A new gay superhero debuts this week at comic book stores. Bunker joins the Teen Titans with issue number three out this Wednesday. DC’s New 52 relaunch is an effort to create a more modern comics universe. When the new character was introduced online creators said Bunker would be openly gay and flamboyant. The teaser sparked scorn, praise and controversy. This week you can grab the new issue and decide for yourself.
Bunker is a Mexican teen named Miguel Barragan with the power to build brick like force fields and he likes to wear purple. Scott Lobdell and Brett Booth created this new character to join established DC teen heroes like Red Robin, Wonder Girl and Kid Flash.
Scott Lobdell knows how to write young heroes. He co-created the teen mutants of Marvel’s Generation X. Lobdell wrote storylines with a mix of action, teen angst and captured the awkwardness all teens feel trying to fit in and find themselves. Scott Lobdell is noted for writing the issue when Canadian super hero and future X-Man Northstar came out in Alpha Flight # 106 in 1992. Comic Book Resources has a more detailed interview with Lobdell about the creation of Bunker.
Bunker’s creation has sparked a lot of debate of the state of gay characters in comics. I’m working a post for later this week on some of most memorable LGBT characters. I’d like to know what you think of Bunker – I still don’t get the name.