| SPOILER WARNING! This article contains spoilers from The Fantastic Four: First Steps |
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- Ben – “What are you doing?”
- Johnny – “What do you mean, What am i doing?”
- — Ben asked Johnny
Torchthing is the slash ship between Johnny Lowell Spencer Storm and Benjamin Jacob Grimm from the Marvel and Marvel Cinematic Universe fandom.
Canon[]
The Fantastic Four: First Steps (comic)[]
On Earth-828 in 1960, 4 years before the events of the film, Johnny and Ben was interviewed together before started their mission and teased each other as best friends.
A team of four astronauts, Dr. Reed Richards, Ben Grimm, Dr. Sue Storm, and Johnny Storm, gained extraordinary abilities after exposure to cosmic radiation during a spaceflight. Upon their return, Richards quarantined the group in Building Q within Celestial Cradle, Huntsville, where they underwent evaluation using advanced technologies.
At Reed Richards' insistence, Johnny and the other three astronauts isolated themselves within Building Q in the Celestial Cradle in Huntsville, Alabama. They took the time alone to figure out precisely how their new abilities worked while ensuring they were not a danger to everyone else. However, Storm grew bored once he had learned to manage his powers and one day asked Richards when they would be able to leave. Richards insisted that it was not time yet while Ben Grimm got frustrated and attacked a robot designated K.E.R.B.I.E., telling Storm to stop moping. Storm insisted that he was not moping, but rather that he was bored and sad and that he felt life to be meaningless.
However, when Grimm explained that Storm had just described moping, Storm lit himself on fire and explained his frustrations. However, Grimm voiced his own frustrations with his body's physical transformation, leading them to fight physically while Richards tried and failed to separate them. They shouted at each other about the other moping, but Sue Storm cut in and put a forcefield around Johnny and Ben's heads, temporarily preventing them from breathing and making them stop. Sue showed the others video footage of an attack in New York City, shocking Johnny. Grimm and Richards agreed it was time to leave, so they got into a vehicle and left Building Q, flying toward New York
The assault was led by Harvey Elder, known as the "Mole Man," who declared war on the surface world. He claimed that the surface's rapid development had brought catastrophe to Subterranea. Responding to the threat, the team, soon dubbed the "Fantastic Four" by the public, stopped the Deviant Giganto's rampage across Manhattan. They followed the trail through a collapsed building into the depths below, where they confronted the Mole Man. He ultimately surrendered after Sue contained his partner, who was pregnant with a Moloid, though he commanded his forces to continue their cause.
The team arrived in New York City and stepped out of their vehicle, where they were mobbed by reporters. At first, Storm believed someone else famous had arrived, but he soon realized that the reporters were there for him and his friends. Suddenly, the team were confronted by a large monster named Giganto. Storm was briefly distracted by Ben Grimm shouting about clobbering and was worried about making people nervous by using his powers. Reed Richards said that he felt the same way, giving Storm the confidence to light himself on fire and attack Giganto. Sue Storm surrounded Giganto in a forcefield, suffocating him enough to make him go down while Johnny regrouped with the others.
Suddenly, the Pan Am Building fell into the ground, so Johnny Storm and the others went to investigate. They found Harvey Elder leading an attack and confronted him, so Elder had his army attack the team. Storm fought his attackers and warned nearby women to stay away from his flames. Elder saw a pregnant soldier getting attacked and surrendered in exchange for her safety, so Storm stopped fighting and joined the team in taking Elder away.
Sue Storm and Harvey Elder worked to establish peace between Subterranea and the rest of the world, with Johnny Storm and the rest of the team working together to help the Moloids rebuild their society. The team hosted Elder and several others at a large dinner, which Storm enjoyed.
The team, now known as the Fantastic Four, began working together regularly and established the Baxter Building as their base of operations. They held a ribbon cutting ceremony, during which Storm burned the ribbon to cut it with Ben stands beside him. The team then celebrated their new building, while Johnny teased Ben Grimm for his catchphrase of "It's clobberin' time."
The Fantastic Four: First Steps (before film event)[]
Johnny later gave an interview to Teen Living where he said that the other members of the Fantastic Four kept him grounded (including Ben Grimm, who he called his best friend). He said that Ben Grimm's food was his favorite meal, and that he would always try it before dinner.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps[]
in 1964. the world celebrates the fourth anniversary of astronauts Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Ben Grimm, and Johnny Storm becoming the Fantastic Four, Ben and Johnny always joke around before Sunday dinner. someday, when Reed and Sue reveal that they are expecting a child, Johnny happily proclaims that he and Ben will be the best uncles.
Months later, the Silver Surfer comes to Earth and declares that it has been marked for destruction by Galactus, a planet-devouring cosmic being. Reed studies the disappearance of other planets and verifies this claim, and the team decides to return to space to stop Galactus from coming to Earth. They track the Silver Surfer's energy signature and, using faster-than-light (FTL) travel, arrive to a new planet just as it is destroyed by Galactus's ship. The team is captured and brought to Galactus (While Johnny tries to flirt with Silver Surfer but fails with Ben teases him.) The team refuses the offer from Galactus and escapes from the ship while Ben protects and carrys Johnny. Using the gravity from a neutron star, which destroys their FTL system, the team delays the chasing Silver Surfer and propel themselves back to Earth. Sue gives birth to a boy, Franklin, on the way, everyone on board is happy.
On their return to Earth a month later, Reed reveals the details of their encounter during a press conference. Their decision to save one child over the billions of other people on Earth leads to a public outcry, with many calling for Franklin to be sacrificed to Galactus. Johnny begins to decipher the Silver Surfer's native language using his interactions with her and some deep space transmissions Reed intercepted from her planet. They also have transmissions from planets that Galactus destroyed. Ben gets scolded by people, As Galactus draws near and protests against the Fantastic Four escalate with Johnny and Ben looked at the crowd with concern, while looking at each other., Sue takes Franklin to meet with protesters.
She explains that they will not sacrifice their child, but they will also not give up on the rest of humanity, Ben and Johnny agrees. Using a teleportation system that he has been working on, Reed devises a plan to build large teleportation bridges across Earth so they can transport the entire planet to another solar system where Galactus cannot reach them. Through the Future Foundation, Sue organizes the world's nations to build the bridges and conserve the energy needed to use them. Because of this, when the electricity all over the world goes out, Ben can't shave his beard, but Johnny who is with him says "he looks cool", which makes Ben suspicious but he lets his beard grow.
As the bridges are being activated, the Silver Surfer returns and begins destroying them. Johnny prevents her from destroying the final bridge in Times Square, and reveals what he learned from the signal: her name is Shalla-Bal, and she became Galactus' messenger to save her world, Zen-La. Hearing the signal from the planet she helped destroy, Shalla-Bal expresses remorse but refuses to help and flees. Johnny rejoins the team with Ben praises him, though Johnny dismisses it as no big deal.
After Sue's wraith, Ben and Johnny are in Johnny's bedroom, arguing about going to check on Susan. But then Susan unexpectedly shows up, startling them both. Ben complains to Johnny. Using Franklin as bait, the team plans to lure Galactus to the last bridge and teleport him away. Sue negotiates with Harvey Elder to evacuate New York City's citizens to Subterranea, his underground city, Elder gets into arguments with everyone, including Johnny, who is extremely upset. In a fit of rage, he goes to attack Elder, but Ben catches him and tells him to calm down. Johnny then walks away with Ben.
Galactus makes his way through the city and captures Franklin, avoiding the trap. Sue uses all of her power to push him towards the portal with a force field while Reed rescues Franklin. Ben, who was trying to fight Galactus, was thrown out of space. When Johnny saw him, he shouted his name and quickly flew up into the sky to help him, catching Ben's unconscious hand from suffocation just in time before he was frozen in space. Johnny flies Ben down to Earth and insists he say his catchphrase. Ben initially refuses, but eventually says it and saves Reed, who is being tortured by Galactus, The plan succeeds when Galactus is sucked into the portal, but resists and attempts to attack Ben and Reed, Johnny attempts to sacrifice himself to give Galactus a final push into the portal, but is stopped by Shalla-Bal. She pushes Galactus into the portal herself and it closes behind them. Sue dies from her efforts, but is revived by Franklin.
Johnny and Ben, relieved, looked at each other with smiles before Johnny leaned on Ben's chest, with Ben gently rubbing his shoulder. Later, before the TV show started, Ben and Johnny were happily teasing Franklin, with Johnny pretending to eat the little boy while Ben told the little boy to pull Johnny's hair back. After they went on their mission, they argued about how to fasten the child's seat belt in the car. But when they succeeded, they came back and gave Sue and Franklin the thumbs up, along with Reed. The team later goes on a new mission as the world celebrates their fifth anniversary.
Moments[]
The Fantastic Four: First Steps (comic)
- Johnny and Ben had an argument and got into wrestling
- Johnny teased Ben Grimm for his catchphrase of "It's clobberin' time." after distracted by Ben
- Ben and Johnny held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Baxter Building, during which Johnny burned the ribbon to cut it, with Ben standing beside him like a lover.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps (films)[]
- Before the space mission, Ben and Johnny happily partnered up for an interview.
- During pre-rocket preparations, Ben and Johnny discuss the details of the mission, and after donning their suits, Ben looks Johnny in the eye and affectionately pats his head through his astronaut suit. (this was only the scene for advertisment or could be deleted scene from final version)
- Johnny looks at Ben, who is wearing an astronaut suit, with a smile.
- After becoming famous, he gave interviews about Ben and had several covers with Ben.
- In Fantastic Four Day scene (Deleted Scene), Ben asked Johnny to looks at his face but Johnny declined, said "Sally" deserved his attention, Ben flicked Johnny on the side of the head and walk away and said "Johnny is shallow guy".
- Before dinner, Johnny tasted the food with his finger, so much so that Ben had to warn him, but Ben tasted it again with his finger.
- Ben warns Johnny not to eat cereal before dinner. Johnny replies that he's hungry, and they talk about Reed and Sue being late for their appointment.
- After learning that he's going to be an uncle, Johnny declares that he and Ben will be the best uncles, with Ben smiling beside him.
- Ben comforts Johnny that someday they will go to space. Johnny replies that it's okay.
- Johnny teases Ben with his talking figure, who crumples it up and blows dust at Johnny. Johnny then throws candy at him, who then throws it back at him.
- Looking out over the city, Johnny tries to pester Ben into saying his catchphrase, but to no avail.
- When Johnny tries to explain what Shalla-Bal said to him and his sentence in third person, Ben replies that he likes it when Johnny refers to himself by name.
- Johnny shows Ben the spacesuit Reed built. (off-scene)
- Ben teases Johnny that Shalla-Bal is his girlfriend, Johnny looks unhappy and embarassed.
- Ben teases Johnny that Shalla-Bal dumps him after failing to track her down.
- When Johnny tries to fly away from Shalla-Bal, Ben rushes in to stop her and attempts to carry the oxygen-starved Johnny, knocking him out.
- Ben berates Johnny when he sees that he can't shot Shalla-Bal. Johnny retorts back.
- Ben and Johnny witness the birth of Franklin together.
- Ben and Johnny try to help Reed take control of the situation after being questioned by the media after the negotiation mission with Galactus.
- Johnny and Ben look at each other concernely after watching the protesters from the Baxter Building balcony.
- When the electricity all over the world goes out, Ben lives with Johnny in Baxter, can't shave his beard, but Johnny who is with him says "he looks cool", which makes Ben suspicious but he lets his beard grow.
- Johnny touches Ben as he prepares to teleport.
- Ben said that Johnny couldn't speak english language after seeing Johnny speak the same language as Shalla-Bal. but after it's worked, Ben give him an compliment.
- Johnny shared his bed to Ben in his room.
- In a fit of rage, Johnny goes to attack Elder, but Ben catches him and tells him "calm down, you're handsome". Johnny then walks away with Ben.
- When Johnny saw Ben was thrown by Galactus, he shouted his name and quickly flew up into the sky to help him, catching Ben's unconscious hand from suffocation just in time before he was frozen in space.
- Johnny flies Ben down to Earth and insists he say his catchphrase. Ben initially refuses, but eventually says it.
- Johnny and Ben, relieved, looked at each other with smiles before Johnny leaned on Ben's chest, with Ben gently rubbing his shoulder.
- Bbefore the TV show started, Ben and Johnny were happily teasing Franklin, with Johnny pretending to eat the little boy while Ben told the little boy to pull Johnny's hair back.
- Johnny and Ben argued about how to fasten the child's seat belt in the car.
Fanon[]
Although the Fantastic Four films focused on Reed as the protagonist, Johnny tried to woo the Silver Suffer and Ben is in a relationship with his love interest, Rachel Rozman. Some viewers noticed the chemistry between Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm, as in this version, they became close friends. Thanks to the chemistry between the actors (Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Joseph Quinn, who played Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm, were praised for their performances and chemistry), they were often paired up in commercials. Thus, Torchthing, or the former Benjohnny, was an extension of the comic book version, with the good relationship between Johnny Grimm and Ben Grimm as best friends who teased but also respected each other.
This pairing is considered a bit controversial due to the age gap, although it's unknown when the two met, it's thought to be from their youth (similar to ReedSue) between Johnny and Ben (unlike the original comics, the movie version of Johnny and Ben are both adults), and because they have a brother-sister relationship, even though they're not blood-related (similar to SentryAgent).
Torchthing fans feel like they have each other, with their relationship structured around a big guy and a little guy who care deeply for each other, as if they've helped each other out many times. While Johnny often teases Ben, unlike previous versions, Ben is more patient with Johnny and sometimes teases him back.
They call this concept "Old Man Yaoi" as Johnny and Ben often start out as friends who have feelings for each other but dismiss it as just "brotherly stuff."
It's being a very small community with number of 82 fanfics on AO3.
The people who helped name the ship consist by these people, Grimmstorm and The Fantastic Uncles named by tumblr user name winterfieldfrontiers 3 months before the ship become popular, title Torchthing named by twitter Thai user name tmdpd2765.
Fandom[]
- FAN FICTION
- Ben Grimm/Johnny Storm tag on AO3
- Torchthing hashtag on Twitter
- TIKTOK
- Torchthing tag on TikTok
- Torchthing posts on TikTok
- TUMBLR
- Torchthing tag on Tumblr
Trivia[]
- Ben and Johnny look at each other in the Valentine's Day poster for The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
- Ben and Johnny had an interview together before film event.
- Ben always slept in Johnny's bedroom in the Baxter Building.
- Johnny loves Ben more than Reed Richards.
- Ben and Johnny are always together on posters, merchandise, or special promotions.
- Funnily, John Walker's joking to team "New Avengers", that he will "ride" Bob in the sky, Johnny Storm already rode Ben Grimm down the sky.
Gallery[]
Fan Art[]
- All art in this section is fan made, and must be sourced back to the original artist. It also must have permission from the original artist to be posted here. If your art is here without your permission and you wish to have it taken down, please inform an admin, so that we may delete it.
