Disney+’s New MCU TV Show Teases 87-Year Marvel Hero Appearance

Published Oct 14, 2026, 6:42 PM EDT Felipe Rangel is a Movie and TV Journalist ScreenRant. He has been writing about movies and TV since 2021. Felipe joined ScreenRant in 2022, working across different teams, covering everything from breaking news to features to reviews and more. Felipe is a writer who is an avid film and TV fan, with superhero movies and series being his biggest passion. He graduated from college in 2019, having studied Journalism. Before college, he spent a month studying at the Oxford English Centre. His superhero knowledge expands to the comics, with his undergraduate thesis being "Politics Reflected In American Comics." The Marvel Cinematic Universe's new TV show has dropped its first episodes, and with them came not only old and new franchise characters, but also a massive tease that an 87-year Marvel Comics character could show up in the new MCU series. Marvel is clearly going through a reformulation of its Disney+ slate, as Daredevil: Born Again's cancellation marks the end of an era. At this time, the only live-action MCU TV shows set to be released on Disney+ that we know of are Daredevil: Born Again season 3, which will bring all the Defenders back together again to end the show, and the recently announced Zodiac. The latter is described as a spy thriller series in the MCU, and it could feature the return of Agents of SHIELD characters. 2026 has proven itself a massive year for the MCU. The franchise released the 3rd highest-grossing movie of all time in the form of Tom Holland's Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which has racked up over $2.5 billion at the global box office. On the way is Avengers: Doomsday, which will be the biggest multiversal event to date. Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for VisionQuest episodes 1 and 2.Before that Avengers movie arrives, the MCU's latest TV show has come to Disney+. VisionQuest debuted its first two episodes on the streaming service this Tuesday, October 13. The Marvel series ends the trilogy of shows that also includes WandaVision and Agatha All Along. In its first episodes, VisionQuest teased the arrival of an incredibly powerful Marvel Comics hero. Marvel's VisionQuest Is Teasing An Appearance From The First Human Torch The Human Torch is one of Marvel's most popular characters. However, when fans tend to think of the character, the one that comes to mind is Johnny Storm, a member of the Fantastic Four. That said, Johnny, who is played by Joseph Quinn in the MCU, was not Marvel's first Human Torch. Instead, that role went to Jim Hammond, who was not a human. Unlike the most popular Human Torch, Hammond was an android who debuted in 1939 in Marvel Comics #1. Despite its title, the book was published under Timely Comics before it went on to become Marvel Comics. Jim Hammond was created by Phineas Horton, with the character being able to engulf his body in flames and control them. Marvel's first Human Torch appeared as an Easter egg in the MCU as "Synthetic Man" at the 1943 Stark Expo in 2011's Captain America: The First Avenger, being one of the exhibits. Now, VisionQuest episode 2 has teased Jim Hammond's formal MCU debut. The original Human Torch appears in a painting at Vision's house inside his mind. J.A.R.V.I.S. explains in the episode that the painting spotlighted the first of their kind. That, plus the fact that it shows an android surrounded by flames, points to Jim Hammond appearing in VisionQuest. Why Jim Hammond's Human Torch Is Perfect For VisionQuest VisionQuest is a TV show about an android, Paul Bettany's White Vision, trying to feel the emotions that the original Vision felt. He has the memories, but not the connection to humanity, as Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch is dead, and she was the one to help Vision with that. That is why adding Jim Hammond to the equation would be a great move. The character has long dealt with the same type of philosophical debate about what it means to be human that Vision is now tackling in Marvel's new Disney+ series. Additionally, just like Vision, the Human Torch is quite powerful, and if let loose, he can cause extreme destruction. That is why it would be so interesting to have both characters meet and share experiences in VisionQuest. Having someone who has actually been in Vision's place to help him would be perfect. That said, Jim Hammond has been wielded by villains in the past, so he could also become a frightening foe in VisionQuest. Release Date 2026 - 2026-00-00 Network Disney+ Showrunner Terry Matalas Directors Christopher J. Byrne, Gandja Monteiro, Terry Matalas, Vincenzo Natali Writers Terry Matalas, Cindy Appel, Nicole Falsetti