The Inhuman Torch

"The Inhuman Torch" is the one hundred and thirty-second episode of Futurama, the eighteenth of the seventh production season and the fifth of the tenth broadcast season. It aired on 10 July 2013, on Comedy Central. Bender becomes a famous firefighter, but the crew suspects him of arson.

Story
People have begun mining helium from the sun, thanks in part to Professor Farnsworth's antiheat technology. Meanwhile, Bender becomes a firefighter, but is accused of arson after a solar flare houses himself inside Bender.

Production
On 17 January 2012, Futurama writer Eric Rogers revealed that the episode was being written. On 7 February, an image of the episode's production script cover was posted to, revealing the episode's title. On 11 December, executive producer David X. Cohen revealed the episode's plot in an interview with.

Trivia

 * The title caption mentions Futurama's namesake, the 1939 New York.
 * Fry asks if they picked a new pope. was elected exactly 17 weeks before this episode aired.
 * After Bender saves Hattie, a journalist can be seen holding a camera just like his.

Allusions

 * The episode's title may be a reference to either the or the, both members of the fictional superhero team the . It can also be a reference to the , who was actually a robot.
 * The plot is very similar to an episode of the science-fiction series  called "The Fire Within". In the episode a sentient flame follows the characters, with the intention of burning everything on Earth.
 * The name "Count Bankula" is a reference to the literary villain Count Dracula.
 * Above the door to the meat market, there is a sign that reads "K", in Alienese. This may be a reference to the discount store.
 * In Bender's locker, there is an issue of Gorts Illustrated, a reference to the robot and to the media franchise .
 * Flamo may be a reference to the fire demon Calcifer, from the 1986 fantasy novel .

Goofs

 * Bender's voice should not be affected by the helium in the doom chamber as he doesn't have vocal cords.
 * In the scene where Bender walks in after coming back from the meat market, Amy's suspenders are switching from on to off between 2 frames.
 * Fry's bed is incorrectly layered (time: 17:08).
 * One of Leela's breasts is off-model in one frame.

Continuity

 * The fing-longer last appeared in "Lrrreconcilable Ndndifferences".
 * The New New York Times was first seen in "Reincarnation", as the NNY Times.

Characters

 * Amy
 * Mrs. Astor
 * Dr. Beeler
 * Mrs. Beeler
 * Bender
 * Calculon
 * Professor Farnsworth
 * Debut: Flamo
 * Fry
 * Hattie
 * Debut: The helium miners
 * Hermes
 * The Hypnotoad (heard only)
 * Kif
 * Leela
 * Linda
 * Morbo
 * Debut: The mystic aldermen of the sun
 * Nibbler
 * Mayor Poopenmeyer
 * The pope
 * The queen of Yonkers
 * Randy Munchnik
 * The Robot Devil
 * Ruth and Esther
 * Scruffy
 * Scoop Chang
 * Smitty
 * Stephanie
 * URL
 * Debut: The vampire
 * Zapp Brannigan
 * Zoidberg

Places

 * The accusing parlour
 * Apartment 00100100
 * The Arctic Ocean
 * Cairo
 * Debut: Count Bankula Vampire Bank
 * Debut: Farnsworth Lanes
 * Debut: The meatery
 * The Planet Express attic
 * The Planet Express employee lounge
 * The Planet Express conference room
 * The Planet Express headquarters
 * The Planet Express lobby
 * The Planet Express sub-basement
 * Robot Arms Apartments
 * Robot Hell
 * Debut: The solar helium mine
 * The sun