Why didn't the Jim Hammond "Human Torch" remain as popular as Namor?

[SecretWarrior]

[the illustrious mr. kenway]

The younger Human Torch probably upstaged him.

[CaptCleghorn]

The younger Human Torch probably upstaged him.

I agree. Bringing back Hammond would either lessen Johnny's importance, or not be a big deal due to Johnny's popularity. DC had a Earth One/Earth Two setup where Golden Age characters with the same name and approximate power set could dwell happily, but Marvel didn't do this.

[kcekada]

Johnny was largely based on Jim Hammond, so there wasn't much point to bringing back -- though they eventually did. Johnny even wore a uniform patterned after Jim's in the early 70s (the red/yellow one which I thought was cool). Namor didn't have a modern day analog, though they did introduce Namorita later -- but she was an analog of Namora.

[Lukmendes]

Johnny was largely based on Jim Hammond, so there wasn't much point to bringing back -- though they eventually did. Johnny even wore a uniform patterned after Jim's in the early 70s (the red/yellow one which I thought was cool). Namor didn't have a modern day analog, though they did introduce Namorita later -- but she was an analog of Namora.

Was gonna more or less say this lol.

Hammond is redundant because Johnny exists, it's not unlike how Johnny Blaze replaced Carter Slade as the Ghost Rider, it's simply a case of a replacement being more popular than the original who fell into obscurity.

[the illustrious mr. kenway]

I agree. Bringing back Hammond would either lessen Johnny's importance, or not be a big deal due to Johnny's popularity. DC had a Earth One/Earth Two setup where Golden Age characters with the same name and approximate power set could dwell happily, but Marvel didn't do this.

It's more the latter. I feel Jim was unable to find a place outside of WW2. So Johnny and Vision did his niche better.

[K7P5V]

Johnny was largely based on Jim Hammond, so there wasn't much point to bringing back -- though they eventually did. Johnny even wore a uniform patterned after Jim's in the early 70s (the red/yellow one which I thought was cool). Namor didn't have a modern day analog, though they did introduce Namorita later -- but she was an analog of Namora.

I know, right?! The majority might not agree, but Hammond's revival is still breathtaking (IMHO):

[JudicatorPrime]

The younger Human Torch probably upstaged him.

Once a conscious decision was made to write a character that appealed to the then younger audience, the Original Human Torch's fate was sealed. That they would later create the Vision pretty much was the gravestone and epitaph. I like OHT, but part of me thinks it was a mistake to bring him back. But sometimes nostalgia dominates our creative choices.

[Sandy Hausler]

Wait a minute, is Namor popular?

[JudicatorPrime]

I agree. Bringing back Hammond would either lessen Johnny's importance, or not be a big deal due to Johnny's popularity. DC had a Earth One/Earth Two setup where Golden Age characters with the same name and approximate power set could dwell happily, but Marvel didn't do this.

I'd re-create Ultimate Earth for this very reason. Put Jim on that Earth along with Blue Marvel, Oshtur, Madelyne Pryor, Isaiah Bradley (Captain America), Miles Morales, the original Vision (Aarkus), Beta Ray Bill, the Mystery Men, the Squadron Sinister, some version of the X-Men lead by Mister Sinister and a few others.

[ShatteredReality]

I don't think Isaiah Bradley would work if he's not on the same earth as Steve Rogers. I mean the whole point of his character is that he was forgotten in the face of a white man.

[Chris0013]

I think it is simply because he wasn't used. The super hero stuff went away for a few years...then was brought back in the 60s. Cap showed up in The Avengers and Namor became and enemy of the FF but Jim was never really brought back in any meaningful way like those two.

[the illustrious mr. kenway]

Once a conscious decision was made to write a character that appealed to the then younger audience, the Original Human Torch's fate was sealed. That they would later create the Vision pretty much was the gravestone and epitaph. I like OHT, but part of me thinks it was a mistake to bring him back. But sometimes nostalgia dominates our creative choices.

He would've been ideal for Avengers AI but a period piece approach like Mystery Men would've worked better.

JMS'S the Twelve would've also worked. I don't mind nostalgia as long as it has a purpose more than just keeping Superman young.

So having him live all those years would've been interesting. He could be a foil to Steve- a man untouched by time.

[mugiwara]

The younger Human Torch probably upstaged him.

That's the MC-Young for you. Wokes are ruining everything, replacing all our classic characters with those babyfaced twinks.

[Reviresco]

Wait a minute, is Namor popular?

I guess it depends on how you define popular. He's very, very, very popular with all of his fans.