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Chuck Dixon · 11-17-2007, 10:50 AM

To quote Billy Wilder.
The scene in question is actually a rather simple one.
Thunder (whose membership in the Outsiders was in question before I got here so I inherited this one, gang) is having a problem with Batman because she has been excluded from the mission. Batman is trying to let her down easy. Not an easy thing for him. He's Goddamn Batman, right? He mentions her relationship with Grace as a way of showing that he's understanding of her desire to stay on the team as she has a friend here. Batman, in this first exchange, is acknowledging that Thunder and Grace have formed a close relationship, closer than the team camaderie of say, Rex and Tatsu. Thunder takes offense because she perceives that Batman is referencing her and Grace's sexual bond.
And, yes, I left that scene hanging because it's a damn good hook to keep you turning pages to see the resolution.
I knew so many of you would go for the homophobe bait and try to anticipate where I was going, so I plan the switched up and reversal just for you. Batman was ONLY referring to their friendship and did not know there was more to it until Thunder let him know.
In my opinion, the fact that Thunder and Grace are an "item" is irrelevant to Batman. He registered that they're close and that's as much as he needed to know. That they're lovers does not factor into Batman's view of their roles in the Outsiders. Batman is not curious about anyone's relationship with anyone else unless it impacts him or his Mission. Batman doesn't know who the current American Idol champ is. Or whether K-Fed's a better parent than Brittany. He is only omniscient about what is important to him.
If Thunder were getting it on with Harley Quinn, he'd have a problem with that. But as long as everyone shows up ready to battle evil and give their all, Batman does not care what they do in their downtime so long as it's in the confines of the law.
If anything it was the ultimate exploration of Batman's attitude toward same-sex relationships: the man doesn't care. If you want to think that I slipped my own opinion in here, maybe I did. But only because I think Batman shares my personal views here. A person's sexual make-up is irrelevant unless THEY make an issue of it. Actually it's still irrelevant beyond them making an ass of themselves be they straight or gay. And that goes across the board no matter who you're hooking up with so long as it's consenting adults.
Was this scene calculated to get precisely the reaction it got here? You bet. Did DC run the page it ran in the previews to get a lather on the knee-jerk fans always ready to go to the hate bucket? OH yeah.
Was all of this discussed in advance interrupted with much giggling? Uh huh.
I find it amusing (tho' not surprising) that the most vehement posts here are from those who only read the preview page. You folks are so very "special."

11-17-2007, 10:50 AM	#81
Chuck Dixon Raconteur Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 379	"There's nothing wrong with subtlety so long as you're obvious about it." To quote Billy Wilder. The scene in question is actually a rather simple one. Thunder (whose membership in the Outsiders was in question before I got here so I inherited this one, gang) is having a problem with Batman because she has been excluded from the mission. Batman is trying to let her down easy. Not an easy thing for him. He's Goddamn Batman, right? He mentions her relationship with Grace as a way of showing that he's understanding of her desire to stay on the team as she has a friend here. Batman, in this first exchange, is acknowledging that Thunder and Grace have formed a close relationship, closer than the team camaderie of say, Rex and Tatsu. Thunder takes offense because she perceives that Batman is referencing her and Grace's sexual bond. And, yes, I left that scene hanging because it's a damn good hook to keep you turning pages to see the resolution. I knew so many of you would go for the homophobe bait and try to anticipate where I was going, so I plan the switched up and reversal just for you. Batman was ONLY referring to their friendship and did not know there was more to it until Thunder let him know. In my opinion, the fact that Thunder and Grace are an "item" is irrelevant to Batman. He registered that they're close and that's as much as he needed to know. That they're lovers does not factor into Batman's view of their roles in the Outsiders. Batman is not curious about anyone's relationship with anyone else unless it impacts him or his Mission. Batman doesn't know who the current American Idol champ is. Or whether K-Fed's a better parent than Brittany. He is only omniscient about what is important to him. If Thunder were getting it on with Harley Quinn, he'd have a problem with that. But as long as everyone shows up ready to battle evil and give their all, Batman does not care what they do in their downtime so long as it's in the confines of the law. If anything it was the ultimate exploration of Batman's attitude toward same-sex relationships: the man doesn't care. If you want to think that I slipped my own opinion in here, maybe I did. But only because I think Batman shares my personal views here. A person's sexual make-up is irrelevant unless THEY make an issue of it. Actually it's still irrelevant beyond them making an ass of themselves be they straight or gay. And that goes across the board no matter who you're hooking up with so long as it's consenting adults. Was this scene calculated to get precisely the reaction it got here? You bet. Did DC run the page it ran in the previews to get a lather on the knee-jerk fans always ready to go to the hate bucket? OH yeah. Was all of this discussed in advance interrupted with much giggling? Uh huh. I find it amusing (tho' not surprising) that the most vehement posts here are from those who only read the preview page. You folks are so very "special."