Warning: SPOILERS for New Fantastic Four #5The most power member of the Mephisto.
The New Fantastic Four series begins with Spider-Man, Ghost Rider, the Incredible Hulk and Wolverine each thinking about journeying to Las Vegas. The four have the same thought at the exact same time, and Ghost Rider suspects a magical reason why. He's not wrong - upon traveling to Las Vegas, the four find themselves involved in a massive fight against Asmodeus, a demon who uses the people of the city as his thralls. To make matters worse, the demon temporarily possesses the Human Torch and forces him to attack his allies.
In New Fantastic Four #5, written by Peter David with art by Alan Robinson, the New Fantastic Four are ed by the old Fantastic Four, and the Human Torch is no longer possessed (but is furious). Asmodeus' ruler Mephisto, the Marvel equivalent of Satan, appears before the heroes. Johnny Storm, properly enraged, blasts Mephisto with a ball of fire. "Flames? You...you are joking, right?" asks Mephisto, dumbfounded. "You think there is some manner in which you can attack me?" His last sentence is cut off after the Hulk lands a mighty punch, but the point still stands: Johnny Storm has zero chance in attacking Mephisto.
The Human Torch Is Too Hot-Headed For His Own Good
Mephisto's powers are inconsistent but his control over fire and heat has never been in doubt. The fact that the Human Torch believes he can cause significant damage to Mephisto betrays his ignorance. Even though the Human Torch has fought Mephisto before, he still believes he can hurt a super-powerful being against whom even Doctor Strange has no chance in a fight. Mephisto, for his part, enjoys chastising a hot-headed hero like Johnny Storm (and does so repeatedly)
The end of the comic depicts the New Fantastic Four successfully repelling the demonic invasion and the four characters going their separate ways. It must be noted that this story takes place in the past; Johnny Storm has humbled considerably since, especially after spending months alight (thanks to a devious invention of Doctor Doom). Though the Human Torch is still a valued member of the Fantastic Four, he is (ironically enough) far from the brightest.
