.

I know this was later rebooted into Fury of the Firestorm, which I hope to check out one day and hope it expands on all of the great concepts the original set.

[Kevin Findley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nicely packaged reprint of the original Firestorm series before it became a victim of the 'DC Implosion' when the company cutback a large number of series. The language is a bit stilted, but the artwork is great and looks as good now as it did over 40 years ago. Also included are adventures from Firestorm's time as a back-up feature in Flash and an eventual team-up with the Scarlet Speedster.

Other than the titular hero, the book is probably best known for introducing Killer Frost, a villain that has been in dozens of titles and multiple versions of the Suicide Squad. Also added to the DCU were the Hyena, Multiplex, and Typhoon. Each villain eventually found his way into the larger universe.

It's a great book for readers who love Firestorm, the DCU in general, or simply some great tales from the 70s and early 80s.

Find it! Buy it! READ IT!

[PsionOverlord · Rating 3 out of 5]

Torn. On one hand I'm actually astonished at the thematic works present in the book, and the story it's telling is an excellent one I want to read. I think the problem is it's not very good at telling it. Very dialogue heavy where it really doesn't need to be making it easy to just skim pages by accident. Art is actually pretty good for the era.

I also really like that the main character feels like a real character. He's a bully lashing out at the world the way his dad lashes out at him, and he wants to make the world a better place by applying that same logic to him. They even say his dad has a heart of ice to contrast his son. I also also really like that they both want to love each other but aren't built correctly to be able to communicate that to each other. It feels like a very real and grounded struggle.

Overall, 3.5 stars for me.

[Ben Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cheesy from start to finish, but it's fun and charming, and not all comics need to be dark and brooding. Firestorm is a jock but actually acts more like a dozy airhead and that's really all part of his charm. He's like if Bill and Ted had a friend who was into sports.

It's also a pretty interesting take on the classic spider-man comics, the bronze era was all about experimenting with the genres, and making the jock this loveably but dopey guy who's getting picked on by nerds and spends his time worrying he doesn't seem smart is still a cool concept now.

Gerry Conway's stuff always had a Saturday morning cartoon vibe to it, but if that's what you're into, there are few better writers, and in my opinion, few better examples of his work. Also, the art is fabulous.

[Martin Maenza · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had these issues from back in the day, bought off the newsstand. Re-reading then again so many decades later, these issues really hold up quite well. I love what Gerry Conway was doing here - building a great cast of friends and foes while presenting a new unique hero in Firestorm.

[tony dillard jr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've learned recently from social media that Firestorm is a fan favorite. He's been around for about 40 years, but he's hardly gotten any respect. Considered a "B-grade" superhero, he's the type of character that often dies during a major cross-over event in order to throw readers off track when someone like Supergirl, the Flash, or Batman bites the dust.

But in the past few months, Firestorm has been elevated to 'A-list' status what with him being a major plot focal point on the CW's The Flash. He's been so well received, he's even going to star in a yet unnamed spin-off next year. Working title for the show is "The Atom" but all bets are on a Suicide Squad type show.

With the Nuclear Man's new found stardom and the fact that I recently read an issue of DC Presents in which you needed to read the first 5 issues of Firestorm (volume 1, 1978) I decided to finally give that short-lived series a go. Though the book only lasted 5 issues, it actually had a secret 6th issue that did see print. But unless you have about $35,000 to buy the extremely scared 'Cancelled Comics Cavalcade' (of which only 35 issues were ever issued) then you'd be hard pressed to find out what happened to the combined might of teenager Ronnie Raymond and troubled physicist Martin Stein.

Thankfully, this trade from 2011 includes that ve
ry rare story. This book also contains several backup features from the Flash in which the adventures of Firestorm pick up again after Superman invites the Nuclear Man to join the Justice League. What this collection doesn't include is that pivotal DC Presents story in which we learn of what transpired during Firestorm's year long absence from the superhero community and the Man of Steel's initial invitation to the JLA. Also missing is the issue of Justice League of America in which Firestorm is inducted as its youngest member. I think both stories should have been included as they are vital to the plot of those Flash back-ups I mentioned earlier.

Another story missing from the volume is the fabled 7th issue of Firestorm: The Nuclear Man. Technically, there isn't a 7th issue though it is advertised in the Cancelled Comics feature. But maybe co-creators Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom might team up for a Firestorm: Lost Adventures one-shot to explore that missing plotline.

Though I only needed this book to finish my run as I already had issue 1-5, I'm not disappointed in the least on the stories I did receive. There was just a few missed opportunities here like a small forward or afterward that might on included some great backstory as to the creation or cancellation of this series. With DC being very nostalgia centric during its Convergence storyline and the fall 2015 spin-off, I think the publisher would be remiss if they didn't issue a new Firestorm collection to hit the shelves very soon. Hopefully, it will feature some of these omitted features that I think could have made this collection an essential piece to any Firestorm fan's collection.

[Fizzgig76 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reprints Firestorm #1-5, Cancelled Comics Cavalcade #1, and Flash (1) #289-293 (March 1978-January 1981). Ronnie Raymond is out to impress Doreen Day when he accidentally joins forces with a terrorist group out to stop a nuclear experiment by Professor Martin Stein. When the experiment goes horribly wrong, Professor Stein and Ronnie find themselves transformed into the superhuman being known as Firestorm: The Nuclear Man!

Written by Gerry Conway with art by both Allen Milgrom and George Perez, Firestorm: The Nuclear Man collects the first appearances of Firestorm in his first series which ran from March 1978 to November 1978 and the follow-up appearances in the Flash.

Firestorm was one of my favorite characters as a kid. For me (as many kids), he was introduced to Super Friends in Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show in 1984 as “the new kid”. I didn’t like him as much as the Wonder Twins, but I did like him more than many of the adult superheroes. When I got into comics, Firestorm became a favorite.

The Firestorm series was a good introduction but suffered a problem. It became a victim of the “DC Implosion” which saw the cancellation of twelve series…including Firestorm. It is too bad because the Firestorm series wasn’t that bad and a bit better than some of the other rival titles. The collection also featured the black-and-white Firestorm #7 which was finally printed in Cancelled Comics Cavalcade (this story also was merged into Typhoon’s first appearance in Flash #294).

I actually always thought Firestorm was one of the better designed characters. I loved Allen Milgrom’s look for the character (which he of course got stuck with due for years due to the fact he didn’t choose his costume). I hated when the character was finally redesigned and I think that the look should remain like it did here.

Firestorm was just an interesting story. The character had a lot of depth with a different type of power and with the paranoia about nuclear energy when he was released, it provided room for exploration…unfortunately, Firestorm never got the chance to explore it (to see where Firestorm could have gone, check out Nuke’s story in Squadron Supreme for a real downer). Though the volume feels incomplete due to the circumstances of the comic's cancellation, check out Firestorm: The Nuclear Man for an odd and unusual character.

[Shamus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm really glad that this collection is available. Firestorm was one of my favorite heroes as a kid. That being said, this isn't really the series that got me interested back in the 80's. This is a collection of the five issue original series along with a black and white release of the never published 6th issue and then the beginning of the back stories that were part of the Flash comic book for a while.
The biggest problem with this comic is the absolutely atrocious writing. The writer, Gerry Conway, has the most unrealistic grasp on people, especially teenagers. Somehow, a star jock is constantly bullied by a sniveling nerd. Raymond constantly cries and throws emo tantrums. It makes the comic seriously difficult to get through. It also doesn't help that the villains that Conway create for this comic are some of the worst I've ever seen. Still a great read for someone looking for the Nostalgia of the old comics of their youth, but it takes a while for the comic to get to the Flash issues and that's when it finally becomes more readable.
There's also the problem of Raymond allowing professor Stein's mind to be tortured because he puts off telling him why he keeps having memory blackouts, since he can't remember being Firestorm after it happens. Raymond goes back and forth from being a pathetic victim that you can't really feel bad for and a completely inconsiderate douchebag. Thankfully his character was much improved on by the time the second series started in 82. I hope to see a collection of that soon.

[Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this trip down memory lane, and it firmly reminded me why I liked Gerry Conway's writing and Firestorm the character. My comic reading peak as a kid and young adult was the late 70's to late 80's, and Firestorm featured a lot in that reading.
This overdue collection collects together Firestorm's short lived first series, with some back ups from The Flash comic, a nice 175 pages for your money. Firestorm was essentially Conway's take on a Spider-Man type character for DC, with a few extra wrinkles ( much as Marv Wolfman did the same with Nova).
This collection is never less than entertaining, comics the way they used to be before everyone worried about being ultra realistic. It's a fun read, full stop, and nice art throughout. Yes, it's a little simplistic for today, some of the plots are stretched to the limits of believability, but the writing and art always carry you through.
For me personally, it was like reacquainting with an old friend I hadn't seen in a while, and being reminded why we were friends in the first place.
And how many other superhero books feature a nuclear physicist as a hero? ( I know, Bruce Banner may count, but who else?)
Great read.

[Timothy Villa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I grew up reading Gerry Conway, but I'd never read these. I read some of V2 by Conway, and they weren't bad. These however are abysmal four issues in. It's interesting to see the weak origins of Multiplex, the first Killer Frost, and The Hyena. Simplistic to a fault. Multiplex pretty much gets his powers, complains of pain, and two pages later suddenly has a name and a costume. The Al Milgrom art saves it from a complete waste of time though.

EDIT: And I am done. The art is all that is good in this collection. Such a shame. Firestorm is a personal favorite of mine, but this just didn't work. Later versions of the character and series, by the same creative team even, work much better, including his time in The JLA.

[Nicolas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had a Firestorm action figure since 1987, but other than that we've had no interaction. This collection was surprisingly entertaining. It contains the original six issue run (including the issue that only ran in Cancelled Comics Cavalcade) as well as the back up stories in Flash comics. It's a pretty good overview of the character, but it clearly didn't have time to fully develop. It left some hanging storylines including Ronald's dad, the principal and the P.I. It also includes team-ups with Superman and the Flash.

We covered an issue from this run in the Quarter Bin segment of Comic Book Coffee Break: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOtBW...

[Paul French · Rating 4 out of 5]

A favorite character of mine as a kid, this collection was a great nostalgic read for me. I had forgotten how many of the plotlines that turned up in Fury of Firestorm had started here. This includes the original 5 issue series, that was cut short by the DC Implosion, plus the 6th issue story that was only ever printed in the hard to find Cancelled Comics Cavalcade. The collection is rounded out by the 8 page backups that were originally printed in The Flash. Hopefully this sells well, and they can start trading Fury of Firestorm!

[quincy jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting and liked the story but not as good as the 52 one.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always loved the original Firestorm comic so having him turn up in the Flash TV series was a punch the air moment.

[Koen · Rating 2 out of 5]

pretty dated as you can tell from the start... Drawings are nice though, but the conversations and the one-liners.. terrible :)