As Pride celebrations are in full color around the globe in many cities, it’s time to reflect on gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans characters in comics. It’s a very good time and promises to get even better. More GLBT heroes are headlining their own books by the big two publishers. A comic book icon recently identified as queer conquered the global box office and set records.
For Pride month here’s an update on the state of popular GLBT superheroes starting with Marvel and this knockout:
AMERICA
She will knock you out!
Miss America Chavez is a lesbian raised by two moms in another dimension. America is super strong, flies and can kick open holes in reality allowing her to travel between dimensions. The breakthrough hero came out in Young Avengers. America now stars in her own solo book and is a member of the Ultimates team.
ICEMEN
Bobby Drake came out – twice. The young Bobby from the past was transported into the present and came out after being telepathically outed by his teammate Jean Grey. Young Bobby eventually confronted his older self who wondered why he had lived a life in the closet in a powerful coming out with himself.
Young Bobby found a boyfriend with an young Inhuman named Romeo (no danger there) and is currently starring in X-Men: Blue. Adult Bobby is now starring in his first solo series written by Sina Grace. Iceman is finally reaching his power potential (he’s an omega level mutant) mastering new way to manifest his abilities and coming to terms with himself as a gay man. Bobby is even exploring dating apps and rebuilding personal relationships with old friends like ex-girlfriend Kitty Pryde.
WICCAN & HULKLING
Two teenage boys who fell in love and saved the universe with their fellow Young Avengers. Wiccan (Billy Kaplan) is the son of Scarlet Witch with magical abilities. Hulkling (Teddy Altman) turned out be Dorrek, the shapeshifting son of a Skrull Princess and the legendary Kree warrior hero Mar-Vell. Billy an d Teddy’s romance went through ups and down during two runs of the Young Avengers and most recently were members of the New Avengers.
MORPH
Benjamin Deeds can morph his appearance to look like someone close to him while giving off a chemical that causes others to like and trust him and scramble electronics. Emma Frost saw Benjamin’s power potential and she was the first person he came out to. Benjamin is now part of the main cast of the new Generation X book set the rebuilt Xavier Institute.
BLING
Roxy Washington is the daughter of famous music artists. When Roxy’s mutant power of diamond skin, ability to project diamond shards and durability manifested she left the celebrity world behind and enrolled in the Xavier Institute. Bling is openly gay and is now starring with Morph in the new Generation X title. (There’s Morph and Bling on the far lower left cover.)
ANOLE
Victor Borkowski is a young mutant with a lizard appearance including green scaly skin, ability to camouflage, regenerate limbs, crawl on walls plus super speed and reflexes. After his initial appearance, Victor developed a fan following and later got a c0de-name and becoming a frequent cast member of the X-Men books.
KAROLINA DEAN
The daughter of Hollywood actors, Karolina later learned she was an alien with flight and solar manipulation powers. Karolina joined the Runaways and fell in love with teammate Xavin. Karolina will be part of the revived Runaways this Fall.
MYSTIQUE
You could say this shapeshifter is sexually fluid. Raven had a son with Sabretooth and a son who would become Nightcrawler with a German noble but Raven’s heart belonged to Destiny, Irene Adler, a mutant with the ability to see possible futures. Destiny’s murder helped push Raven’s the even darker deeds, madness and Raven to pursue Destiny’s Diaries, Irene’s visions before her own demise. Raven will be part of the upcoming Astonishing X-Men next month.
Over at DC Comics, breakthrough LGBT characters and icons going through changes:
WONDER WOMAN
Diana is celebrating her 75th anniversary, the first solo Wonder Woman film is a critical and box-office smash and her comic book is better than ever. Wonder Woman’s comic book, television and big screen love is Steve Trevor but he’s not the only love of her life. DC Rebirth Wonder Woman writer Greg Rucka confirmed Diana is “queer” and to his approach Diana would have had a relationship with a woman on Paradise Island.
BATWOMAN
The original Batwoman was created in part to dismiss allegations Batman and Robin were gay. The modern day Batwoman is a lesbian. Kate Kane’s promising military career was crushed in the don’t ask, don’t tell era. An encounter with Batman inspired Kane to become a masked vigilante crime fighter. Kate fell in love with Gotham City Detective Renee Montoya, who later became the masked detective known as The Question. Kate was recruited by Batman to co-lead a Bat boot camp for Gotham’s new heroes in Detective Comics and now stars in her own solo book.
They’ve been called a gay version of Batman and Superman as gay lovers. Midnighter (Lucas Trent is his presumed name) is an artificially enhanced human with extraordinary fighting abilities. Apollo converts solar energy into super-strength, speed, flight and energy blasting powers. The former Stormwatch operatives became members of the rogue superhero team known as The Authority. The power couple eventually married and raised a daughter (the reborn former leader of their team) but were separated. Midnighter starred in his own acclaimed spy series before reuniting with Apollo for their own limited series.
CATWOMAN
The ultimate femme fatale has often been one of Batman’s greatest villains…and loves. During the New 52 era, Selina Kyle ditched the Catwoman costume and code-name to seize the throne in the Underworld. Selina was revealed to be the daughter of a crime boss ironically hailed as The Lion. Selina had an affair with Eiko, the daughter of a rival crime boss who herself was masquerading as Catwoman. But things have changed! With DC Rebirth Bat and Cat as they called themselves have fallen in love again. Batman asked her to marry him! To be continued!
AQUALAD
Jackson Hyde is the son of Aquaman villain Black Manta. Originally created for the Young Justice animated series, Jackson swam over to comics. He recently came back and came out in DC Universe Rebirth and is a member of the new Teen Titans.
THE RAY
Raymond “Ray” Terrill was a reporter with light based powers after exposure during a rogue science experiment. The Ray is currently a member of the Justice League of America and will star in a CW Seed animated series Freedom Fighters: The Ray, the first animated show to feature a gay hero in the lead.
By Editor