Iconic DC Comics Character - Gay

[JD]

Whomever this ends up being I have my doubts that they'll be as 'iconic' as DC is claiming.

It seems that all the real iconic DC characters are all a part of the 'new 52.'

Again, this just makes me think that this is desperate move by a desperate comic book company. As much as it pains me to say this, Marvel did it the right way with the way they're handling the Northstar thing.

But, either way I look at it - it's exploitation.

 

[Probe Droid]

Come on, they're all gay! A bunch of nancies running around playing dress-up. :lol

 

[pengbuzz]

...

 

[The Next Doctor]

I am figuring it is going to be a villian.

And the definition of "iconic" is subjective.

So, they haven't introducted (I am taking that to mean there hasn't been a story or origin) the character yet, and we know they need name recognition, but they can't use any character that might cause sales to slump. So my guess is...…

The Riddler.

Iconic Character, as many recognize him from the 60's series and the Jim Carrey performance. Mainstream enough, but can be hidden from view for a while if things need to die down from the fallout.

 

[Riceball]

To make it really shocking and/or talk worthy they could make Capt. Marvel gay, imagine the spin they could make about having a gay kid and how progressive they are and all that?

 

[Nwerke]

It's Triangle Man. Or Particle Man. One or the other, but whatever he's like, it's not important.

 

[Wes R]

I'm amazed that DC didn't do this sooner. Marvel is finally having one of it's gay characters get married to his fiance. Northstar's been gay since the like early 90s if not earlier in the Marvel Universe. Gen 13's one female character had her being a lesbian brought up in the 90s too and nobody paid much attention. It's as soon as someone says "Iconic" that people get their panties in a twist.

 

[Solo4114]

You know what pisses me off about this kind of thing?

1.) It's an obvious marketing gimming like "ZOMG! THEY KILLED [insert major character who obviously is not dead and the only question is how they'll explain the character's inevitable return]!!!!!!" If it happens in story context, nobody cares. If they announce it, though, it generates headlines. It's all just stupid.

2.) It's tokenism of the worst sort. You're making a character gay to say you have a gay character. Stuff like this should either develop naturally in the story, or just be like a "Yeah, he's gay. So what?" They don't need to freakin' lampshade it every time it happens. There doesn't need to be a big "announcement" issue, or where there's some "moment" in which the big reveal happens.

The thing is, when we treat these kinds of things as "events" or as a "big deal," all it does is further the notion of "differentness" of gay folks.

And when you apply it to major established characters, well, that just makes it that much worse because then you can't separate the whole "This is stupid because it's commercial and because I liked the old character" from any sense of discrimination otherwise. If someone says "WTF?! Why'd they make Spider-Man a socialist?!" the response of "You're just a capitalist oppressive pig-dog!" Well, no, maybe I just don't like the fact that you're throwing a completely random turn into my beloved comic book purely to gin up headlines and outrage.

I mean, if they started a new character who also happened to be a socialist, great. Who cares? And the comics companies know this. Which is EXACTLY why they mess around with established heroes, and which is EXACTLY why whenever they do, it almost always ends up being a mistake that they later undo. "No, no, just kidding. Aquaman isn't black. That was actually just his cousin who took over for 8 issues." And it's not like anyone would object to a black aquatically based superhero. Nobody would CARE. What they care about is that the company mucked around with an ESTABLISHED superhero and changed them for the sake of tokenism, which, to my way of thinking, ought to be equally offensive all around.

 

[rodneyfaile]

You know what pisses me off about this kind of thing?

1.) It's an obvious marketing gimming like "ZOMG! THEY KILLED [insert major character who obviously is not dead and the only question is how they'll explain the character's inevitable return]!!!!!!" If it happens in story context, nobody cares. If they announce it, though, it generates headlines. It's all just stupid.

2.) It's tokenism of the worst sort. You're making a character gay to say you have a gay character. Stuff like this should either develop naturally in the story, or just be like a "Yeah, he's gay. So what?" They don't need to freakin' lampshade it every time it happens. There doesn't need to be a big "announcement" issue, or where there's some "moment" in which the big reveal happens.

The thing is, when we treat these kinds of things as "events" or as a "big deal," all it does is further the notion of "differentness" of gay folks.

And when you apply it to major established characters, well, that just makes it that much worse because then you can't separate the whole "This is stupid because it's commercial and because I liked the old character" from any sense of discrimination otherwise. If someone says "WTF?! Why'd they make Spider-Man a socialist?!" the response of "You're just a capitalist oppressive pig-dog!" Well, no, maybe I just don't like the fact that you're throwing a completely random turn into my beloved comic book purely to gin up headlines and outrage.

I mean, if they started a new character who also happened to be a socialist, great. Who cares? And the comics companies know this. Which is EXACTLY why they mess around with established heroes, and which is EXACTLY why whenever they do, it almost always ends up being a mistake that they later undo. "No, no, just kidding. Aquaman isn't black. That was actually just his cousin who took over for 8 issues." And it's not like anyone would object to a black aquatically based superhero. Nobody would CARE. What they care about is that the company mucked around with an ESTABLISHED superhero and changed them for the sake of tokenism, which, to my way of thinking, ought to be equally offensive all around.

What if its just more than an announcement? What if there is a very good story written to go along with? One that describes the character as having always been gay, and tells what they have been through? The character could be someone others could identify with as they struggle to come out of the closet. What if they make it part of the character from now on?

I think its cool that this is happening. Im not gay, but Captain Jack Harkness is one of the coolest characters ever! Its just becoming part of normalcy, in fact, I think it would be abnormal for one of the characters to NOT come out of the closet.

And I think its cool that it isn't a new character. That would be more of a token. Someone struggling with who they are is a story people can identify with.

 

[Capn]

I don't know,...I'm torn between Guy Gardner (sleeveless leather vest anyone?) and Bwana Beast....

 

[rodneyfaile]

How about Wonder Woman?

Will Marvel follow up?

How long before some group protests? Westboro?

 

[firesprite]

I'm amazed that DC didn't do this sooner. Marvel is finally having one of it's gay characters get married to his fiance. Northstar's been gay since the like early 90s if not earlier in the Marvel Universe. Gen 13's one female character had her being a lesbian brought up in the 90s too and nobody paid much attention. It's as soon as someone says "Iconic" that people get their panties in a twist.

Yeah, Northstar officially came out in like 92 but it was strongly implied from the start with him. Then you have Shatterstar and Rictor from X-Factor who've been involved for a while..

Contrast that with DC's introduction of a character for Teen Titans where the costume designer said I wanted you to know he might be gay as soon as you see him. :facepalm
DCnU Teen Titans

 

[YenChih Lin]

There's no way it will be a member of the Justice League, probably will be a C-lister. I don't think DC has the stones to make a long-established A-List or B-List character gay.

You're still alive?!? :lol Haven't seen your posts since the dawn of the new century!

I think I just read it was Booster

THAT'S too obvious with Ted Kord

I couldn't see it being batman. I mean he's hooked up with Selina Kyle, Talia Al Ghul, And 500 other randoms.

Batman, Superman, and Green Lantern are pretty much DC's leading men. If they were to turn any of those guys gay, the fans would crucify DC. It's not worth making all the fans gasp and then lose significant sales.

I could see them making Tim Drake gay.

Tim isn't iconic enough, well as I perceive it DiDio and Lee are destroying DC with the reboots and stuff :angry - new 52 is soo unnecessary… and all the costume changes (especially WW again).

Whomever this ends up being I have my doubts that they'll be as 'iconic' as DC is claiming.

It seems that all the real iconic DC characters are all a part of the 'new 52.'

Again, this just makes me think that this is desperate move by a desperate comic book company. As much as it pains me to say this, Marvel did it the right way with the way they're handling the Northstar thing.

But, either way I look at it - it's exploitation.

see above statement.

I don't know,...I'm torn between Guy Gardner (sleeveless leather vest anyone?) and Bwana Beast....

Guy is soo macho, he would beat the crap out of you for that assumption.:lol

 

[JD]

Tim isn't iconic enough, well as I perceive it DiDio and Lee are destroying DC with the reboots and stuff :angry - new 52 is soo unnecessary… and all the costume changes (especially WW again).

Someone mentioned Shazam/Capt. Marvel above... very iconic and a favorite of mine even if he hasn't been utilized correctly in decades. I've seen the images of the new costume - ugh. I was already fearful of his new 52 incarnation...

I gave the new 52 a chance - especially the Super-family of books (well not Superboy). If I were Marvel I'd sue DC for making Clark Kent a Peter Parker rip off. At this point I've stopped reading everything except I'm still giving Supergirl a shot... but, that's not going to last. These were pretty much the last mainstream books I've read on a regular basis...

As bad as Wonder Woman's costume may be... the new Superman garb is just atrocious. Did DC actually look at Jim Lee's designs before approving them?

I think I'm just done with DC. Not because of a potential gay character - but the whole new 52 thing was just bad and it's getting worse. I have no real problem with a gay character - it's the how's and why's they're making a character gay... I have just as much issue with the how's and why's of the reboot - and the ugly costume redesigns.

 

[CessnaDriver]

Not necessarily this particular change but in general....

MAKE A NEW CHARACTER!


I would ask this...

Do you think they would ever switch a gay character to straight?
A black character to white?

Nevah happen!!!!!! Yet vice versa is considered so wonderful?

Why?

This is all BS.

Leave characters as they were born so to speak.
Updating is one thing, politically correct manipulations for god knows
what fool reasons is another.

Make new characters if you want to champion diversity.

 

[rodneyfaile]

Not necessarily this particular change but in general....

MAKE A NEW CHARACTER!


I would ask this...

Do you think they would ever switch a gay character to straight?
A black character to white?

Nevah happen!!!!!! Yet vice versa is considered so wonderful?

Why?

This is all BS.

Leave characters as they were born so to speak.
Updating is one thing, politically correct manipulations for god knows
what fool reasons is another.

Make new characters if you want to champion diversity.

People coming out of the closet happens all the time. Just because we are just learning they are gay, doesn't mean they haven't been gay for a long time. I think it would be interesting to read about the characters plight.

 

[rodneyfaile]

Previous post I made, reposted in response to more recent comments. Just my opinion.

What if its just more than an announcement? What if there is a very good story written to go along with? One that describes the character as having always been gay, and tells what they have been through? The character could be someone others could identify with as they struggle to come out of the closet. What if they make it part of the character from now on?

I think its cool that this is happening. Im not gay, but Captain Jack Harkness is one of the coolest characters ever! Its just becoming part of normalcy, in fact, I think it would be abnormal for one of the characters to NOT come out of the closet.

And I think its cool that it isn't a new character. That would be more of a token. Someone struggling with who they are is a story people can identify with.

 

[CessnaDriver]

People coming out of the closet happens all the time. Just because we are just learning they are gay, doesn't mean they haven't been gay for a long time. I think it would be interesting to read about the characters plight.

I find it hard to believe that any "iconic" (assuming by iconic it is a well established character) DC character has been pretending to be straight for decades. Since any of the big characters no doubt have had straight romances by now after decades of writers and storys.

Is there an iconic DC character that has never had a romance of some kind with the opposite sex?

If so, perhaps that make sense as nothing has been established previously.


Generally most people just don't suddenly change sexual preference.
That is pretty established early on in life.

This is marketing BS.

Again, what about a written as gay character suddenly going straight?

Makes no sense and neither does this.

 

[YenChih Lin]

Someone mentioned Shazam/Capt. Marvel above... very iconic and a favorite of mine even if he hasn't been utilized correctly in decades. I've seen the images of the new costume - ugh. I was already fearful of his new 52 incarnation...

I gave the new 52 a chance - especially the Super-family of books (well not Superboy). If I were Marvel I'd sue DC for making Clark Kent a Peter Parker rip off. At this point I've stopped reading everything except I'm still giving Supergirl a shot... but, that's not going to last. These were pretty much the last mainstream books I've read on a regular basis...

As bad as Wonder Woman's costume may be... the new Superman garb is just atrocious. Did DC actually look at Jim Lee's designs before approving them?

I think I'm just done with DC. Not because of a potential gay character - but the whole new 52 thing was just bad and it's getting worse. I have no real problem with a gay character - it's the how's and why's they're making a character gay... I have just as much issue with the how's and why's of the reboot - and the ugly costume redesigns.

I haven't read it and I'm just too frighten to do, but why is Clark a Peter rip-off? Don't tell me, he's got daddy-issues… :sick

And Kara… *sigh* her "new" costume is soo U G L Y ! First people are complaining about the rag of skirt (which is made after a cheerleader costume), then giving her strange pants, then a even more hidious costume with open knee heels WTF?!?!?!?!!?111!?! What has been wrong with the old classic pedant costume of her cousin? Lee is doing this on purpose with the BIG RED DIAMOND ON THE CROTCH!

Boy, I didn't like Mike Turner's style of how he "drawed" women face, but Lee is easily topping everything…

 

[JD]

I haven't read it and I'm just too frighten to do, but why is Clark a Peter rip-off? Don't tell me, he's got daddy-issues…

Young reporter in big city, living from paycheck to paycheck, struggling to get by dealing with a jerk editor struggling to make rent... just read as a total Peter Parker rip off.