It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s a Korean Superman. 
Well, maybe not this time. 
But in the upcoming 2015 reboot of Marvel’s Fantastic Four, the Human Torch will be black. This little switcheroo has got comic lovers’ capes all in a wad.
Fox released the names of the actors that would portray the heroes earlier this year. I was excited to hear that former “House of Cards” star Kate Mara would be playing Sue Storm (aka the Invisible Woman). Like many others, though, I was shocked to learn that Michael B. Jordan would be playing her brother, the Human Torch.
At first, I felt as if I were being swindled out of a piece of my childhood. It seemed blasphemous to change such an iconic character for the sake of political correctness. I cried out to the God of Thunder for an explanation.  
For the last 50 years, Mr. Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, the Human Torch and the Thing have been, for the most part, light skinned. The Thing is an exception — he is orange and made of rock, but he was Caucasian before the mutation.
After serious contemplation, I don’t see where a black Human Torch is a big deal. The comic world is made up of characters and critters from all walks of life and universes.
This isn’t the first (or last) time a Marvel character has undergone a “racelift” for film. 
Hollywood going around and changing up the race of characters here and there simply because it can isn’t beneficial for minorities. I’m sure it’s under the guise of political correctness and such. 
Racelifts are not always a bad thing. But sometimes there’s just no need to do this.  
Black actor Michael Clarke Duncan portrayed Kingpin, a white villain, in “Daredevil”  and did a swell job. 
In fact, Marvel changed the race of S.H.I.E.L.D. head honcho Nick Fury from white to black in the books before Samuel L. Jackson played him in “The Avengers” films.
A black Human Torch isn’t the end of the world. That is, unless he can’t defeat Dr. Doom. Race is not very important or strongly connected to the character. Johnny Storm has just always been white. That’s all. 
Johnny Storm is a white character by default. In the ‘60s, most superheroes were created white without any thought behind it. There’s no significant backstory that mandates the Human Torch’s ethnicity. He just happened to be a typical white guy who is genetically altered in space, allowing his entire body to ignite.
I’m not sure how this whole white sister and black brother thing will play out though. I mean, in modern America, it’s not uncommon to have siblings of varying races. This could work. Some interesting storylines have been added into recent comic book hero films. I’ll trust the team with this one.
If the Torch is going to be black, then let him be the best “hot head” that has ever been on screen. You can’t tell what race the Human Torch is once he says,
“flame on,” anyway.
Fans shouldn’t take things like this too much to heart. It isn’t like they’ve turned Captain America into a communist. When it comes to changes like this, an open mind is the best super power there is. 
However, if Jordan’s performance is not on fire, and it causes the film to fizzle out, take this as a lesson, movie makers. Cast the best actor for the role, not the most controversial. 
Make a decent live action Black Panther movie if “diversity” is what Hollywood wants.