I know the FF are based on the 4 elements, however i have seen that most (out of comic) fans tend to make johnny agressive as FIRE and while yes he is a hothead and reckless, johnny is the most sensible and least to harm someone with his power
Yeah, I won't lie and say this one isn't a pet peeve of mine, too, although I think it's way more egregious when it's coming from professionals than from fans. (Like with everything.) I'm not going to hold casual fans especially to the same standard as people who get paid to write this stuff. I remember being put off some Fantastic Four novel because it described Sue, of all people, as being frightened by Johnny's "violent temper" and I was like. Where lmfao. Like show me one entire time.
And I get why people do this, I really do -- because like you said, people see that Johnny is FIRE (and he's the most obvious when it comes to the Fantastic Four's elemental powers) and fire is aggressive and dangerous and destructive. And yes, Johnny's powers are aggressive and destructive and dangerous. But Johnny's personality is not. One of the things I've discussed previously is how hard Johnny works to keep his powers under control, and how hard he works to make sure he doesn't hurt anyone.
(I really recommend Burn!, the storyline in the first six issues of the 2003 Human Torch series, if you want to explore this further -- Johnny is brought into a pyrokinetic murder mystery by a former high school classmate he once scarred when he was younger and had less control over his powers. It's good stuff.)
I think there are elements of Johnny's personality that are very flame-like. He can be impulsive and impetuous, and he does have a temper, albeit not a particularly violent one. He tends to burn himself out quickly. He's passionate and warm and loving. If we're looking at things fire represents, there's the hearth fire, and he loves his family and his home. But it is always interesting to me, like you mentioned, that if anything, he's the one who seems uncomfortable around violence.
"Sue, don't." (Fantastic Four #594)
"Thank God you missed!" (Fantastic Four #502)
Obligatory Spideytorch mention: He's put himself between Peter and someone Peter is trying to hit/hurt on numerous occasions, and even just made the effort to calm Peter down when he's angry.
"I think you should show a bit more physical restraint against low-level thugs like these!" (Spider-Man Unlimited #5)
"That can wait." (ASM (2015) #5)
Johnny just isn't a violent person, and making him out to be one because he has fire powers ignores decades of characterization in favor of a flat take. A fiery personality doesn't have to automatically mean a careless one. In 616 there's just no basis for him being careless or irresponsible with his powers, or to portray him as having a violent temper. I think it's more fun to explore other ways Johnny's characterization reflects his powers. I know for me, when I'm writing him, even if I'm thinking about him being impetuous or hot-headed, I tend to lean into the fast burning side of things. Fast to ignite and fast to burn himself out. And once he does burn himself out, all that's left is the ashes.
theartofmadeline
kaledo-art
tangentwithtanner
janainaart
