DC Says One Of Its"Iconic" Heroes Is Gay
- Thread starter John Funk
- Start date
I'm not a betting man, but my money is on Flash. Green Lantern is a close second.
Superman - part of his story is his relationship with Lois Lane, so no.
Batman - too obvious with all the suspicions through the years; besides, he's the "World's Most Eligible Bachelor", meaning in comic book lingo "He gets tons of girls", so again no.
Aquaman - unless the reboot changed things, he's kinda married and no I don't think it's denial or cover, so again no
Flash and GL are the only ones that make any sense to me. Still, if done correctly, well done DC. I totally support this, again if done correctly.
Superman - part of his story is his relationship with Lois Lane, so no.
Batman - too obvious with all the suspicions through the years; besides, he's the "World's Most Eligible Bachelor", meaning in comic book lingo "He gets tons of girls", so again no.
Aquaman - unless the reboot changed things, he's kinda married and no I don't think it's denial or cover, so again no
Flash and GL are the only ones that make any sense to me. Still, if done correctly, well done DC. I totally support this, again if done correctly.
There are plenty of cases in which someone had heterosexual sex, had children then came out. The fact that Batman had a relationship with Talia isn't indicative of his heterosexuality.arc1991 said:
Some times it takes a persons entire life to come out after trying to do what society considers "normal".
Politically Correct stunt, nothing to see here. That said I imagine the whole "coming out" issue will sell a lot of books, and that's the big point. If it tanks the title they can always retcon it later.
I say this is a PC stunt because out of the iconic characters pretty much every one of them has a love interest, many have been married, and we've even had kids running around at various times, sometimes from alternate timelines, sometimes not.
Aquaman has had his queens and mer-babes, Superman has had Lois Lane, Batman had his big things with Catwoman and Talia and has a son, etc... even Martian Manhunter has had his past loves.
At this point pretty much all of the iconic characters would have to be retconned into being gay. Except maybe Wonder Woman (if they said Lesbian) but her being bi- kind of falls under the "duh" catagory, though I imagine they could spend some time on who she's been with to be shocking (ie other iconic or well known characters at times, behind the scenes). I suppose they COULD work with second stringer heroes using an iconic mantle, like say some of the "also ran" Green Lanterns that also have the name.
I'll also say this is lulzworthy because DC actually runs an entire imprint called "Wildstorm" that is full of LGBT characters. Noir, Apollo, The Midnighter, Sarah Rainmaker, Swift (Bi), etc...
Heralding this entire thing has been this whole supposition that DC needs to catch up with other comics companies in the arena of political correctness, but really it's probably been at this longer than say Marvel as it has LGBT characters who are still in print to the best of my knowlege. This having been handled better than say the whole reveal that Northstar was gay in Marvel from years ago.
There isn't really any stopping them, and I suppose in the short term it's a good move because of the sales it will generate of whatever title they pick. In the long term it's a ret conning nightmare that is probably going to play havoc with continuity, especially given how much the whole "I must save my girlfriend" thing has been used as a motivating force for any of those characters.
To me the funniest character for them to say would be gay is actually Hawkman (as opposed to Aquaman) I mean girly wings, leather straps... he fits the image. Of course it would be lulzworthy because Hawkman is the character who is probably most based around his heterosexuality as a big part of his storylines has revolved around his girlfriend and how if he and his soul mate ever get together death/doom follows. I suppose technically they could have his soul mate reincarnate as a guy, but that would kind of be pushing it in saying "he was always gay". This aspect of the character was brought out and used to beat you over the head in part of the whole "Darkest Night" / "Brightest Day" thing a few years ago where he had a whole scene about that with Hawkwoman.
That said in other things I read on the subject they didn't say "gay" flat out, but seemed to dance around it. That lead me to believe that they were finally just going to spell out the nature of Wonder Woman's romance life, which would be the one iconic character they could say was always that way, without much in the way of retconning.
Also, isn't Plastic Man gay already?
I say this is a PC stunt because out of the iconic characters pretty much every one of them has a love interest, many have been married, and we've even had kids running around at various times, sometimes from alternate timelines, sometimes not.
Aquaman has had his queens and mer-babes, Superman has had Lois Lane, Batman had his big things with Catwoman and Talia and has a son, etc... even Martian Manhunter has had his past loves.
At this point pretty much all of the iconic characters would have to be retconned into being gay. Except maybe Wonder Woman (if they said Lesbian) but her being bi- kind of falls under the "duh" catagory, though I imagine they could spend some time on who she's been with to be shocking (ie other iconic or well known characters at times, behind the scenes). I suppose they COULD work with second stringer heroes using an iconic mantle, like say some of the "also ran" Green Lanterns that also have the name.
I'll also say this is lulzworthy because DC actually runs an entire imprint called "Wildstorm" that is full of LGBT characters. Noir, Apollo, The Midnighter, Sarah Rainmaker, Swift (Bi), etc...
Heralding this entire thing has been this whole supposition that DC needs to catch up with other comics companies in the arena of political correctness, but really it's probably been at this longer than say Marvel as it has LGBT characters who are still in print to the best of my knowlege. This having been handled better than say the whole reveal that Northstar was gay in Marvel from years ago.
There isn't really any stopping them, and I suppose in the short term it's a good move because of the sales it will generate of whatever title they pick. In the long term it's a ret conning nightmare that is probably going to play havoc with continuity, especially given how much the whole "I must save my girlfriend" thing has been used as a motivating force for any of those characters.
To me the funniest character for them to say would be gay is actually Hawkman (as opposed to Aquaman) I mean girly wings, leather straps... he fits the image. Of course it would be lulzworthy because Hawkman is the character who is probably most based around his heterosexuality as a big part of his storylines has revolved around his girlfriend and how if he and his soul mate ever get together death/doom follows. I suppose technically they could have his soul mate reincarnate as a guy, but that would kind of be pushing it in saying "he was always gay". This aspect of the character was brought out and used to beat you over the head in part of the whole "Darkest Night" / "Brightest Day" thing a few years ago where he had a whole scene about that with Hawkwoman.
That said in other things I read on the subject they didn't say "gay" flat out, but seemed to dance around it. That lead me to believe that they were finally just going to spell out the nature of Wonder Woman's romance life, which would be the one iconic character they could say was always that way, without much in the way of retconning.
Also, isn't Plastic Man gay already?
I can just imagine Riddlers new line...Frontastic said:
"Riddle me this, Riddle me that, who's afraid of the homosexual bat"?
And Joker... "Well look who it is, It's my dearest friend, I'm flattered you were thinking of me Bat's but i don't swing that way"...
Lets face it, if it was him the villains would have a field day considering 70% of them make wise ass jokes...
I'm betting its Wonder Woman, with some of the reimaging of characters and some of the women being a bit more... sexually in either costume, attitude, personality etc, I'm betting for the male fans they are making it Wonder Woman.
If not here are my other options.
Green Lantern, safe bet to not make it too iconic.
Superman, full out LGBT support to make the hero's hero gay.
Batman, too much of a low hanging fruit, the Robin/Batman fanservice would be WAYYY too justified here.
Joke options
Green Arrow
The Martian "Man Hunter"
If not here are my other options.
Green Lantern, safe bet to not make it too iconic.
Superman, full out LGBT support to make the hero's hero gay.
Batman, too much of a low hanging fruit, the Robin/Batman fanservice would be WAYYY too justified here.
Joke options
Green Arrow
The Martian "Man Hunter"
Aquaman is 1) slightly less of a joke now, and 2) actually married. Seems unlikely
Most of the other major characters are getting some on a regular basis in the reboot...
Cyborg's fairly high-ranking at the moment courtesy of justice league, so that's a possibility. As is Superboy, I guess. Kyle Rayner (Green Lantern), maybe, since Soranik Natu hasn't reappeared yet?
I read too many comics.
EDIT: Post-reboot:
Superman's still going after Lois Lane
Flash is in a relationship
Batman's still on-again, off-again with Catwoman
Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) is kind of in a relationship
Aquaman's married.
Well-known heroes left: The other 3 green lanterns, Cyborg, Wonder Woman, assorted previous Robins, Batgirl, most members of the Teen Titans. (I don't know about Green Arrow)
I really read too many comics.
As long as they don't got the Batwoman route and point out every two seconds that she's a lesbian, it's fine. Nothing against anyone at any point on the spectrum of sexuality, it's just that I object to DC dancing around going 'look how politically correct we are!'
Most of the other major characters are getting some on a regular basis in the reboot...
Cyborg's fairly high-ranking at the moment courtesy of justice league, so that's a possibility. As is Superboy, I guess. Kyle Rayner (Green Lantern), maybe, since Soranik Natu hasn't reappeared yet?
I read too many comics.
EDIT: Post-reboot:
Superman's still going after Lois Lane
Flash is in a relationship
Batman's still on-again, off-again with Catwoman
Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) is kind of in a relationship
Aquaman's married.
Well-known heroes left: The other 3 green lanterns, Cyborg, Wonder Woman, assorted previous Robins, Batgirl, most members of the Teen Titans. (I don't know about Green Arrow)
I really read too many comics.
As long as they don't got the Batwoman route and point out every two seconds that she's a lesbian, it's fine. Nothing against anyone at any point on the spectrum of sexuality, it's just that I object to DC dancing around going 'look how politically correct we are!'
Definitely the Flash or Green Lantern. Largely because any other characters would be a distraction and disruption of major established relationships. It could be Aquaman, but that just seems like it would be a little too easy.
Its either, Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow, the Flash or Hawkman, but my moneys on Martian Manhunter, mainly cos he's the most alien, and they may do things differently on Mars. And I know Superman is from another planet too, but he was raised on earth. However maybe his relationship with Lois Lane is a Front, but personally I think Superman is too obvious a choice, so I still think Martian Manhunter, but next choice would be the Flash, cos Manhunter maybe asexual.
Duh, it's clearly Apollo and Midnighter:
(I don't really read DC comics but I read a lot of Wildstorm after being hooked on Warren Ellis' Authority)
(I don't really read DC comics but I read a lot of Wildstorm after being hooked on Warren Ellis' Authority)
So they've been wearing full-body leotards for years... and now they're coming out?
[sub]Pssst, we already knew.[/sub]
[sub]Pssst, we already knew.[/sub]
Actually I haven't read a comic book in years. But the point still stands, theres absolutely no reason to "change" an existing character just because a few people whine about something. If they wanted to introduce that theme they could just have easily come up with a new superhero. Its not like it would be a significant challange. But taking an existing character and making some "additions" to the back story is lame beyond description.Elate said:
Actually yeah Riddler could be interesting, as would Catwoman.arc1991 said:
But Joker wouldn't even need to be changed. He always seems to have been operating as if Batman was gay. Doesn't Arkham City have that line after the blood transfussion where Joker says something like "you've got what you always wanted, a little bit of me inside you". There are so many little throw away lines like that in City and Asylum.