DC Comics is promising a team up of the revamped Superboy and new creation Bunker against the menace of Detritis in Superboy #11. Scott Lobdell writes both books.
Superboy may have escaped N.O.W.H.E.R.E. but faces a big problem now that he’s free. Bunker is the Mexican, open and flamboyantly gay teen sensation that made mainstream media headlines when he was introduced in Teen Titans.
The two young men must team up against a metal monster in this cover by Scott Clark and Dave Beaty. This issue comes out in July.
Teen Titans Annual #1 courtesy DC Comics The Source
I’m a big fan of the new Teens Titans series. The young heroes are trying to expose the mysterious organization hunting metahuman teens and just got whipped by Superboy. The Titans are about to receive the super size treatment courtesy of Teen Titans Annual #1 – the first giant size annual from DC Comics- The New 52.
The big story launches in May with Teen Titans and soars through Superboy and Legion Lost. Scott Lobdell and Tom DeFalco are the minds behind pitting the heroes against each other with art by Titans illustrator Brett Booth.
“You know how comics used to have cover copy that read ‘This issue has it all!’… then you’d read the issue and, well, it had some but not all? Well this Annual really does have it all!” Lobdell tells The Source. “We finally get to see the oft-mentioned Colony – where the N.O.W.H.E.R.E. leader named Harvest has been keeping the hundred or so teenagers (did I say hundred?!) for who-knows-how-long. We get to see the Teen Titans in pitched battle against the Legion Lost (You can understand why Red Robin is skeptical about a team of teenagers claiming to come from the 30th Century, and why Tyroc is scratching his head over the existence of a team that – according to the history progs – is still some eight years away from being formed!). Then there’s the introduction of half the roster of the new RAVAGERS series! It has been eight issues since Red Robin threw down the gauntlet to Harvest, and now we’re going to see if the Teen Titans have what it takes to shut down N.O.W.H.E.R.E. once and for all! Yes, there’s a reason why this story could only take place in an annual – because there is just too much story to be contained in one of the monthly books!”
This Brett Booth cover looks cool – Bunker v. is that Timber Wolf?
The crossover begins with TEEN TITANS ANNUAL #1 then weaves through SUPERBOY #9, LEGION LOST #9, TEEN TITANS #9 and THE RAVAGERS #1.
DC Comics earned GLAAD Media Awards Best Comic Book Nominations for Secret Six and Batwoman. Kate Kane is the most high profile lesbian character that defies labels and stars in her own critically acclaimed Batwoman series. Scandal Savage and her girlfriend Knockout are the anti-heroines of Secret Six by superstar writer Gail Simone.
Teen Titans #3 from DC Comics. Art by Brett Booth.
There’s a new out kid in town to watch out for who wears his signature purple and attitude proudly. Miguel Jose Barragan code name Bunker is a Mexican teen wielding purple force field bricks. He debuted in the New 52 Teen Titans.
“If the comic book industry doesn’t create another white, straight male superhero, that will be ok,” Titans writer Scott Lobdell says in the latest Out magazine.
Bunker joins established young heroes Red Robin, Wonder Girl, Kid Flash, a revamped Solstice and Skitter, a new creation. The Titans are currently fighting Superboy.
“It never entered my head that people would object to the color scheme of his outfit based on whether or not he was homosexual,” says Lobdell of Bunker’s signature color and criticism of his flamboyance. Miguel does refer to his own ‘cute butt’ when he first appeared.
When asked about Bunker’s possible love interests? “He has love in his past and in his future,” Lobdell says, “and will have a healthy relationship life as all the other characters in the book.”
Bunker versus Superboy in Teen Titans by Brett Booth courtesy DC Comics The Source
If you’re reading this great title you know that there’s no time for romance as the kids are trying to survive a twisted version of Superboy and the mysterious organization N.O.W.H.E.R.E. that’s hunting down metahuman teens across the DC Universe.
Scott Lobdell has a history of creating compelling adventures with diverse young characters and groundbreaking stories. He had an epic Uncanny X-Men run in the 90’s and created Generation X – including Monet St. Croix who now stars in GLAAD nominated title X-Factor. M is not a lesbian. M is a diva.
Lobdell wrote the breakthrough Alpha Flight issue in 1992 when Northstar came out after years of being in the comic book closet due to editorial policy. The Canadian mutant is rejoining the X-Men later this year.
Teen Titans is a blast. Engaging story. Dynamic Art. Action. Humor. FUN. I love deep dark mysteries and books that twist my mind and make me think. The new Teen Titans is a pure joy to read and it’s a fun, fast paced escape.
Scott Lobdell’s been building up to this showdown between the teens and Superboy and issue #5 delivers a kinetic, character building battle. There’s a moment between Tim Drake and Superboy demonstrating what heroism is all about. The new character Bunker and revamped Solstice are great elements in the team’s chemistry. The action builds to a conclusion that has me eager for the next issue of Superboy and Teen Titans.
I hope Avengers: The Children’s Crusade wins the GLADD Best Comic Awards. Hulkling and Wiccan fell in love in Young Avengers. As the heroes try to save the Scarlet Witch (Wiccan’s mother) they are in the center of a huge storyline featuring Doctor Doom, Avengers and X-Men. The book is filled with action but the heart of story is the strong relationships between the boys and their devoted teammates. This is one of the most beautifully written and drawn stories Marvel is publishing.
Northstar to the rescue. Courtesy Marvel.com
I’m hoping that Marjorie Liu’s upcoming Astonishing X-Men (featuring the return of Northstar and his partner Kyle) will be nominated next year. Northstar (when he was in Alpha Flight) was the first superhero to come out. The Canadian mutant has been a teacher and mentor to younger gay mutants, Anole and Graymalkin.
If you want to learn more about Northstar you can read my post about why he should rejoin the X-Men – which he will later this year.
Teen Titans (part of the DC New 52) welcomed Bunker, an openly gay Mexican teen hero. Scott Lobdell co-created Bunker with the plan to make him flamboyantly out. It will be interesting to see Bunker’s story develop in Teen Titans and if the book will be nominated next year.
Teen Titans #3 from DC Comics. Art by Brett Booth.
You may want to read my post about gay heroes in comics.
Thanks to Comics Alliance for the story about this year’s GLAAD nominees.
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.
Teen Titans #3 from DC Comics. Art by Brett Booth.
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.
Wolverine and the X-Men #2 Cover courtesy Marvel.com
Top 5 Comic Picks Week of 11/23/11
Wolverine and the X-Men #2
Logan rebuilt the X-School in Westchester but will it be destroyed the first day of class? The new Hellfire Club leaves a nasty surprise underneath the academy. Issue 1 was full of surprises with a heavy dose of humor and fun. It looks like the action kicks in this issue as the smarmy Black King of the Hellfire Club unleashes a monster that looks an awfully lot like Krakoa, the mutant living island from Giant Size X-Men #1. Krakoa’s capture of the original team was responsible for the formation of the “new” X-men including Wolverine.
Fantastic Four #600
The 50th Anniversary of Marvel’s First Family. Fans have seen big changes to the book and team during Jonathan Hickman’s run. With the Human Torch lost, Spider Man joined the team. Reed renamed the team the Future Foundation. No one stays dead in comics so could this celebration story arc lead to the return of Johnny Storm? There’s another way to celebrate the milestone with the recently released Fantastic Four Omnibus showcasing the legendary run of writer/artist John Byrne. Current writer Jonathan Hickman and Byrne both were masters at capturing the sense of adventure. Both writers were not afraid to shake up the team dynamic.
Batman Dark Knight #3
Fear takes over Gotham City after a toxin boosts the powers of its most notorious villains. Batman’s brawl with a supersized Two-Face last issue was brutal. This issue a hero becomes infected and the trail leads to the sexy White Rabbit. Is this new temptress behind the plot that’s making Batman’s Rogues Gallery more powerful and dangerous than ever?
Astonishing X-Men 4
Storm sporting her former Mohawk and locking lips with Cyclops – it was the teaser cover that got fans buzzing about Greg Pak taking over the title. Pak is known for his epic Planet Hulk and X-Men: Phoenix: Endsong epics. With Storm in her late 1980’s look, I’m suspecting this will be another cross-time adventure with X-Men from different timelines. It’s been done. But Pak knows how to tell action packed stories with a science fiction edge so I’m in!
Teen Titans #3
Teen Titans #3 from DC Comics. Art by Brett Booth.
A new gay superhero debuts this week. Bunker joins the Teen Titans with issue number three. 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.
Bunker debuts in Teen Titans #3 this week. Creators say the Mexican teen is openly gay and flamboyant. The online teaser sparked debate, praise and some scorn. Robot 6 has a good post about the early reaction.
Comic book universes are still dominated by white males in the pages of comics and behind the scenes. Bunker is the a new creation as part of an effort to make the DC universe more diverse. Bunker’s arrival made me think of the GLBT heroes that I’ve followed over the years.
Northstar to the rescue. Courtesy Marvel.com
I would have to say that Marvel has taking the lead when it comes to creating gay heroes. Northstar of the Canadian team Alpha Flight was created in 1979 but finally came out in 1992. With news of Alpha Flight being cancelled I’m hoping Northstar will return to the X-Men. In last week’s post I made my case for Jean-Paul joining Wolverine’s new school and team.
The X-Men family of books have always has a theme of diversity and anti-discrimination with several GLBT characters. Rictor and Shatterstar are boyfriends in X-Factor. Karma is a lesbian member of New Mutants. Anole and Graymalkin are young mutants still in training to be be potential X-Men.
One of my favorite titles is the Young Avengers. Hulkling and Wiccan are boyfriends but being gay is the least of their family troubles. Hulking is an alien wanted by two enemy races. Wiccan may be the long lost son of the Scarlet Witch. Avengers: The Children’s Crusade may reveal the truth about Wiccan’s parentage.
DC’s most famous gay characters are Apollo and Midnighter. The duo was created in Stormwatch which morphed into The Authority under the Wildstorm banner. Imagine Superman and a Batman/Wolverine hybrid as a gay couple and you have Apollo and Midnighter. I would say The Authority is for mature readers for the graphic violence. The two heroes were married. Apollo and Midnighter are members of the new Stormwatch.
Batwoman #1 from DC Comics
DC is the only publisher to feature a lesbian as the star of her own series. When Batwoman was revamped a few years ago, Kate Kane came out and has been kicking butt in Gotham City. Batman’s home turf is the home to another lesbian character. Detective Renee Montoya was introduced on Batman the Animated Series but when she joined the book Gotham Central she was made a lesbian and made more butch.
Teen Titans #3 could be a book to buy for historical reasons. As far as I know, Bunker will be the most flamboyant openly gay character in a mainstream title. As for how out there, we’ll have to read and see. If you know of other gay heroes and heroines I may have left out – I want to hear from you.
