Marvel Comics employs several alternate variations of their beloved characters, with many appearing as a different race, color or often, another sexual orientation.
Unfortunately for humanity’s sake, Michael B. Jordan’s casting a Johnny Storm a.k.a. the Human Torch in the upcoming Fantastic Four reboot has overshadowed anything else regarding the movie. And yes, it’s because he’s Black.
Although he could have ignored all the racist social media posts as the movie’s August 7 release date approached, he linked up with Entertainment Weekly for a fantastic op-ed where he gives his well-articulated opinion on the situation.
Here’s an excerpt:
It used to bother me, but it doesn’t anymore. I can see everybody’s perspective, and I know I can’t ask the audience to forget 50 years of comic books. But the world is a little more diverse in 2015 than when the Fantastic Four comic first came out in 1961. Plus, if Stan Lee writes an email to my director saying, “You’re good. I’m okay with this,” who am I to go against that?
Some people may look at my casting as political correctness or an attempt to meet a racial quota, or as part of the year of “Black Film.” Or they could look at it as a creative choice by the director, Josh Trank, who is in an interracial relationship himself—a reflection of what a modern family looks like today.
This is a family movie about four friends—two of whom are myself and Kate Mara as my adopted sister—who are brought together by a series of unfortunate events to create unity and a team. That’s the message of the movie…To the trolls on the Internet, I want to say: Get your head out of the computer…this is the world we live in.
Jordan has earned his acting stripes by appearing in acclaimed appearances such as Fruitvale Station and The Wire but good luck telling a keyboard bigot that.
Hit the next page to see Jordan in full costume as the Human Torch. Ladies, that especially means you.
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Photos: Judy Eddy/WENN.com, Marvel/20th Century FOX
