Deadpool & Wolverine introduced Chris Evans’ Johnny Storm to the MCU as a variant within the void, and his return is even better after having the VFX used in the movie explained by professional VFX artists. Evans’ Johnny Storm was one of the first Deadpool & Wolverine cameos to appear on screen, hilariously subverting the expectations of Deadpool and the audience. Setting aside the implications of Chris Evans portraying two entirely different characters in the MCU, it was great to see his Johnny Storm back on screen, even if only for a few minutes before his gruesome death.
Johnny Storm was Chris Evans’ first Marvel superhero role, appearing first in 2005’s Fantastic Four and reprising that role in 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Although both films failed to hit the mark with critics, the more universally panned 2015 reboot elevates their quality by comparison. Despite the limitations of the era, the VFX also hold up by today’s standards, with the Human Torch’s fire effect being a standout example. Deadpool & Wolverine, it seems, hammers this home by flat-out replicating the effect 19 years later.
Deadpool & Wolverine’s Johnny Storm Fire Effect Mimics The 2000s Fantastic Four Movies
A collective of VFX experts, Corridor Crew, recently posted a video to YouTube reacting to good and bad examples of CGI in movies. At around 14:41 in the video, while reacting positively to the CGI in Deadpool & Wolverine, Corridor Crew addressed the fire effects used for the Human Torch. The rightmost contributor, Niko, then recognizes that the effects used for the Human Torch look conspicuously similar to those used in the original Fantastic Four movies. After cutting to a shot of Johnny Storm in the original movies, they explain:
“The old Fantastic Four fire effects…because of the way you had to render the fire, you’d kind of like artificially tell it to “make this part bright, make this part dark.” It feels like the same effect. It does feel like they’re trying to be very true to the original style.”
When comparing Evans’ Human Torch to Michael B. Jordan’s in 2015’s Fantastic Four, it’s easier to see how Deadpool & Wolverine purposely remained true to the original two movies. This should also help Marvel Studios to differentiate Fox’s Human Torch from the MCU’s Human Torch, who will make his debut in July 2025 in Fantastic Four: First Steps, portrayed by Joseph Quinn. The decision to emulate the Fantastic Four movies of the 2000s is no real surprise given how stringently Deadpool & Wolverine drew from the source material, which honors Johnny Storm even more than I first thought.
Deadpool & Wolverine Honors Chris Evans’ Original Marvel Role More Than I Realized
Johnny Storm was one of Deadpool & Wolverine’s biggest highlights, punctuating the movie with one of the best post-credits scenes in the MCU. I loved this scene not just for its comedic value, but because it capitalized on the movie’s R-rating through an otherwise distinctly family-friendly character and rebels against the famously clean-cut and well-spoken Captain America. Notably, however, Johnny Storm is known for being a trash-talker in Marvel Comics and even comes to blows with Ben Grimm in Fantastic Four after purposely antagonizing him.
Johnny Storm is best friends with Peter Parker in Marvel Comics, another character famous for his quips.
Johnny Storm is also known for being decidedly hubristic. Deadpool & Wolverine also suitably illustrated this as Johnny targets Pyro, the one mutant in the gang of captors with pyrokinetic powers, only to be snuffed out and defeated within seconds. Although I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking that this shouldn’t have been how it played out (Johnny Storm is exceptionally powerful in Marvel Comics), Deadpool & Wolverine used this to convey some of his most defining characteristics within just a few minutes of screen time.
Why Johnny Storm Was Chris Evans’ Perfect Marvel Return In Deadpool & Wolverine
Captain America Would Not Have Been As Good A Fit.
The announcement of Deadpool’s MCU debut was met with some trepidation as fans questioned whether Disney would stifle Deadpool R-rated moments. These concerns were suitably assuaged with the release of the first Deadpool & Wolverine teaser, which was littered with F-bombs and violence, indicating that it would remain true to Deadpool’s traditional tone. While slotting Captain “Language” America into such a landscape would have made for some entertaining interactions, I think Johnny Storm was a much better fit.
Johnny Storm is the one member of the Fantastic Four most likely to let loose in an R-rated environment, and his post-credits diatribe was the perfect proof. Not only would this feel contrived and distinctly out of character for Steve Rogers, but sidestepping a cameo from him also avoids besmirching his practically unblemished legacy in the MCU. Steve Rogers’ MCU arc ended beautifully as he finally looked out for his own interests and lived a well-deserved full and happy life with Peggy Carter in the MCU’s past.
This was, after all, one of Deadpool & Wolverine’s main motifs, affectionately spotlighting those characters that fell by the wayside and giving them one last chance to make their mark on the MCU – which Johnny Storm certainly did.
Despite his time-travel shenanigans arguably making him a prime candidate for expulsion to the void, I’m glad Deadpool & Wolverine didn’t touch this. Instead, it reintroduced in spectacular fashion a superhero from movies of yesteryear that never received such an ending. This was, after all, one of Deadpool & Wolverine’s main motifs, affectionately spotlighting those characters that fell by the wayside and giving them one last chance to make their mark on the MCU – which Johnny Storm certainly did.
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