The Fury of Firestorm #7

The Fury of Firestorm launched in June 1982 as the second volume of the Firestorm series, following the cancellation of the original Firestorm series after only five issues in 1978. Created by writer Gerry Conway and artist Al Milgrom, the character had survived through backup features in The Flash before earning this new ongoing series. The nuclear-powered hero, formed by the fusion of teenager Ronnie Raymond and physicist Professor Martin Stein, resonated with Cold War era anxieties about nuclear power. The first issue sold approximately 65,000 copies, respectable numbers for a revival of a previously cancelled character. Conway wrote the series through issue #55, establishing Firestorm as a unique hero whose dual consciousness and nuclear abilities set him apart from typical DC superheroes.

The series found its visual identity when artist Pat Broderick joined with issue #2, remaining through issue #17 and defining Firestorm's look for the decade. Notable early stories included the introduction of villains Killer Frost (who debuted in the original series but became the arch-nemesis here), Plastique (#7), and Black Bison (#1). The series explored nuclear age themes explicitly, with Firestorm often battling threats related to nuclear terrorism, environmental disasters, and corporate malfeasance. Sales steadily grew throughout 1983-1984, reaching approximately 80,000 copies monthly. The character's increased visibility led to membership in the Justice League of America in 1984, significantly raising his profile within the DC Universe.

A major creative shift occurred with issue #23 (May 1984) when writer John Ostrander took over, though Conway returned briefly before Ostrander's definitive run began with issue #58. Under Ostrander, the series underwent radical transformation, exploring deeper themes of identity, responsibility, and international politics. The revelation that Firestorm was destined to be a "Fire Elemental" fundamentally changed the character's nature. Issue #64 introduced the new Firestorm matrix combining Ronnie Raymond with Russian superhero Pozhar (Mikhail Arkadin), reflecting glasnost-era US-Soviet relations. This bold reinvention maintained reader interest during a period when many traditional superhero titles struggled. Ostrander's run, lasting through the series' end at issue #100, is considered one of DC's most ambitious character transformations of the 1980s.

The Fury of Firestorm addressed contemporary social issues more directly than most mainstream superhero comics. Environmental disasters, nuclear proliferation, corporate corruption, and Cold War tensions provided regular story material. The series featured crossovers with major DC events including Crisis on Infinite Earths and Legends. Notable storylines included "The Poz!" (#62-64), which transformed the protagonist into an international hero, and the final year's exploration of Martin Stein's role as the intended true Fire Elemental. Artists during the Ostrander era included Joe Brozowski, Tom Mandrake, and Ross Andru, each bringing distinct interpretations while maintaining visual continuity.

The series concluded with issue #100 (August 1990) after an eight-year run, with a special 48-page finale featuring the separation of the Firestorm matrix and establishment of a new status quo. Total sales over the run exceeded 6 million copies, making it one of DC's more successful non-flagship titles of the 1980s. The character's multimedia presence included appearances on "Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show" (1984-1985) and his own action figure line. The series influenced subsequent "nuclear age" heroes and demonstrated that cancelled concepts could be successfully revived with the right creative approach.

The Fury of Firestorm's legacy extends beyond its sales performance. The series proved that B-list characters could sustain long-running titles through creative evolution and topical relevance. Ostrander's transformation of Firestorm from superhero to elemental force presaged similar mythological approaches to DC characters in the 1990s. The character has been revived multiple times, including Jason Rusch as a new Firestorm in 2004 and The New 52's "The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men" (2011-2013). The original Fury of Firestorm run has been collected in various formats, with the Ostrander run particularly sought after for its ambitious storytelling. The character's prominence in CW's "The Flash" and "Legends of Tomorrow" television series introduced Firestorm to new audiences, drawing heavily on concepts established in this 1982-1990 series.