The Flame is a fictional superhero character who made his debut in Wonderworld Comics #3 (July, 1939), published by Fox Feature Syndicate during the Golden Age of comics. Created by writer Will Eisner and artist Lou Fine, The Flame is one of the earliest superheroes to possess actual flame powers.
Thanks to his training, The Flame can control fire and heat. He has the ability to raise his own body temperature to the point where he can burst into flames or even melt bullets. Additionally, he can control and direct any flame in his vicinity. The Flame can also teleport from one place to another by appearing inside any fire source, regardless of its size. However, The Flame’s main weakness is water, which can significantly weaken him. To counter this, he carries a small, pistol-sized flamethrower that provides fire whenever he needs it.
The Flame’s real name is Gary Preston. As a child, he was rescued by a group of lamas in Tibet and raised in their lamasery, where he was trained in their mystical ways. Through this training, Gary gained the ability to control fire and temperature, allowing him to generate and manipulate flames. He uses his powers to fight crime and protect the innocent, often teaming up with his girlfriend and fellow superhero, Flame Girl.
During the Golden Age of comics, The Flame was a popular character who appeared in his own self-titled series as well as in other titles, such as “Big 3” with The Blue Beetle and Samson. However, after the decline of the superhero genre in the late 1940s, The Flame, along with many other characters, faded into obscurity.
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