Phineas Horton (Earth-616)

## Professor Phineas Horton

**Professor Phineas Horton** was an American scientist who created the Human Torch.

## Biography

### Creating the Torch

Professor Horton creates a synthezoid, however a flaw in its creation causes it to light on fire whenever it comes into contact with oxygen. Horton calls for a meeting with the press and shows his creation which he terms the Human Torch. The press is unnerved by the creation and calls for its destruction but Horton refuses. Later, the Science Guild contacts Horton and states that want to see the Torch for themselves. Horton showcases the Torch to the Guild who concur with the media's call to destroy it because Horton has no way of controlling the heat that the Torch emits. Horton once again refuses to destroy his creation and claims that he may be able to create a device in order to control the heat. The guild the advises Horton to bury the Torch underground until he has completed the device. Horton agrees and has the Torch put in a steel tube which is put in cement. Time goes and one morning oxygen leaks in the tube and causes an explosion. The explosion breaks all the windows in Horton's home. Horton awakes and realizes what happens and he quickly gets dressed but is too late and the Torch is speeding down the street.

Later Horton hears news that the Torch was spotted at Tony Sardo's estate he travels there with the Fire Fighters. While there he sees the estate on fire and sees a tank of nitro in the house. Fearing an explosion, Horton attempts to run in the house to take the tank out, but the Torch jumps into action first and grabs the Nitro which melts and causes his flames to go out. Horton is shocked by the development and runs out of the house. Later Horton sees the Torch carrying another tank of Nitro after killing Tony Sardo and witnesses the Torch putting out the fire. Later Horton and the Torch are summoned to the police headquarters in order to deal with the destruction that the Torch caused. The Police Captain then states the Torch can be free as long as Horton takes care of him. The Torch later tells Horton that he has complete control of his fire. Horton states that he could make a fortune with the Torch but the Torch is unhappy with the idea of being used and flies off abandoning Horton. Horton allegedly died in the fire the Torch made when he escaped.

## Personality

Professor Horton was a genius inventor and cared about his creations immensely. Despite this he stated several times that he was afraid of the Human Torch because of the uncontrollable flames. He was also courageous as he was willing to run into Sardo's Estate in order to grab a nitro tank and prevent an explosion. He was also interested in using the Human Torch for profit when he discovered that he was able to control his flames.

## Appearance

Horton was an average Caucasian man in 1939. He stood at 5'10" and weighed 133 lbs. His appearance in Marvel Comics #1 portrayed him as an older man with gray hair, but later comics revised it so that he was more middle aged most likely being somewhere in his 40s-50s. and he still had mostly brown hair. He had blue eyes.

## Attributes

### Skills

**Engineering**: Horton was skilled enough to create a fully operative, albeit faulty, synthezoid in 1939.

### Abilities

**Genius Intellect**: Horton was incredibly intelligent which is testifiable in his ability to create a synthezoid in 1939.

## Relationships

### Creations

**Human Torch**

Horton created the Human Torch in 1939. Horton was afraid of the Torch because of the fact he could not control the fire. Despite his fear, he was unwilling to destroy him because of his belief that he could create a device to regulate the temperature. Horton went searching for the Torch however he also wanted to profit on the Torch when he learned the Torch could control his fire.

## Quotes

> "Gentlemen of the press, I called you to my laboratory because I, Professor Horton, have a difficult problem in my latest discovery."
>
> **Phineas Horton**, Marvel Comics Vol 1 #!

## Miscellaneous Information

### Appearances

* Marvel Comics Vol 1 #1
* Marvel Mystery Comics Vol 1 #2

### Gallery

Marvel Comics Vol 1 #1YoungBefore deathShowing the Human Torch