Human Flame

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Publication information
Human Flame
The Human Flame retreats after a robbery. Artwork by Carlos Pacheco from Justice League of America #21 (2008).
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Detective Comics #274 (December 1959)
Created by	Joe Certa (art)
In story information
Full name	Michael Miller
Team affiliations	The Society
Abilities	None; uses a flamethrower.

The Human Flame is a fictional character, a supervillain that has appeared in various comic books published by DC Comics. The character exists within DC's shared universe, the DC Universe. First appearing in a backup story in Detective Comics #274 in 1959, the character was brought back after this singular appearance for DC's 2008 summer crossover story arc Final Crisis.

[edit] Fictional character biography

The Human Flame, real name Michael Miller, was a low-level villain captured by the Martian Manhunter early in his career, incarcerated and embarrassed.^[1] Although at first he was able to deplete the Martian Manhunter of energy with his built-in flamethrower, the Manhunter eventually grabbed the ground out from under the Flame and took him to a high enough altitude where the flames could no longer burn due to lack of oxygen. Flame is also known to have at least at one point been responsible for a wife and child, but was a failure in his familial role.

After this one off appearance, he was not seen in publication for nearly fifty years. Recently, in Justice League of America (vol. 2) #21, he was seen robbing a bank and reluctantly fighting Red Arrow and Hawkgirl. It was stated in this issue that 8 in-universe years have passed since his arrest in Detective #274.^[2] He hated the Martian Manhunter more than anything for "ruining his life," and attempted to avoid superheroes at all costs. He has recently enlisted with Libra and the Secret Society of Super Villains. As a reward for joining him, Libra promised him power and his heart's desire: "revenge against the Martian Manhunter."

In Final Crisis #1, after the events of Salvation Run, the Martian Manhunter has been captured by Libra and the Society. Preaching about granting the Society's wildest dreams, Libra stabs the Manhunter with his flaming staff while the Flame looks on, his wish having been the first granted by Libra. He films the murder to post on the internet later.^[3]

Grant Morrison, the author of Final Crisis, explained why he picked such an obscure character:^[4]

With The Human Flame, I wanted a Martian Manhunter villain, and I couldn't find a really good one. Then, looking through the old 'Showcase Presents' books, I discovered this stupid guy called Mike, who declared himself to be the Human Flame. And he wore a homemade costume with six nipples that shot flames. So I just thought this is a great way to start this book because the idea is that Libra gives all the villains a very simple choice, he says, 'Follow me and I'll give you your heart's desire.' And that's it. And some of the villains naturally say, 'Prove it.' So the Human Flame is one of the first to fall in with Libra and he says, 'If you can get revenge on my old enemy, who has had me stuck in jail for the last five years, I'll follow you anywhere.' I needed a small-scale dumb guy, who could make very big waves and open the book with a shock moment and the Human Flame fit the bill.