Throughout the storied history of comic books, writers and artists have always made their superheroes to be indestructible.
Whether it is through impervious skin, a healing factor, or even the immortality of gods, these super-powered beings are supposed to withstand anything and everything thrown at them. It is what has kept fans glued to the stories of comics for years.
However, things are a bit different when it comes to superheroes in movies. No matter how good the writing of a film may be, the invincibility of a character can only be stretched as far as the actor playing the role is capable of.
If the actor himself does not believe in the unique traits of his own character, then it is going to be a lot harder for the audience to be convinced of his worthiness to be a superhero.
This is what makes Michael B. Jordan an interesting casting for the upcoming Fantastic Four film.
Ever since he was named the next Human Torch (Johnny Storm), the 28-year-old actor has been besieged by criticisms from so-called "fans" of the Fantastic Four comic books who contest that he does not fit the mold of the character.
They argued that Jordan, who is African-American, should not play the role Johnny Storm, who has always been portrayed in comics and in previous films as Caucasian with blond hair and blue eyes.
Some of the vitriol was also targeted against the director and producers of the film, accusing them of casting Jordan only for the purpose of "political correctness" or in order to meet a "racial quota."
Instead of dodging the criticisms thrown at him or blasting his critics through social media, Jordan decided to answer all of them through an open letter published by Entertainment Weekly.
In his letter, the actor pointed out that the new Fantastic Four movie was made to reflect the diversity of the world in 2015. He said that the Storm family in the film was written to portray what a modern family would be like.
The Fantastic Four, itself, was formed after a series of unfortunate events to show the value of unity and hard work as a team.
Jordan said that he is willing to take on the criticisms for his casting in order to teach people about the malice and hatred that racism breeds.
"Sometimes you have to be the person who stands up and says, 'I'll be the one to shoulder all this hate,'" the actor said. "I'll take the brunt for the next couple of generations."
"I put that responsibility on myself. People are always going to see each other in terms of race, but maybe in the future we won't talk about it as much."
In setting a good example, Jordan hopes that movie producers would start to consider casting a more diverse group of actors for prominent roles. He said he wants to show people that sticking to the source material entirely should not always be the case.
At the end of his open letter, Jordan addressed the "internet trolls" that have been blasting him online.
"Get your head out of the computer," the actor said. "Go outside and walk around."
"Look at the people walking next to you. Look at your friends' friends and who they're interacting with. And just understand this is the world we live in. It's okay to like it."
Jordan's choice to reach out to his detractors through his open letter shows how much of a class act the man is. It sets him apart from many of his peers who seem to represent everything that is wrong in Tinseltown.
By overcoming the hatred and racism that surround his casting, he has shown just how worthy he is to be called a superhero. While he may not be invincible himself, his will is indeed indomitable.
Watch Michael B. Jordan and his teammates in the upcoming Fantastic Four film set to hit theaters on Aug. 7.
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