5 Reasons Black Johnny Storm is a Terrible Idea (In “Fantastic Four” Anyway)

Fantastic Four (2015) – Sue Storm (Kate Mara), Johnny Storm (Michael B. Jordan)

Making Johnny Storm Black in Fantastic Four was a terrible idea. In the
comics, two members of the super team Fantastic Four are brother and
sister: Johnny and Sue Storm. When it was announced Johnny Storm (aka
The Human Torch) would be played by Black actor Michael B. Jordon, there
was a firestorm of protest. My brother and I both wrote articles
defending the casting decision and in many ways race-changing is a great idea. Movie
audiences should be challenged to accept minorities in different
roles.

But this turned out to be a terrible, confusing and pointless
idea. Here’s why.

1. They Never Explained Their Relationship

I never wanted the movie to spend a half-hour explaining where they
came
from, but I expected some kind of exposition. There was nothing. The
movie never explains their relationship.

Professor Franklin Storm, played by Reg
E. Cathey is Black. Sue Storm, played by Kate Mara, is White. Why? Is she
adopted? Is she his step-daughter? Was he widowed and left with her?
Did a friend die and he adopt her? They never bother to explain, which
leaves you entering and leaving the theater with the same question.
There’s one scene where they say she’s from Kosovo, but that doesn’t
tell us anything.

Blended relationships are common today, so it shouldn’t be a
big deal. Today, 40% of married couples with children in the US are
step couples. In 2007, there were 73.8 million children in adopted
families. So it’s common. Everyone knows at least one step or adopted family. But, the question still has to be answered. It’s not.

Update: Spokhette pointed out that there is a brief conversation that says Sue’s adopted. I must have fallen asleep…

2. They Barely Hint That Their Brother and Sister

While Sue and Johnny are in most of the movie, their father never uses
the word
“sister” until an hour into the movie. So, if you didn’t know they were
related from reading comics or the promotional campaigns it would be a
huge surprise. You could even miss it if you weren’t paying attention.

Think about another confusing brother and sister pairing. Luke and Leia
from Star Wars. The first
movie didn’t even hint they were related and you spent the movie
thinking they weren’t. Which is why it’s so confusing when they
establish they’re twins in Empire Strikes Back. It’s weird, but you get
used to the idea. Here’s why.

Update: Apparently I wasn’t paying attention

3. It’s Confusing Even If Sue Weren’t White

Families tend to look alike and they have similar features. Sometimes there’s a diversion and it’s jarring and this is true in movies too. If Sue is Blonde haired and blue-eyed and Johnny Storm were White with dark hair and dark eyes, it would
still be confusing.

When you see two people that look dramatically
different from each other claim to be brother and sister it’s jarring.
To have Sue as a different race is just plain bizarre
without explanation. It’s not racist. It just raises questions. We
still question Luke and Leia, but accept it because they did a good job
acting. Which leads to the biggest problem with their relationship

4. They Don’t Act Like Brother and Sister

Sue and Johnny don’t act like they’re brother and sister at all. When
they meet halfway through the movie they barely acknowledge each other.
It’s implied that there’s sibling rivalry between them, but that’s no
excuse for treating family like a stranger.

Look at Loki and Thor in
the Marvel movies. They look very different from each other, but we
believe they’re family. Thor and Loki have a tense relationship, but
it’s obvious there’s a family bond. In Fantastic Four there’s no family
tie at all. Even after they resolved their issues by the end they
still don’t show any familial affection for each other.You know why?

5. This is the Director’s Fault

Josh Trank did a terrible job with the characters in this movie and
this is just a symptom of the problem. All the characters in the film
are poorly defined and we know next to nothing about their motivations.

Why does Reed want to build a teleporter so badly? Why does Doom hate
humanity? Why does Johnny hate
his sister? We spend an hour and 46 minutes and learn nothing about the
characters, what they want and why it’s important to them.

A better
director could have cast them Black, Indian, Chinese and Puerto
Rican and it would have made sense. With Trank it becomes a big gaping
plot hole left to be filled. Kind of like the rest of the movie. Yes,
he says it’s the studios fault, but the decision to cast Michael B.
Jordon was his. If only he’d committed to making it work.

Jordan said his casting is “a
reflection of what a modern family looks like today.” It is. That’s
OK. We should enjoy a world with interracial relationships and accept
it as wonderful. Casting a Black man to play a superhero is a great
idea and should be done more often. But it needs to be done in a better
movie.

Are you surprised
that having a Black Johnny Storm is confusing? Could it have been done
better? Should audiences be more accepting of blended families?

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About the Author: Maurice Mitchell

I’m an avid science fiction fan, former professional graphic
designer and
certified blerd.
After the death of my Star Wars
action figures I use my powers for good
and not for evil.

Visit my concept art blog: http://filmsketchr.blogspot.com

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