After 64 Years, Marvel Improves Fantastic Four’s Best Catchphrase

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Fantastic Four #12!

It’s one of Marvel’s most legendary catchphrases: “Flame on!” So how could The Fantastic Four make it any cooler? How about saying it in Latin? That’s the iconic moment that just resulted from half of “Marvel’s First Family” taking a side quest back in time to the days of Ancient Rome.

That is, Mr. Fantastic and the Human Torch, who are forced to travel thousands of years into the past to prevent aliens from wiping out humanity at a more vulnerable point in history. In a literal “when in Rome” moment, Johnny Storm adapts his battle cry to suit the setting, roaring the Latin equivalent before igniting Reed’s improvised Earth defense system, a series of catapults.

Fantastic Four #12 is written by Ryan North, with art by Edgar Delgado. It’s a fun standalone story starring Marvel’s premiere pair of brothers-in-law, and to the creative team’s credit, they managed to be inventive with both protagonists, including dropping a memorable new evolution of Human Torch’s catchphrase: “Fiat Flamma!“

Human Torch Translates “Flame On” Into Latin During A Detour To Ancient Rome: “Fiat Flamma”

Fantastic Four #12 Innovates On A Classic Marvel Catchphrase

There might not be a lot of contexts where Johnny Storm will bust out “fiat flamma” moving forward, but it’s still a novel moment in the Human Torch’s long history worth unpacking. It might seem like a minor thing, but think of how much “flame on” is embedded in the pop culture consciousness. It’s one of those effortless quirks of Stan Lee’s language, up there with “Hulk smash,” and “Avengers assemble!” for his greatest catchphrases.

So, to elaborate on that, even as a throwaway, is still a milestone for Marvel characters as old as the Human Torch. The Latin meaning of “fiat” is approximately “let it be,” while “flamma” evolved into the modern word “flame.” So, in contemporary English, Torch might try saying “let loose the flames,” which might be another exciting way for him to mix things up after 6+ decades of saying “flame on.”

60+ Years After Human Torch’s Introduction, “Flame On” Is Still Legendary, And Highly Translatable

Stan Lee’s Greatest Superhero Catchphrase Is Almost Universal

Really, there’s no messing with perfection when it comes to a catchphrase like “flame on!” It’s always effective as a fist-pumping moment for the Human Torch, when he’s going to quite literally light things up, turning the heat up exponentially on any fight he joins. “Fiat flamma” is one of those deviations from the norm that proves why the norm has had such staying power. It’s a smart switch-up given the setting of Fantastic Four #12, and that adaptability is key.

Think of all the languages Marvel Comics are translated into. “Flame on” is easily translatable, its meaning, and dramatic effectiveness, easy to transpose into other languages. Everyone has a word for fire. And pretty much every language has a word for “make it happen” or “activate” or “go.” Fantastic Four #12 proves that’s true of classical languages like Latin too.

Fantastic Four Isn’t Done Trying New Things With The Human Torch

Fantastic Four #13; Coming July 2026 From Marvel Comics

Fantastic Four’s current creative team is still just getting warmed up, and they’ve got more exciting, innovative things in store for the Human Torch. Including cosplaying as Ghost Rider. That’s right. Here’s the synopsis for next month’s Fantastic Four #13:

Johnny Storm has had some incredibly bad ideas in his time, but every once in a while he also has an incredibly good idea too. Unfortunately, it’s hard to tell which is which until you’re neck-deep in their consequences, and by then it’s usually too late. We mention this only because in this issue, Johnny convinces his sister Sue to go along with a scheme to use her powers to turn the flesh of his skull invisible, so that when he flames on he can pass himself off as the Ghost Rider and settle some old scores. What could possibly go wrong? It’s a Johnny-and-Sue adventure you won’t soon forget!

Of course, “what could possibly go wrong” is going to propel the action of the issue. What is worth noting here is how this volume of Fantastic Four is leaning into Johnny Storm as a wildcard character.

Johnny started off as the “immature” one of the team, and at times he’s been portrayed as the loose cannon of the Four. Author Ryan North is delivering a refined version of that classic character concept. North’s Human Torch is more responsible, but only up to a point. That came through in Fantastic Four #12, and it appears to be the centerpiece of Marvel’s next Fantastic Four storyline, dropping in July.

Fantastic Four #12 is available now from Marvel Comics.

Let’s hear it, Marvel readers. What do you think of Fantastic Four’s current characterization of Johnny Storm?

Video Game(s)

Fantastic Four (1997), Fantastic Four (2005)

First Film

The Fantastic Four

Cast

Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Bell, Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach

Created by

Stan Lee, Jack Kirby