The Human Fly #13 (2023 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

On a sunny day in 1976, stuntman Rick Rojatt strapped himself atop a DC-8. Dressed in a dazzling red and white hooded costume, Rojatt was affixed to a metal harness. Touting himself as the Human Fly, Rojatt toured parts of the Mojave desert and Texas in a way very few passengers ever have. The plane reached speeds of over 250 miles. Everything appeared to be going fine until the DC-8 hit a storm cloud. The pelting of rain drops proved to be too much for Rojatt, as the stunt man sustained bruising over his entire body. Eventually, he passed out from the pain.

Back on land, Rojatt spent nearly 2 weeks in the hospital recovering from the stunt. Undeterred, a year later, he repeated the stunt. The second time around was a much better experience, except for the part when his mask flew off and he had to squint for the rest of the flight. Later that same year, Rojatt ended his stuntman career breaking Evel Knievel's record by successfully jumping over 19 buses during a concert in Montreal. 

While Rock Rojatt never performed another stunt again (that we know of), it was not the end of the Human Fly. Intrigued by Rojatt's mysterious costume and unique stunts, Marvel Editor-In-Chief, Jim Shooter, got the idea to base a comic book on the exploits of a famed stuntman. Originally, Shooter wanted the book to star Evel Knievel. But allegations of spousal abuse, drugs and a very real assault on an exec with 20th Century Fox led Marvel to look elsewhere. Enter the Human Fly!

The first issue of The Human Fly hit stands with a September, 1977 cover date. With the headline 'The Wildest Super-Hero Ever- Because He's Real!', the stuntman traveled the world performing a number of impossible feats. The Fly would often play the hero as the charity events he performed as would have burglars or other criminals looking to rob the spectators. 

During his exploits, the Human Fly would interact with established members of the Marvel Universe, such as Spider-Man. Just like the web-slinger, the Human Fly had a J. Jonah Jameson type foil in the likes of Carl Braden, a news producer who believed that the mysterious stuntman was a fraud. As you can see on the cover, the Human Fly will have to save his biggest hater's life when the two collide during a speedy descent down a North American mountain slope.

For the 2 years that The Human Fly was in publication, Rick Rojatt would conduct his publicity tour in his Human Fly persona. He visited children's hospitals, county fairs and made appearances on several talk shows including Johnny Carson. The comic book version of The Human Fly would last see print with issue #19.

A backstory was given for the comic book version of the Human Fly. On the back roads of Asheville, North Carolina, a vehicle carrying a man with his wife and kids is run off the road, resulting in the family's death. The man survives and has 60% of his body replaced with metal rods and pins. Facing a painful and long recovery, the man teaches himself to walk again and decides to spend his next life as a stuntman. 

Whether or not this is the actual origin story of Rick Rojatt is up for debate. As Rojatt kept a very private life and remained in costume throughout his career, much about the man is a mystery. In the letter page of this issue, The Human Fly indicated to fans that he was planning on recording a rock album. Some researchers believe that after the comic was cancelled, Rojatt moved to the Pacific Northwest to fulfill his dream of becoming a musician. 

The exact whereabouts of Rick Rojatt remain unknown to this day.

Story by Bill Mantlo.
Art by Frank Robbins.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #36 (fictional comic based on a real person) of the 2023 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.