Five Months Later: My Frustration with the Deadpool & Wolverine Fight Between Johnny Storm and Pyro

The showdown between Johnny Storm and Pyro in the recent Deadpool & Wolverine film continues to frustrate fans, even five months after its release. Both characters previously belonged to the Fox universe before Marvel regained the rights to their franchises. Chris Evans’ portrayal of Johnny Storm was last seen in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer when he and his team faced off against Galactus. Conversely, Pyro last appeared in X-Men: The Last Stand, where his fire manipulation was ultimately no match for Iceman’s icy powers.

In a surprising turn of events, after being ‘pruned’, both Johnny Storm and Pyro become some of the first variants encountered by Deadpool and Wolverine in the Void. During the encounter, Johnny attempts to warn his allies of an impending attack but quickly charges at Pyro with a fiery display. Unfortunately, Pyro effortlessly extinguishes Storm’s flames, rendering him incapacitated and captured by his mutant henchmen. This sequence is where my skepticism about the portrayal begins.

My Ongoing Frustrations with the Johnny Storm vs. Pyro Scene in Deadpool & Wolverine

The Encounter Shouldn’t Have Been So Simple

Watch the scene here

On the surface, the defeat of Johnny Storm might seem logical. Pyro controls fire, while Johnny Storm generates it. However, this perspective overlooks Johnny’s superior powers. He can not only create flames but is also immune to them, while Pyro typically relies on protective gear when using his abilities. Under normal circumstances, Pyro should not be able to simply extinguish Johnny’s flames. Instead, he should be able to redirect them. Furthermore, Johnny’s stamina and resilience far exceed Pyro’s capabilities.

Additionally, comic book lore has shown Johnny defeating Pyro on numerous occasions, as evidenced in issues like Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #31 and X-Men/Fantastic Four #1. While I acknowledge that the scene aimed for comedic effects, highlighting Johnny’s well-known arrogance, the execution felt off. Ultimately, a last-minute decision reduced what could have been a thrilling confrontation to a mere footnote.

Aaron Stanford’s Insights on Pyro’s Swift Victory

Little Consideration for Johnny Storm’s Character

Aaron Stanford, who plays Pyro, spoke candidly to RadioTimes.com about the nature of their fight, revealing that the initial concept involved a more dramatic confrontation. However, he soon realized that for Pyro, confronting someone like Johnny Storm would be “the easiest thing in the world.”This realization led the filmmakers to opt for a quick resolution, allowing Pyro to extinguish Johnny’s flames almost immediately. Stanford’s quote encapsulates this perspective:

“I think the initial idea was for it to be a real struggle, a real battle between two superpowers. But, as we were filming, I realized that, for Pyro, it’s not a battle because this is what he does, and he has now found himself up against the ideal opponent because it’s not a struggle. For him, this is the easiest thing in the world. Anybody else he was up against, it would be difficult. But for him, this is like a snap. So we figured out, alright, he should suck all the flame out, and then he just winks it out like it’s nothing.”

This explanation only exacerbates the issue. Not only does it diminish Johnny’s established powers, but it appears there was little involvement from Chris Evans or thoughtful consideration of Johnny Storm’s character. Considering that Johnny stood alongside fellow resistance members against threats like Cassandra Nova’s henchmen, his swift defeat feels especially out of character, especially when non-powered allies like Elektra can hold their own against mutants.

A Call for Redemption: Chris Evans’ Johnny Storm Deserves Better

Overall, Johnny Storm’s character felt underutilized in Deadpool & Wolverine; he was relegated to comedic moments without a chance to showcase his abilities. As the sole representative of the Fantastic Four in the film, he deserved the same spotlight as other characters. Instead, he was swiftly defeated by Pyro and later met a gruesome end at the hands of Cassandra Nova.

In light of Chris Evans’ appearance as a variant in the Void, there’s potential for more iterations of Johnny Storm to re-enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s imperative that these versions align more closely with the comic book representation of his powers. With projects like Avengers: Secret Wars or Avengers: Doomsday on the horizon, I remain hopeful that Evans returns to portray a Johnny Storm that reflects his true capabilities. Given his confirmed role in the latter, I maintain my optimism for a more heroic representation of this iconic character.

Source: RadioTimes.com

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