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Posts will still be spotty for awhile, but I’m back. The number of mainstream comics titles featuring LGBT characters has skyrocketed since I began this blog in April of 2008 with the intent of spotlighting LGBT heroes, villains and supporting characters. Between new characters surfacing and old favorites being retconned, it was inevitable I’d miss a few important stories while I was busy stealing the life of a more successful me from an alternate dimension, so I’m going to try and catch up now… BEWARE SPOILERS ABOUND and PLEASE COMMENT IF I LEFT ANYTHING OUT – or if you just want to discuss how cool it is to have heroic LGBT representation in 10 titles on the racks at every comic store! (well 9 after the end of Avengers Academy). If you want Marvel and DC to keep it up… START BUYING ANY OF THE FOLLOWING TITLES IF YOU AREN’T ALREADY!!! If we buy them, they may keep making them.
I mentioned Northstar‘s Astonishing X-Men nuptials before they occurred but I was too occupied with “moving details” by the actual wedding date to blog about it. The event went off like clockwork despite the telepathic machinations of Susan Hatchi (Karma’s half-sister) and Jean-Paul’s Sh’iar teammate Warbird’s protests. The reception afterward was a total blast until Wolverine exploded.
Kevin Keller‘s solo series is wholesome, sweet and funny. It simultaneously manages the difficult task of empowering LGBT youth and remaining completely appropriate for its intended age group. We’ve seen Kevin’s first date and moment in the spotlight as an Olympic torchbearer. We’ve also seen “Future Kevin” (the one who was married in the pages of Life With Archie) announce a run for Senate with a platform centered on gun laws in LWA #24.
Bunker, (Miguel Jose Barragan) the flamboyantly out-n-proud new member of the Teen Titans is discovering new aspects of his powers (levitation) but his personal story hasn’t really unfolded yet. Interviews with creators mentioned a past love that has yet to surface on panel.
Rictor and Shatterstar are still together as a romantic couple (despite Rob Liefeld’s objections) and both are active members of X-Factor – but with the current arc who knows… relationships are evolving and unraveling at the speed of light as the team gets closer to their milestone 250th issue.
Apollo and Midnighter‘s rebooted relationship continues to grow in the pages of Stormwatch. We’ve seen a number of empowering small moments (connecting with Jenny Quantum), but not that much time spotlighting the personal side of their romance. I ALREADY know they can decimate anything when working in concert… I’d like to see a “date night.”
Gotham socialite Kate Kane, A.K.A.Batwoman stalks the city’s dark streets (to critical acclaim) when she’s not busy canoodling with Detective Maggie Sawyer of the GCPD (not to mention winning her SECOND GLAAD award for “Outstanding Comic” – the first was in 2010).
X-Men Legacy #274 told a touching tale in which Rogue was unable to save a mortally injured closeted gay man and used her ability to “reap” him and deliver a message of love and regret to the man’s former lover. Oh yeah, she also rejected Magneto’s marriage proposal.
In the final issue of Avengers Academy, Julie Power and Karolina Dean are making rainbows in the sky as fame-hungry Striker (Brandon Sharpe) makes his first post scars public appearance at the Prom of a gay teen inspired by Brandon’s “It Gets Better” video – making it a recond-breaking TWO LGBT kisses in one issue! Including Marvels SECOND on-panel gay male kiss, and not that long after the first (Wiccan and Hulkling in the last issue of Avengers: The Children’s Crusade). Someone else will have to write up a scorecard on girl on girl snogging in the Marvel U. Anyone up to it?
DC Comics New 52 has become even more inclusive with an intersex re-invention of “The Shining Knight” who appears in their medieval title, Demon Knights.
In a recent issue (#14), Shining Knight a.k.a. Ystin informs a female comrade who’s seemingly taken a “shine” to the mystical hero. “I think you like one… aspect of who I am,” the Knight explains. “But I’m the other too. I was born this way. I’ve kept saying, whenever anyone asks. I’m not just a man or a woman. I’m both.”
We met Earth-2‘s Alan Scott and his loving boyfriend Sam who was unfortunately doomed to be the emotional loss that drives Green Lantern as a hero and Avatar of “The Green.” During his first heroic battle (vs a reimagined Grundy as an avatar of “The Grey”) he is given a chance to be with an illusion of Sam, but overcomes temptation. After the fight he blows off Flash and Hawkgirl, saying he doesn’t need them. Bullshit. Without them Grundy would have smashed him into paste while his psyche was busy mentally snuggling with a mushroom shaped like Sam.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Season 9 introduces a multitude of BtVS fans th "Billy the Vampire Slayer" who is not only the first male character to take on the name of "Slayer," but also the first GAY male "Slayer." Not before you tell me a "Slayer" has to be female – according to the Legend – you are right. Billy has NO "Slayer" powers. He is a bullied teen who started training to defend himself but stepped up to defend his home town from a scourge of "Zompires" – I’ve not been following Season 8 before Billy – but they seem like slow stupid Vampires? More details soon.
Wiccan and Hulkling will appear in the Marvel NOW! January 2013 title Young Avengers alongside original teammate Kate Bishop. Rounding out the roster are teen Loki, Marvel Boy (Noh-Varr A.K.A. “Protector”), and Miss America Chavez. I’m really glad to see Noh-Varr taking off his Protector cowl and joining YA. but I still miss Stature and young Vision and also wish Wiccan’s twin “Speed” was going to be along for the ride.
In Stormwatch #10, we learn some backstory on the DCnU Apollo’s history, and his first name… Andrew. The son of a “tough cop” and a “big church goer,” Apollo grew up living a lie, hating himself for hiding.
Now that he feels strong enough (I wonder how he got his abilities… is there a Henry Bendix in the DCnU?) to come out of the closet Stormwatch wants to push him into a BIGGER one. Apollo may going to need some kind of an outlet to offset the covert nature of Stormwatch… or he’ll just have to learn to “appreciate secrets” the way Midnighter does. Maybe some time undercover with the JLA would help?
The “mystery” is over… it’s OFFICIAL, Earth 2′s sole Green Lantern Alan Scott is gay and has a boyfriend named Sam. This is happening, so if we want to see more inclusion on this level, LGBT comic fans (myself included) should try to get past our petty complaints about how he’s not good high profile enough or “what about his kids and wife” and embrace Alan Scott so whole-heartedly that people google “who is Hal Jordan?.” It’s bad enough that thinly veiled hate groups like inaccurately named One Million Moms are saying LGBT adults don’t need Gay Superheroes – as if we spring fully grown from nowhere. Whether or not LGBT adults need gay superheroes, LGBT kids do. There ARE LGBT kids out there who need this. Who the HELL are OMM to tell the LGBT community what we need? Lets make this Green Lantern bigger than Batwoman.
I know many feel let down… That Alan Scott is not “A” list enough. But to those who thought Iconic meant Superman, Batman, Hal Jordan, Flash or even Superboy or Robin – that was NOT going to happen and could have caused more damage than good. It would have pissed off the straight fanboy demographic too much and given too much ammunition to the religious right hate groups. Despite some definite downsides to this direction for Alan Scott (loss of Jade and Obsidian), a gay hero in the captain’s chair (so I hear) of Earth 2′s premier super-squad, the Justice Society is still pretty damn cool. The progress in LGBT empowerment by the comics industry JUST in the 4+ years I’ve been blogging as HeroesNHunks are really amazing.
you can’t fault Earth 2 writer James Robinson’s motivation and aside from temporarily turning Tasmanian Devil into a rug he’s been an ally. Here is his explanation for retconning Alan Scott’s sexual orientation…
In Alan’s prior version, he had been an old man with a gay son [Obsidian]. And removing that character from the DC Universe bothered me — the fact that we were taking a gay character out of circulation. And it occurred to me: Why not just make Alan Scott gay? He’s still interesting, he’s still a dynamic hero, a great man, but he happens to be gay. So I suggested that to Dan, and to his credit, there wasn’t a moment’s hesitation. He was like, “Yeah, sure, that sounds great.” So there wasn’t a huge editorial think tank; it was just an idea that got put forward and was accepted.
Below are a few more panels from Earth 2 #1. Note Alan’s eagerness to get to China (where Samuel meets him at the Hong Kong airport). I hope they don’t kill off the boyfriend as part of Alan’s requisite “inciting tragedy”.
Hopefully at some undisclosed point in Earth 2′s future, emotionally unstable villainess Rose Canton (a.k.a. Rose & Thorn) will become sexually obsessed with Alan and capture him (her plant-based abilities could kick his ass if he is still vulnerable to wood – lets hope not, that was always stupid). Once she has him in her clutches she can take what she needs to grow twins Todd and Jennie. If Nightwing can get raped by a girl, so could Alan Scott. Or she could have been his prom date and he was a late bloomer. Then Obsidian and Jade could arrive along with the rest of their time traveling friends in Infinity Inc.
From the sound of the “magical” country vacation Alan and Sam have planned, it sounds like his origin may or may not still be centered around the mysterious mystical “green flame” that fell in ancient China and was eventually identified as the Starheart , but it won’t be related to the central power battery of an interstellar Green Lantern Corps.
As a gay geek blogger I would be COMPLETELY remiss in my duties were I not to share L. Rey Arzeno’s gorgeous illustration of some of of Marvel’s most significant LGBT characters – still missing Graymalkin, Julie Power, Striker, Victoria Hand and Bling. PRIDE month doesn’t start until Friday – but lets get a jump on it.
From Left to right we have: Anole, Shatterstar, Rictor, Karma (with her new cyborg leg hidden), Mystique, Northstar, Daken, Karolina Dean, Xavin, Wiccan and Hulkling.
Not to be outgayed by Marvel’s gay June X-Wedding, DC’s announcement that “One of the major iconic DC characters will reveal that he is gay in a storyline in June” started a wild round of speculation online. Names such as Booster Gold, Black Adam, and Shazam were bandied about as fanboys and girls tried to guess who it is. But Bleeding Cool claims to have spilled the beans with the as yet unconfirmed “revelation” that it will be Earth 2′s Alan Scott coming out of the CMYK closet. Alan Scott was the original Green Lantern (created in 1940 with a magic based origin, Alan was replaced in 1959 with the modern Hal Jordan space cop concept) and WAS father to Obsidian – the only gay Legacy hero in the former DCU.
Alan Scott has a rich family history including a long marriage to Molly Scott (formerly Harlequin), and long lost twins Todd Rice a.k.a. Obsidian and Jennie Lynn Hayden a.k.a. Jade. I’m not against the idea of a gay retcon in theory – but if it IS going to be Alan Scott I don’t approve. I’m not emotionally invested in Alan Scott’s marriage to Molly. The big issue with making him gay is because he is a YOUNG character now, he’s far less likely to have fathered Obsidian and Jade. The character doesn’t seem old enough to have teen children and being out at an early age makes it even less likely.
I KNOW its still possible for the DCnU to introduce a revamped Jade and Obsidian, but part of the significance of the pair was their status as “Legacy” heroes. Despite writers penchant for writing him as unstable or needing rescue, I liked Obsidian as a gay hero with strong family ties and support – not to mention the relationship he had with Damon Matthews pre DCnU (in the pages of Manhunter). I get that there can’t really be any “Legacy” heroes in the DCnU since the super heroes are a “new” phenomenon in that reality – but these are comic books – anything is possible – Todd and Jennie could AND SHOULD arrive from Earth 2′s future along with the rest of Infinity Inc to fight the JSA.
If Alan Scott is our new “Iconic gay male hero” I sincerely hope he had an early bisexual phase with (lets make her his) High School sweetheart Rose Canton long enough to have fathered a set of twins of which he’s unaware. Otherwise I feel DC is negating the existence of one of their truly ORIGINAL gay heroes.
Gay X-Marriage? I still think so. Norkyle may not have the same ring as Norcules, but they really are a cute couple, so I’m rooting for them.
We’re getting closer to the impending mutant milestone that is Astonishing X-Men #50 – and the engagement that it will likely contain. We are still not seeing any significant character development besides Northstar and Kyle, so I feel safe in having their present engraved, but hope both grooms will live long enough to enjoy it. Welcome to the X-Men _______ I hope you survive the experience. I was glad to see Kyle’s Jinadu’s reckless behavior (following BF Northstar to a rumble alongside Wolverine) didn’t get him in too much trouble.
Apparently it was Karma (and not the bad guys – whew) that he ran into last issue while hot on the GPS trail of Northstar’s cell. As those involved start to figure things out, we are treated to some battle-ending hysteria from Kyle followed by the exchange below. Their conversation strikes me as one of the most honest and believable in the 4 color history of Superhuman-Human romances – and I love the bit about the laundry and cleaning. Like YOU wouldn’t want YOUR superspeed flying boyfriend to do all the chores in seconds??
• The Marauders Are Back! • Something From Northstar’s Past Has Resurfaced And Is Looking For Revenge. • Kyle Goes Missing – How Is He Connected To The Person Behind Everything?
Part of the solicit was a tease – Kyle isn’t missing – YET. Here’s what we know… Something is definitely up. A telepath is involved and Northstar AND Kyle appear to be the focus of the mastermind behind events. The flashes of the very near future (guessing present will catch up with these by next ish or the Wedding) we saw last issue of Northstar running slowly for his like from mind-controlled Wolvie and Gambit are nothing compared to what he has to deal with this issue. Is Jean Paul Beaubier faster than a speeding bullet? I’ll say yes. Because if he’s not…
After 10 years in the closet and another 10 years out, is it finally time for Marvel’s original gay superhero – Northstar and his boyfriend of 3 years Kyle Jinadu to walk down the aisle?
After Marvel released the White X Save the Date teaser image, it was speculated that Jean-Paul and Kyle will wed in the 51st issue of Astonishing X-Men (on shelves June 20th). What do we know? Astonishing X-Men 51 will contain “something that has never been seen inside the pages of a Marvel comic.” The White X image has been used before (to tease the marriage of Scott and Jean), so a wedding is definitely inferred. Combine that with the fact that Northstar is the only team member close to that point in a relationship, and he’s the obvious answer (unless manwhore Gambit goes to extremes to get a jealous rise out of Rogue). A media blitz is planned to coincide with the May release of Astonishing X-Men #50, which rumor has it contains the proposal. Marvel will also be celebrating the event with John Cassaday variants for Astonishing X-Men #50 and a Djurdjevic variant cover for #51.
He may have been beaten to the title of first gay wedding in comics by the Wildstorm incarnations of Apollo and The Midnighter (whose DCNu counterparts are following their footsteps and may have some invitations of their own to send out soon enough) and Kevin Keller’s interracial military nuptials were more of a “shock” to those shocked by such things, but marrying off Northstar would be a HUGE milestone in the Marvel Universe which despite having a number of LGBT characters… up until now hasn’t broached the topic of marriage equality. Though there WAS a semi-proposal in Avengers: The Children’s Crusade #9… Keep and eye on X-Factor. Maybe it will be a triple gay wedding?
The only bad news is since Marvel plans a media frenzy around the event, this gives the Few Thousand Women Who Can’t Count enough time to notice and get riled up. Lets hope they drop the ball again.
If you are a gay geek and you are NOT reading Stormwatch… SHAME ON YOU! In its first 8 issues not only do we get to see the relationship of comics first gay married couple (Apollo and The Midnighter) unfold all over again in DC continuity, we’ve also seen open, frank and matter of fact flirtation between the pair and now we get to see acknowledgement, encouragement and support from youngest teammate (and potential future adopted daughter – if events unfold similarly to the original Authority) Jenny Quantum. The Midnighter really should brush up on his etiquette, he didn’t offer Jenny much of a thanks for her gesture. Wait until you see what he DOES do! I get his motivations, but it seems out of character after his paternal behavior towards her. All that plus action and intrigue on a scale that makes a JLA mission feel like an early issue of Young Justice marks Stormwatch MUST read.
Out of the mouths of babes. I just can’t imagine an exchange like this in the comics I read growing up. “Boys can like boys. It doesn’t matter.” They are two short simple sentences, but one can imagine the sense of empowerment that those 7 words could instill in a young gay or lesbian reader. Or in straight readers for that matter. As overjoyed as I am about new LGBT characters and the commercial success of books starring gay characters like Kevin Keller, these small moments in mainstream titles are just as if not more powerful.
Which makes me wonder why the usual crop of Bigoted Bible Thumpers (BBTs) aren’t raising a Holy stink about it. Has no one told them yet? I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, their furor over Kevin Keller’s gay interracial military wedding in Life with Archie #16 was so late that the books sold out before they could organize a boycott.
Northstar and his long-term business manger turned love interest Kyle Jinadu are 2 of the new additions to the Astonishing X-Men family. Marvel must have gotten wind of my recently downscaled buy list and the criteria to get on it (have a LGBT character) – cuz it’s always about me… right? Delusions aside, I’m happy Marvel found a home for Jean-Paul and Kyle. BTW – BEWARE SPOILERS.
BUT, where is the dog they rescued at the end of the Alpha Flight mini-series (a Fear Itself tie-in)? I see no sign of the pooch in their new apartment, and Kyle is NOT walking the dog later in the book when he decides to take a stroll. Which is too bad as that would be a WAY less stupid reason (than following his BF to see what WOLVERINE wanted) for him to be out in the night. If Kyle is to survive the X-Men, he needs to learn to stay home and read his damned book when Wolverine calls Jean-Paul. Otherwise he’ll find himself nabbed in the darkness by strange silhouetted figures and, oh wait, never mind, too late.
I loved the tender and realistic scene between Jean-Paul and Kyle in their new apartment – especially the knowing wink and Northstar’s super speed decorating. I hope we see more of this sort of domesticity. I Also hope that Kyle isn’t going to become the team’s “dude in distress.” You know… that annoyingly stupid significant other who is always getting themselves in a jam. The classic damsels – Lois Lane, Iris West, Linda Park and a number of Bat Bimbos all had an excuse for their tendency to step right in it – occupational hazard. But Kyle is not a reporter, or a cop, or even an EMT. Kyle is a business manager. He should act like it. He and Northstar have already had discussions about how Kyle shouldn’t mix too much with the dangers of the super-hero world. And after being brainwashed into heterosexuality by the Master as part of an elaborate plan to take over the world (why does he always start with Canada? Has the man never played RISK? and he calls himself the Master of the World – HA). But I digress.
The issue even has some action, including Northstar running through a sewer (at normal speed?) to escape from a homicidal Wolverine and Gambit, but alas no explanation yet as to how we get there. Maybe next issue.
DESPITE my misgivings about the “finale” I’m thrilled Wiccan and Hulking FINALLY kissed on panel.
I loved issues 1-8 of the overly drawn-out maxiseries. So I was NOT ready for this final issue of Avengers: The Children’s Crusade. I’ve come to expect more of Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung, but nothing happened, at least nothing good. As we saw last issue, Stature died. This issue, they argue, the “young” Vision is demolished (IMO to make room for the recently reconstructed “old” Vision) and then everyone just decides to let their friends stay dead. Its OK to save Scott Lang with the timestream but not Cassie?
The big climax that sets the stage big time for what is to come in 2012! Deaths and departures! The funeral of an Avenger. The final fate of the Scarlet Witch. Plus, a new lineup and direction for the Young Avengers.
Aside from that the Young Avengers all decide that its all their fault and they should disband and quit heroing. Wiccan mopes around through 3 recent major Marvel events (Spider-Island, Schism, and the Human Torch’s return) in a one page montage and then we get a reunion in the following final four pages – which does include a backhanded proposal and the 1st on-panel Hulkling/Wiccan kiss for which we’ve all been hoping since the boyfriends were introduced back in 2005… but it just feels like we are being thrown a bone at the end of a bad finale to follow through on the more prevalent early issue mentions of the relationship (that dwindled significantly late in the series.
To be fair I’m including a review from the always adorable GayComicGeek. I loved the series and really expected more of a finale. This felt like an epilogue.
Since this is the last issue of a bi monthly 9 issue series we spent MORE THAN 18 months following, I doubt anyone is going to skip it just because I’ve included the above four pages, which include the big gay moment and some sentimental words of encouragement from Captain America that they are “all Avengers.” This doesn’t bode particularly well for those of us hoping that a regular Young Avengers title would soon be added to the schedule. I think this is just timed so a few of the kids can pop up on rosters during AVX. The so called “new roster” mentioned in the tease is nowhere to be found unless that final shot (sans Patriot) that includes Captain America, Spider-Man and Ant-Man is meant to foreshadow something?
