[quote=@mattmanganon]
[@Bounce] quick question about the current event: How sentient are the Fire Trolls? Its just that Bailey is a character who has natural empathy for creatures who look like horrifying monsters, bur are just mind controlled servants of an actually malicious creature. Because if they are just mindless, dumb brutes just doing as they are told, he'll treat them differently to something that is actively relishing in the slaughter.
[/quote]

The source material goes both ways on this, with the Silver Age Fire Trolls being controlled puppets of Karaku, while New Earth and Prime Earth versions (Lava Lord and Black Boris respectively) were presented as more independent.

I think I'm going to go with them being more independent, though possessing variable degrees of intelligence or strength by individual. That aligns with Black Boris' lore and I think is the best spot to land with it.