Category: Books

X-Men Wedding Follow Up: More Gay Mutants in Love

  Northstar’s upcoming wedding in Astonishing X-Men next month and the reintroduction of a gay Alan Scott Green Lantern inspired my story X Marks Diversity – which looked back at how the X-Men have always been groundbreaking when it comes to characters of different races, cultures, religions and sexual orientation.

X-Statix Volume 1 courtesy Marvel.com

I made a glaring omission. As I was reading today’s Axel-In-Charge column on Comic Book Resources  CBR’s Kiel Phegley reminded us that current Marvel Editor in Chief Axel Alonso was editor of the Rawhide Kid: Slap Leather. This Marvel MAX series relaunched the Wild West hero as open and flamboyantly gay drew criticism from anti and pro gay groups more than a decade ago. This led Alonso to remind us of two other gay heroes.

  “There are plenty of gay characters in Marvel Comics that fly under the radar. Take Phat and Vivisector, for instance: teammates on the [Peter] Milligan/[Mike] Allred X-Force/X-Statix series that were also lovers. I don’t remember them provoking any controversy and I don’t think Rawhide Kid paved the road for them or any other gay characters; the opportunity was always there. Whenever you create a new character, the details of their interior or private life – stuff like their sexuality – will at some time become relevant.”

  Northstar’s proposal is Marvel history now. Alonso revealed how recent events affected the storyline.

 “Our best stories reflect stuff that happens in the world outside your window. When the Twin Towers fell, we did the Spidey black cover issue [“Amazing Spider-Man #36”]. when New York State legalized gay marriage, we wondered how Northstar – an openly gay super hero who’s in a long-term monogamous relationship – would respond to that development.

 The world outside New Yorkers’ windows is one where gay marriage is recognized. But remember: For Northstar and Kyle, getting married is just the beginning of the story – the easy part. Marriage isn’t about the week’s vacation in Tahiti – it’s about the weekend trip to the K-Mart. A year from now, who knows – we could be looking at the historic divorce issue!” [Laughter]

For more of today’s column – a Friday must for me and I recommend for Marvel fans- here’s the link.

  I complete forget this mutant couple and this X-Force reboot from two gifted creators! The title was so different at the time – I always thought of it as an X-Men book by Vertigo.

By Editor

Alan Scott Green Lantern Is Out, New DC Gay Character Teased

 

Earth 2 art courtesy DC Comics

The mystery is over now let the speculation begin…again! Who is coming out next?

 Golden Age Green Lantern comes out in Earth 2 #2 next week. DC Comics revealed Alan Scott will be reintroduced as a gay man as part of The New 52 Second Wave relaunch. Writer James Robinson says Scott will not be the only gay character in the series.

“There is another character down the line, but that character won’t be appearing for some time, so it’s probably a bit too early to talk about that,” he told the gay and lesbian magazine The Advocate, “but this book will definitely have a diverse cast. Alan Scott won’t be the only gay character in Earth 2, I promise you that.”

Justice Society of America #48 courtesy DC Comics

Thanks to Robot 6 of Comic Book Resources.

Will is be a hero, villain, sidekick? Could it be another hero (and teammate of Scott’s) from the Justice Society era? Wildcat and Doctor Fate have not be reintroduced yet.

Let the speculation begin…again!

If you didn’t catch it before…here’s the DC character I thought could be relaunched as a gay character.

By Editor

Original Green Lantern Relaunched as Gay Super Hero

Earth 2 art courtesy DC Comics

  The speculation is over. One of DC’s Golden Age heroes is coming out. DC Comics revealed that original Green Lantern Alan Scott will be gay when he’s reintroduced in DC Comics The New 52. Earth 2 #2 by James Robinson out next week reveals Scott as the only Green Lantern of Earth 2. Today DC Comics revealed the new Alan Scott and a kiss with his boyfriend.

  “I’m very proud to be introducing Alan Scott into DC COMICS-THE NEW 52,” said series writer James Robinson. “He was my favorite Golden Age character and one I’m very familiar with so I’m really excited to be updating him for a contemporary readership. However, I think old-time readers will be pleasantly surprised by how, in some ways, I’m trying to show the ‘classic’ Alan Scott at the same time. He’s still the same dynamic, heroic guy he was. He’s still the head of a media empire like he was in his prior version, but of course with the form of media changing and evolving with the times. And in many ways, his origin mirrors the original one also. Oh, and on Earth 2 there is only one Green Lantern, so Alan’s title is The Green Lantern. Alan’s sexuality is just one facet of him, along with his innate goodness, valor, charisma and skill at leadership that makes him the perfect man to wield the power of the green light in the world of Earth 2.”

Earth 2 art courtesy DC Comics

  “Before starting work on #1, the first document I had to work from was the character breakdowns for our primary players,” continued EARTH 2 artist Nicola Scott. “With Alan the brief was very clear. He needed to be a big, strapping, handsome man that everyone would instinctively follow and love. No short order but right up my alley. Alan strikes me as an incredibly open, honest and warm man, a natural leader and absolutely the right choice to be Guardian of the Earth. His sexuality is incidental. Every time I draw him I love him even more.”

  Alan Scott was the Green Lantern of the 1940’s and 50’s and a member of the Justice Society. James Robinson chronicled a gay super hero before. Starman in 1990’s was a groundbreaking series for having a homosexual lead character. Judd Winnick wrote Green Lantern in the 1990’s starring Kyle Rayner with a gay intern named Terry Berg, who became a victim of gay bashing in the storyline. 

  The original Scott married a woman (Rose and Thorn were her dual identities) and they had two children who grew up to be Jade and Obsidian (a gay character) of Infinity Inc. Scott and other Golden Age heroes returned to the present to train the next generation of heroes in JSA.

 

Justice Society of America #48 courtesy DC Comics

Ladies man Hal Jordan (played by Ryan Reynolds on the big screen) is still the official Green Lantern of the main DC Comics or Earth 1.

By Editor

DC Teases INJUSTICE Fighting Game

 

Injustice: Gods Among Us image courtesy DC Comics The Source

Injustice: Gods Among Us is a new fighting game by the makers of Mortal Kombat. DC Comics reveald this image and Gamespot.com premiered this cool trailer with the ominous story behind the game including images of heroes against heroes! I really love the Flash effects. Wait until you see who Superman smacks down!

 

Thanks to The Source.

By Editor

Hulk Makes Crushed Ice Out of An X-Man?

Wolverine and the X-Men #11 courtesy Marvel

  Wolverine and the X-Men #11 may be my favorite chapter (even if it’s a tie-in) in Avengers vs. X-Men so far. The issue is packed with action and humor with AvX battles on six fronts. Jason Aaron must love a challenge because not only does he balance all these story threads but he brings on the Shiar is a big way.

  Logan is haunted by the Dark Phoenix Saga and questions if he really can be the best at what he does – if it means killing a child. Aaron writes Wolverine like no one else. Logan doesn’t know if he should save Hope or kill her to save humanity. The debate is interrupted by the Shiar Death Commandos. The alien assassination squad is on Earth to eliminate the potential joining of the Phoenix Force to its human host. The battle is brutal, inventive and reveals the true threat Hope poses.

  One of my favorite elements of Aaron’s run is how he handles Bobby Drake. The original Iceman still provides comic relief but he’s maximizing his power like never before. Bobby is an Omega level mutant and now he’s flaunting it. The Red Hulk tries to make crushed ice out of Bobby but Iceman’s new power level and cool factor smashes the Rulk.

  Kid Gladiator is a breakout new star of the series. Aaron is pitch perfect with how he writes the arrogant, brash heir to the Shiar Empire who defies his father and frustrates his classmates. Lord Kubark may have taken on more than he handle but we’ll have to wait until next issue plus his daddy dearest arrives for one helluva parent-teacher conference!

By Editor

A Time Lord Walks Into a Star Trek Bar…

Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2 courtesy IDW Publishing

“Geronimo…they made it so!”

  Two sci-fi icons are phased together in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Doctor Who: Assimilation2 from IDW Comics. I had a Trek fan at work (who doesn’t read comics) ask how can they pull this off…this isn’t even the same universe!”

  He even asked “why the blue police box?” I sighed and explained.

 

  Back to Assimilation2

  Does this geek think you engage? YES. I won’t spoil but here are some highlights.

  A Federation world (featuring a big nod to Star Trek: The Motion Picture if you can believe it) is under assault from the Borg but this attack is unprecedented. The dreaded assimilators of the universe are attacking with Cybermen. Yes, two of the most feared races of each competing universe have formed an unholy alliance.

Matt Smith as The Doctor courtesy BBC America

 The action cuts to ancient Egypt where the eleventh doctor, Amy and Rory are on the run after a different kind of alien threat when the Time Lord gets a vision of his old enemies. The trio is soon in the Tardis and in the 24th century about to engage the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise.

The creative team capture the spirit of Trek and Who in each separate story thread and I can’t wait to see how they spin this crossover. I can imagine Captain Picard mistaking the Doctor for a member of the Q Continuum! 

Issue one of this is a fun read with gorgeous art and sets up the action of how the crews will meet and the mystery of the Borg and Cyberman union was born. 

By Editor

P.S. Seeing the Doctor in Egypt brought memories of one of my favorite Tom Baker serials: The Pyramids of Mars. Mr. Moffat, if you’re looking to reboot a classic villain I humbly request to you revisit this classic.

Avengers Vs X-Men Makes Rogue Lose It

X-Men Legacy #266 courtesy Marvel

  It’s awesome yet a little scary to see Rogue cut loose and tap into a dark side of her power in X-Men Legacy #267. This AvX tie-in issue is a thrilling showdown between a squad of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and teachers at the Jean Grey School.

  Rogue and Iron Man trade memories while trading punches. The Armored Avenger taunts Rogue about their last clash. Back in the classic Avengers Annual #10 Rogue was still a bad girl and took on the entire team at Avengers mansion at the direction of Mystique. It’s cool to see Rogue use a darker aspect of her power to kick She-Hulk and Iron Man’s arrogant a—-. For a longtime fan who knows the price Rogue paid for her past crimes seeing this is bittersweet.

  I’ve been wondering when Kitty Pryde would join the fight and this issue Kitty’s quick action reveals an advantage that turns the tide in the fight. Rogue may have wanted to stay out of AvX but this battle has made her eager to take on more Avengers.

  By Editor

Astonishing X-Men Northstar’s Wedding Preview Pages

The wedding of Northstar and Kyle was a reason to celebrate for supporters of gay marraige. The first gay wedding of the Marvel Universe hit mainstream media. My stories made the front page of KOMONEWS.COM and the story was picked up on KOMO News Radio. Thanks for all the shares and comments – even the negative ones!

The announcement of Northstar’s nuptuals in Astonishing X-Men #51 by Marjorie Liu were followed by a variant cover by Marko Djurdjevic then a special “create your own wedding album” cover by Phil Noto.

By Editor