Now, insert diatribe:
I can’t possibly understand why anyone would want to pick on Michael B. Jordan who just wants an opportunity to be one of his favorite superheroes of all time, Johnny Storm/The Human Torch of the Fantastic Four. It seems pretty surreal that so many people would be in an outcry over such a simple change as the complexion of a character’s skin color -- as if this is some how going to change the very fabric of his character and how he is in Marvel’s First Family. But me not understanding has not stopped these racially charged (intended or not) comments from being thrown around at Twitter and other social media outlets, in outrage over this recent casting decision. Some of the other criticisms are the lack of experience in the four members as a whole. This too is a complete and total phoney-bologna argument being, Kate Mara of “House of Cards” is completely capable of winning academy awards. Miles Teller was rather successful in the films “Rabbit Hole,” “21 and Over” and “Project X.” His upcoming role in “Divergent” (yet another young adult book series adaptation) is promising to rake in some numbers then you have Jaime Bell being cast as Ben Grimm/The Thing and if you know Bell’s name, I need not say more. If you don’t, Google him.
Point is, there’s actually a whole lot of experience in this cast that is really being disacknowledged here and the reason people are ignoring the talent and years of great film making under the belts of these four young actors is because of the color of Jordan’s skin. For me, the criticisms towards Jordan as Johnny overwhelm all other possible arguments against the cast that whether they are valid or not, they are immediately overshadowed by the fact that most likely the “fan” is uncomfortable with seeing an african-american version of the Human Torch flying around.
But why should they be uncomfortable? Johnny is one cool dude. He’s a slick, show-boating, hot-head (pun intended) who is notoriously the comedic relief. Like the other three, he is deeply committed to the family and the world-saving missions as a whole. He may charm the ladies and say he does it for the camera, but he truly wants to keep Earth safe and he wants to explore the scientific realms of reality with Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic just as mucha s the rest of them. What part of that explanation of his character is dependant on him being white? The answer is none. None of it means he has to be white.
Some fans want to sound like they’re okay with casting a black member of a predominantly white team by saying they think Bell’s casting of the Thing was a mistake and that it is Ben Grimm who should be the african-american character. I have two problems with this. One, this seems like a cheap way to not have the blackness (or should I say, non-whiteness) of the character thrown in your face the whole movie, being that within the first 30 minutes of the film Grimm should have his rocky exterior he’s known for. Two, are you saying that Johnny and Susan Storm can’t be siblings if they have different skin color?
Yes, incase you were unaware, that is a factor here. Johnny Storm is the brother, by blood not adoption according to continuity in the comics, of Susan Storm/The Invisible Woman. But how anyone can possibly think that you can’t have a character be raised in a multi-cultural family? This is a film adaptation, the very meaning of the word implies you have to adapt the story to modern audiences and why shouldn’t there be a family like that in Marvel’s history books? It is perfectly in character too! Susan and Richard, after having two of their own children, later adopt a cluster-fuck of kids and the story about these young sprouts running amock and causing mischief is one of Marvel’s go-to solutions for quick-and-easy kids stories! Between H.E.R.B.I.E. the nanny bot, Dragon Man, and dozens of others, the family is as unconventional and quintesentially mutli-cultural as it gets. Why shouldn’t the Storm family be the catalyst of that decision? It makes perfect sense my friends.
And any true believer will tell you that the spirit of the comic has never been about the same things as X-Men (which is civil rights and equality) nor has it ever been about growing up that awkward kid who suddenly has more responsibility than he has power (lookin’ at you web-head)! No; the story of the Fantastic Four is about four space-adventures (or sometimes alternate-reality adventurers, pick your canon) who were caught in a terrible accident that gave them each unique and strange abilities. But because of their dedication to one another and their love for one another, they chose to do the right thing with their powers and utilize them for the greater good and the exploration of scientific discovery. Anything you can imagine that would happen in speculative of science fiction can happen in their books, it’s the Doctor Who of Marvel comics. The Fantastic Four, when created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, was a testimony to how a team can work together and cooperate to solve a problem. The brains, the brawn, the beauty (and brains), and the jack-ass… They each play a role, a vital role, and if the movie gets that right, who the hell cares what color their skin is? Seriously, get over yourselves.
Note, a hetero-white-man, I feel it my place to align myself with the african american community and point out that this needs to happen, but it is difficult for me because I am not their voice, nor should I be. This community can speak for itself just fine. I am simply speaking my mind and I really feel there are not enough black role models in comics, both on screen and off. I often call the black characters in comics the bla-bla-bla's. Blade, Black Panther, and Black Lightning. Of course there's also Falcon, who is finally getting his dues in the upcoming Captain America: Winter Soldier, and there's even Bishop and Luke Cage. But only one, and that one is Blade, the vampire killer, has been given the screen time and push from Marvel that any white character has. It’s about time a black character who has the ability to be as popular and recognizable as Captain America, Thor, Wolverine, or Spider-Man is put on the screen and pushed with this same momentum. I hope other black bloggers see this and can identify with that sentiment and see the point I’m making. If not, that’s perfectly fine.
I will say a seriously under talked about dilemma with this casting is that an opportunity to have TWO people of color in this film, namely a female, african-american role model in Sue Storm, was missed here. And while I think that’s a shame beyond shame, it’s not the heart of the issue. I would rather throw my support behind the decision that is and leave a cool reminder for more female black characters in the future. Misty Knight perhaps?
Bman out.
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