Firestorm’s Secret Origin Revisited: Reviewing ‘Fury Of Firestorm’ #2

With Ronnie Raymond and Professor Martin Stein mysteriously separated from their Firestorm persona, the eponymous hero of writer Jeff Lemire and artist Rafael De Latorre’s Fury of Firestorm #2, it would seem Firestorm has gone rogue. And nuclear powered. So, you can imagine the might of America’s military is taking note. But in this issue, we get a recount of Firestorm’s origin. One, arguably, many readers may not be too familiar with, but one that explores a young man trying to impress his father and a girl. And failing at both.

It’s not long before we realise this is all happening in Ronnie’s mind, as we once more are treated to a variety of art styles to suit the memory. And so, Latorre, along with colourist Marcus Mailolo, have a great time switching from more contemporary comic book art, with a colour scheme to match, to newspaper print style art and colours and even a softer, washed out colour palette to depict Ronnie’s very early years. It’s certainly an issue that gets any new reader up to speed with Ronnie and Martin’s shared history while adding new layers to Ronnie’s past. Many – if not all – superheroes have personal tragedies in their lives, usually involving a lost loved one. But Ronnie’s personal pain seems to be different, pointing to an absent father and a surrogate one in Professor Stein. 

While it isn’t all lights, camera, action, it’s an issue I feel that was needed early in this run to simply establish character and backstory. And Lemire does that expertly, even echoing the four widescreen panel set-up on the first page of this origin issue in a similar vein to Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s All-Star Superman.

Fury of the Firestorm is a very apt title for this comic book so far, given everyone’s favourite nuclear man is a fury unleashed. Just don’t poke him too much. That, however, is advice not heeded, setting up a more action-packed third issue.

Fury of Firestorm #2 is out now from DC Comics.