Phineas Horton? Disney Just Officially Made a Forgotten Marvel Legend Into MCU Canon
*VisionQuest* has brought Dr Phineas Horton and his early synthetic man, JIM, into the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s story. The reference connects Vision’s account of artificial intelligence to a character from Marvel’s earliest comics, while a promotional image shows JIM as a flaming copper-coloured robot played by Paul Bettany.
Horton’s original Human Torch first appeared in *Marvel Comics* #1 in 1939, when the publisher was known as Timely Comics. His synthetic man caught fire when exposed to oxygen, later became able to control the flames and took the human identity Jim Hammond. The character also appeared as an Easter egg in *Captain America: The First Avenger*.
- *VisionQuest* names Dr Phineas Horton and his synthetic man, JIM.
- JIM is played by Paul Bettany as a flaming copper-coloured robot.
- The original Human Torch debuted in 1939.
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Marvel began publishing comics in 1939 under the name Timely Comics. One of its first heroes was the Human Torch, a synthetic man created by scientist Dr Phineas Horton; when exposed to oxygen, he caught fire and later learned to control the flames.
The character eventually took the human identity Jim Hammond, also known as JIM. His story predates many better-known Marvel heroes, and he has already appeared as a small reference in the film Captain America: The First Avenger.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is the connected series of films and television stories based on Marvel characters. Bringing Horton and JIM into its story links Vision, an artificial being, with one of the earliest ideas about artificial life in Marvel comics.