You think you know the story: Star athlete Ronnie Raymond and brilliant physicist Martin Stein are caught in a massive explosion, which fuses them together into a singular being. This being, having the ability to manipulate nuclear forces, becomes Firestorm. Firestorm becomes a hero, fighting off threats that include Killer Frost and Multiplex. The Fury of Firestorm #2 starts to call this into question, leaping back in time to explore the accident that transformed Ronnie and Stein.
Firestorm is no stranger to having his origin revamped. During John Ostrander’s Firestorm run in the ’80s, the Firestorm Matrix was revealed to be a pure elemental force of fire rather than nuclear power. In Doomsday Clock, it’s shown that Stein deliberately caused the accident that fused himself and Ronnie together as part of “Project Superman.” Jeff Lemire takes a different approach with The Fury of Firestorm #2, hinting that when Ronnie and Stein fused together, something else was born. This new entity has become Firestorm and is responsible for the horrific events taking place in Bedford.
What makes The Fury of Firestorm #2 an intriguing read is that it takes place nearly entirely from Ronnie Raymond’s point of view, as we see the events that lead him to become Firestorm. Lemire doesn’t change any of the major elements, as Ronnie’s still a skilled athlete and still strikes up a friendship with Stein. However, he does add more dimension to Ronnie, showcasing a kid who wanted nothing more than to make his father proud and who struggled to succeed in school. It’s no surprise that he formed such a strong bond with Stein, as the professor more or less serves as a surrogate father figure to him.
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Rafael de Latorre is constantly shifting his art based on different characters’ perspective, while keeping the horror angle that made the debut issue such a great read. The story opens with both Ronnie and Stein howling in pain as they’re enveloped by nuclear fire; then their bodies merge in a whirlwind of flame, creating Firestorm. Another page once again pays homage to Firestorm’s Silver Age adventures, down to the classic thought balloons whenever Stein instructs Ronnie in utilizing his powers or Killer Frost’s design. And then things change quickly, and violently.
In what’s definitely the standout moment of the issue, there’s a massive two-page spread that features Firestorm’s head shattering, and Ronnie falling out; this all but foreshadows the mysterious presence that’s taken control of the Nuclear Man. Once again, I can’t help but think of the work that Lemire was doing on Absolute Flash, with a trippy issue that made perfect use of the Mirror Master’s powers. I love that he’s willing to push the comic medium this far, and that de Latorre and Marcelo Maiolo are willing to oblige.
The issue ends with the promise of yet another major superhero showdown, and given that this is a Firestorm who’s less concerned with his humanity, it spells trouble for what’s left of Bedford and potentially the world. The Fury of Firestorm #2 will forever change how you look at the Nuclear Man, adding new wrinkles to his origin that hint at the horror to come.
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