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’ll don the mask and wear the cape
If I am super, how can I wait?
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
All I wanted was to be unconditionally loved while never having to work on my flaws. Is that so much to ask?
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.
Last edited by the illustrious mr. kenway; 01-30-2023 at 11:11 AM.