Wow!  I enjoyed the first issue of this miniseries, but this second installment has surpassed my expectations.  The co-plotters Alex Ross, Jim Krueger and Mike Carey are doing some very compelling comic book story telling with this series.  The main tale involves the Mad Thinker reviving the original Human Torch and turning him into a weapon for A.I.M.  Running under the main plot are the juicy mysteries of what has happened to Toro’s powers, what were Toro’s parents doing working for a Nazi sympathizer, and how is the Thinker planning to use his discoveries to benefit himself?  “The Torch” may elevate the Mad Thinker from C-list villain into a much more significant character.  Carey provides the Thinker with the kind of great portentous and pretentious dialogue that a super villain should have.

            The art is nothing short of gorgeous.  The overall effect is something like the art on DC’s “Cry for Justice” miniseries.  I don’t know how the art was executed, perhaps it was penciled, inked and then painted.  It does have a painted look.  In any case, the anatomy, backgrounds and facial expressions look great.  I like how the flames appear to billow off the Torch.  I love how, in a couple of panels, the Thinker is given “crazy eyes” with his pupils appearing to subtly look in different directions.

            If the overall quality of this series is maintained, it could be a genuine epic.