The Avengers Vol. 1 (1963-1996 Variant Cover) #206

Plot

United Kingdom Edition.

Gene Colan Cover.

An industrial saboteur plants a bomb at Liquigas, a Jersey City chemical plant. But at the very last moment, he realizes the bomb has been rigged to detonate immediately, giving him no chance to escape. Just before he’s seemingly killed in the explosion, he realizes he’s been betrayed.

Sometime later, the Avengers are alerted to a news report of a massive fire taking place at the Jersey City plant. The Human Torch of the Fantastic Four had been called in to help fight the blaze (since he can absorb flames into his torch form) but is unsuccessful and admits to a reporter that there is something unnatural about the blaze, as if it’s alive. The news footage also reveals something disturbing -- there is a laughing face in the fire. Realizing that something strange is going on, the team heads out to investigate.