Chan Ho Yin (Chinese: 陳浩然/陈浩然) was a super-powered individual on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s index who developed pyrokinetic powers. While working as a street magician, he was recruited into the Centipede Project by Raina, adopting the name Scorch. However, Centipede betrayed him and proceeded to experiment on him for his powers, causing him to go rogue. When he turned against Phil Coulson's S.H.I.E.L.D. team, he was subdued and killed by Melinda May.
"Chan Ho Yin. Just a struggling street performer until a few years ago, when Mr. Chan began to exhibit moderate pyrokinetic abilities." "So what gave him powers?" "It's still under investigation, but Chan did live near the decommissioned Wan Tai Nuclear Plant when it caught fire."
Chan Ho Yin was a native of Hong Kong, China. Taking after his idol, Harry Houdini, Chan made his living performing street magic for locals and tourists. Chan realized that he had developed pyrokinetic abilities when a dish towel burst into flames in his hands. However, the origin of his abilities were still under investigation, but he was living in a nearby residence when the decommissioned Wan Tai nuclear power plant caught fire. He became the only known case of powers developing near Wan Tai.[1]
Placed on the Index[]
"How did we find out about him?" "Informants saw him lighting torches in a street show, with his pinkie." "Brought it to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s attention. We told him to keep his abilities under wraps. He's been on the Index ever since."
Chan came to the attention of S.H.I.E.L.D. when informants saw him using his abilities in his street show, lighting a torch with his pinkie. S.H.I.E.L.D. listed him on the Index and assigned Quan Chen to oversee him, recommending Chan not use his abilities in public. Chan violated this arrangement on at least three different occasions, claiming that S.H.I.E.L.D. was hampering his "artistic expression."[1]
"You need a simpler name. A more powerful name. A name like Scorch." "Scorch? Are you joking?" "Have you ever heard of Steve Rogers? No? But Captain America – now he's on the news, on a lunch box, on a poster on the wall."
In 2013, Chan was approached by Raina who offered to increase his power and give him the fame that he craved. She suggested that he take the alias of "Scorch" to further his fame. However, Raina was just using him to further her own ends and the ends of her mysterious employers.[1]
Centipede's Experiments[]
Scorch tests out his new increased power
After being captured by Raina, Scorch was taken to a nearby lab, where he was injected with Extremis, a component to the Centipede Serum, by Debbie Hynes. Extremis enhanced his abilities, and due to special heat-resistant platelets in his blood, he did not overheat or detonate like other users of the serum. Having gotten what they needed from him, Hynes ordered his blood be drained from his body in order for it to be replicated to stabilize the Extremis element of the Centipede Serum.[1]
A S.H.I.E.L.D. extraction team led by Quan Chen and Agent Phil Coulson came to rescue him. Scorch was growing more mentally unstable by the minute as a side effect of the Centipede Serum and attacked the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, killing Quan by blasting a hole into him. Coulson attempted to shoot Scorch with the Night-Night Gun, but he vaporized the shots on approach, before he then escaped from the lab. Upon confronting Debbie Hynes, Scorch incinerated her, reducing her to ashes within seconds, while Raina escaped.
Scorch moments before exploding
Seeing no other option to subdue Scorch non-lethally, Coulson ordered Melinda May to sneak up behind him when he was distracted and overdose him with Extremis, which caused him to overheat and detonate, killing him.[1]
Personality[]
"Your power is an amazing gift." "And S.H.I.E.L.D. wouldn't let me use it. But thanks to you, the whole world can finally see what I can do. From now on, nobody holds me back."
Chan Ho Yin craved fame, believing that it was his birthright to be as famous as other Enhanced. After he was injected with the Centipede Serum, he took the alias "Scorch," and became a hostile individual, taking sadistic pleasure in murdering Debbie Hynes.
Chan Ho Yin had the power to create and manipulate small flames, usually using his powers as part of his street magic performances. However, the injection of the Centipede Serum greatly enhanced his powers, and using the codename "Scorch," he became able to create stronger burst of flames, powerful enough to burn a hole in a person's chest or burn another to ashes. He also used his powers in a defensive manner, creating a shield of flames around him that was able to melt the bullets shot at him.
Former Powers[]
"The reason you don't burn is because your blood platelets are fire-resistant."
Fire Immunity: Chan Ho Yin was immune to his own powers due to special heat-resistant platelets in his blood. However, after being injected with Centipede Serum, a Centipede scientist removed some of those platelets, resulting in him losing this immunity.
Bilingualism: Chan Ho Yin was fluent in his native Cantonese, as well as English.
Equipment[]
Centipede Serum: Chan Ho Yin was given the Centipede Serum by Debbie Hynes. The serum increased his pyrokinetic abilities, giving him the ability to increase his bursts of flames, giving him the ability to reduce a person to ashes. However, when Melinda May overdosed him with Extremis, a component of the Centipede Serum, Chan detonated, resulting in his death.
Hong Kong Centipede Base: Chan Ho Yin was brought here by Raina, where he was experimented on and injected with Extremis, which increased his powers. When Debbie Hynes attempted to have his blood drained, Chan's mental state deteriorated and he began attacking S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and Centipede Project members alike, attempting to escape the facility. However, Melinda May injected him with more Extremis, resulting him to overheat and explode.
In the comics, there are many characters that use the "Scorch" codename. Among them are Tommy Ng, a pyrokinetic mutant; Ross Jonas, former Air Force Major mutated by adrenalin taken from Prime Skrull; and a former member of A.R.E.S.
Behind the Scenes[]
Marvel.com originally listed the character as Renshu Tseng.
