“I'm a superhero fan and a lot of people recommended The Umbrella Academy to me.
“I started watching The Umbrella Academy in lockdown. I was shielding so got through both series quite quickly. It was the perfect escapism. It was also witty, the characters were complex and it had some fantastic comical moments. I got drawn into the whole world.
“I’d discovered these seven misfits trying to find themselves - something that anyone with a visible difference can relate to.
“As the third series approaches, Netflix are revealing new characters to us on social media. One character, Alphonso Hargreeves, has a visible difference.
“Although we’re not completely sure yet that his character is a villain, the harmful comments are stacking up, and people have made up their own minds as to his character based on what he looks like. In their eyes, he’s already “the bad guy” because he looks different.
“I’d like the film industry to step away from lazy and outdated stereotypes. Let’s see villains without visible differences. Let’s have a character – the hero, the strong sidekick or intelligent love interest, who also happens to have a visible difference.”
Today, for World Superhero Day, Jude reflects on what makes a villain: bit.ly/3MAPfzP