2012 was a big year for GLBT comic book characters. X-Man Northstar got married. New Mutant Karma became the star of a major storyline. The Buffyverse welcomed Billy the Vampire Slayer. Batwoman kept kicking butt and teamed up with Wonder Woman. Green Lantern Alan Scott is gay on a reborn Earth 2. Archie Comics star Kevin Keller met George Takei.
The GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor media for their portrayal of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.
Astonishing X-Men #51 The wedding of Northstar and Kyle Jinadu will make comic book history this week. The first openly gay X-Man is getting hitched but he’s also a target. Who is the mystery woman behind the recent attack by a new team of Marauders? Northstar’s nightmare of the X-Men out to kill him is coming true. Could the wedding be just a dream too?
Avengers vs X-Men #6 Five of the most powerful X-Men are now possessed by the Phoenix Force. Earth is being radically changed. The Scarlet Witch enters the war but on whose side?
Nightwing #10 Dick Grayson is recovering from the shocking revelation from Night of the Owls when he checks out a double murder in Old Gotham. The evidence points the finger right back at….him? DC introduces a new threat to Batman’s battered ally. Who is Paragon and his Republic of Tomorrow?
Saga #4 An against all odds love story amid a galactic war. Two soldiers from enemy races fell in love, had a child and are now running for their lives. This issue introduces a distant planet where darkest fantasies can come true. Will this the runaway family’s safe haven or hell?
True Blood #2 A new comic book will help satisfy your craving for Sookie, Bill, Eric and all the other sexy scary characters from Bon Temps. Alan Ball, Ann Nocenti (Daredevil, Longshot) and Michael McMillan create a perfect companion to the HBO series.
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.
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.
Astonishing X-Men #50 by Mike Perkins, courtesy Marvel
Warbird is not a mutant but she’s a welcome addition to the X-Men family. Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo introduced the Shiar warrior women in Wolverine and the X-Men #1. Warbird is the bodyguard to Kid Gladiator, a student at Logan’s school.
This “Kid” is the arrogant son of the Shiar Emperor. You know him as Gladiator, former leader of the Imperial Guard under Lilandra.
Warbird’s real name is Ava’Dara Naganandini. She’s an elite warrior sworn to protect the ruling family of the Shiar Empire. Warbird was assigned to protect Kid Gladiator and she’s fought with Wolverine and the teachers of the Jean Grey School of Higher Learning.
Marjorie Liu is using Warbird on her team in Astonishing X-Men too. The first time Liu and Mike Perkins showed in that series she was holding a severed head and the last issue she announced she wanted to engage in “mating rituals” with Iceman after a battle with the Marauders.
Warbird has super strength and exceptional fighting abilities. A fan asked Liu about the warrior woman’s other abilities in the latest X-Position on Comic Book Resources.
“She reveals a startling ability to Wolverine in issue #50” Liu responded and get my mind swirling. Wolverine knows how to pick ’em. Will Logan engage in “rituals” with the Shiar?
Liu transformed a ruthless killer into a character you could sympathize with during her X-23 run. I’m excited to see what Liu will do with this new character that’s already made a killer impression.
This takes me back! John Cassaday provides a variant for Astonishing X-Men #50 out this June. This is an homage to his astonishing X-Men #1. This upcoming landmark issue by Marjorie Liu will feature an X-Men wedding but this cover celebrates the Joss Whedon/John Cassady era. Marvel provided this peek to Comic Book Resources. I wanted to share because it brings back memories of that excellent run: Colossus back from the dead, Colossus and Kitty finally hooking up, Emma Frost’s Hellfire Club, Breakworld, Armor and Danger.
Marjorie Liu makes a powerful first impression with her first issue of AstonishingX-Men this week. The action kicks in with a peak into the near future where Northstar is being stalked by his new teammates. I have a theory about what’s behind the possible betrayal.
The story jumps back to the present where Northstar is settling in to domestic bliss – until a fellow Canadian mutant calls – with boyfriend Kyle. Gambit is entertaining a surprise guest at his home away from the school. I’m thrilled to see this former X-woman back. After an entertaining look into the personal lives of X-Men the drama explodes literally with the new version of a classic team of villains.
I feel like I’m experiencing a cool slice of life with these mutants in city. Mike Perkins style has a grit that feels right for this X-Men in New York City story. His talent really shines in the facial expressions. It’s amazing to see how much character and relationship development Liu weaves in one issue while still packing action and intrigue.
Update: I must have been so excited to have Northstar back that I missed the fact that Jean Paul is called Jean Claude three times in the issue. Mon Dieu!
Astonishing X-Men #48 interior art courtesy Marvel.com
One of the most anticipated X change is Marjorie Liu and Mike Perkins taking on Astonishing X-Men with issue #48. The unique line-up includes Wolverine, Iceman, Gambit, Warbird, Karma and Northstar. The writer says she will show the characters lives away from the X-Men. Today Liu told Marvel.com how this cast of characters came together.
“They’re all in the wrong place at the wrong time, basically, but being X-Men, they’re not the types to turn away from a dangerous situation. What none of them realize, of course, is that working together will lead them into some very unfamiliar—and uncomfortable—situations
I’m excited Northstar found a home with the X-Men after Alpha Flight’s cancellation. Liu expanded on why she brought Jean-Paul back with the mutants:
Astonishing X-Men #49 preview art courtesy Marvel.com
“Northstar has so much to offer in terms of character; not just his personality, but where he is now, where he wants to be, who he might become under certain circumstances. All of which will be addressed in these first two arcs. Also, despite being a powerhouse of experience when it comes to this super hero gig, he’s also a bit unpredictable; his emotions get the better of him, sometimes, and that’s very interesting to play with when he’s under pressure.”
Marvel said the arc will be the most controversial story of the year. Liu said one character will be changed forever but she has a long-term plan in mind.
“There’s a long-term mystery playing out over the first two arcs that establishes these individual X-Men as a real team. We have fights, deaths [and] explosions, but in many ways it’s a very intimate story, and by that, I mean these characters will literally live and die based on the strength of their relationships to one another. There’s an enemy, of course, but the battle against this individual’s machinations will force the X-Men to look inward, and at each other, in ways that may be very uncomfortable, and illuminating.”
For the entire interview and more of Mike Perkins preview art here’s the Marvel.com link.
