Homosexual Superheroes in DC comics

[Lady Obie]

I would love to see this happen more often. The quickest way to mainstream acceptance or tolerance is to not spotlight it. I think it would be great to have characters who are gay and no one cares because they don't consider it to be an issue worth caring about. Too often, like you say, when writers introduce a gay character or have an established character come out of the closet, they dwell on it or try to be deliberately controversial. Being gay shouldn't define a character any more than being straight defines another character.

AMEN

One of my fave things in the short-lived Power Company series was its handling of Josiah Power's homosexuality.

He had a partner, he had a photo of him on his desk and his partner was shown visiting him when he was injured and hospitalized.

And that was all.

It was subtle, not a big deal, to the point where some readers posed the "Is he gay?" question where Josiah was concerned.

If any of you are interested in a little online or offline back issue bin diving the series had 18 issues (Josiah also had an origin intro special prior to that as a one-shot) running from 4/02 to 9/03

[Schornforce]

I'm surprised none has yet recommended Secret Six. Catman and Jeanette are bisexual, Scandal and Knockout are lesbians, Ragdoll is ... Ragdoll. A fantastic series, and an incredibly good portrayal of LGBT characters.

Teen titans currently has one gay character, Bunker, but I'm not reading that series, so I can;t tell you if it's any good or not.

BUNKER! That's his name! Thanks, liopleurodon! Blockade, Bunker-- at least I got the first letter right... :P

As for Secret Six, I totally forgot about them. Mostly because I rarely remember anything about their sexualities, but did always like that Ragdoll still pretends Parademon is around.

[charcus]

Just bought a couple of issues of teen titan i'l let you know what i think about it once i have read them but thanks for the info.

One of my fave things in the short-lived Power Company series was its handling of Josiah Power's homosexuality.

He had a partner, he had a photo of him on his desk and his partner was shown visiting him when he was injured and hospitalized.

And that was all.

It was subtle, not a big deal, to the point where some readers posed the "Is he gay?" question where Josiah was concerned.

I'm sorry but that's is just not enough for me, if the readers aren't even sure if the character is gay or not then they are downplaying that part of his personality way to much, i agree it should not be only factor about a characters personality but it's still a big part of who you are.

[PKO]

hello, i am new to the DC universe and i'm looking for comics with gay male superheroes, after doing some research i found very little and thought i would come here for some help finding these comics (if they exist)
Please do not recommend The Authority because i have already read those, also don't recommend comics of yesteryear, i want fairly resent comics with good stories and beatifull art and prefarably have heroes that are somewhat younger.
Thank you in advance for your help!

But in all seriousness, Bunker in the current Teen Titans series is gay but it isn't really a contributing part of the storyline, at least not yet.

[Chiasm]

I would love to see this happen more often. The quickest way to mainstream acceptance or tolerance is to not spotlight it. I think it would be great to have characters who are gay and no one cares because they don't consider it to be an issue worth caring about. Too often, like you say, when writers introduce a gay character or have an established character come out of the closet, they dwell on it or try to be deliberately controversial. Being gay shouldn't define a character any more than being straight defines another character.

And the even cooler thing with Batwoman is that her lesbianism is actually vital to how she became Batwoman yet it still hasn't taken over her character. If you don't know her story she was kicked out of the military for violating Don't Ask Don't Tell. Becoming Batwoman was another way for her to serve her country. In a badly done but typical gay lead story in comics or TV you would have her saying something every couple of pages like "I'm preventing you from robbing this bank because as a gay woman I couldn't serve my country in the military but as Batwoman I can stop you." Instead its only shown in her personal life and then only by being shown rather than told. Kate goes on a date, Kate worries about her girlfriend figuring out her secret identity, Kate sleeps with her girlfriend. . . . .etc. Its no different than if this was a Batman book as Bruce Wayne doesn't have to remind you via text that he is hetero. Its just there and its normal and no big deal is made of it.

[charcus]

Thanks for the suggestion, i like teen titans a lot, to bad there are not that many issues out yet.
Thats the only downside with digital comics isn't it, there is no need to look for them anymore you can by them all with a couple of clicks and before you know it you read the last issue :(

btw Chiasm do you know what the name is of said particular girlfriend is without looking it up?

[Chiasm]

btw Chiasm do you know what the name is of said particular girlfriend is without looking it up?

Detective Maggie Sawyer I believe.

Anyway the most recent issue of Batwoman was a perfect example of what I'm talking about. You've got Batwoman doing her thing much of the issue but there is a scene where Kate (Batwoman) has to go to a party. She is there with her girlfriend who doesn't know she's Batwoman. Kate is trying to recon the bad guy at the party while her girlfriend has to leave to go to a murder scene. They kiss and then the story moves on. Never once are the words lesbian or gay ever mentioned anywhere in the issue. The relationship is treated absolutely no different than if it had been Bruce Wayne at the party with some girlfriend.

[JemJet]

I know Midnighter and Apollo are gay versions of Batman and Superman and are even in a relationship in The Authority. It's also probably the most normal relationship in all of superhero comics

[Knight of DC]

Yeah, Batwoman, Montoya, Sawyer, Midnighter and Apollo (if Stormwatch is your thing), Bunker in TT. Those are the only ones in DC I can think of off the top of my head.

If you're considering Marvel too, I recommend Hulkling and Wiccan in Young Avengers. Two very good characters in a very good series.

[Thirteen]

I'm surprised none has yet recommended Secret Six. Catman and Jeanette are bisexual, Scandal and Knockout are lesbians, Ragdoll is ... Ragdoll. A fantastic series, and an incredibly good portrayal of LGBT

loved Secret Six but missed Catman's bisexuality. Where was that?

[Filip]

loved Secret Six but missed Catman's bisexuality. Where was that?

On Gail Simone's tumblr:

http://gailsimone.tumblr.com/post/11...-the-table-now

[ascended]

It seems unlikely that she is going to be around in the New52 but check out Renee Montoya, formerly Gotham City detective, formerly vigilante hero The Question, currently floating in limbo. The maxiseries 52 (2006-7 I think) explored her and her journey to becoming Question. There was also a five issue series afterwards called....The Book of Sin? Crime Bible? Some Intergang reference anyway. She's a great character who happens to be gay.

Bunker in Titans is sort of like a gay stereotype fused with a Mexican one, yet his optimistic attitude makes me love him anyway.

Midnighter and Apollo are both in StormWatch currently, and have been mentioned.

Im sure there are one or two more but I cant think of them at the moment.

Oh! Flash has a gay couple. One is Barry's senior at the crime lab, the other is reformed villain Piped Piper.

[FIFTY-TWO (52)]

Lesbians rule the roost in the DCU.

[Thirteen]

On Gail Simone's tumblr:

http://gailsimone.tumblr.com/post/11...-the-table-now

Ah, good. Thanks. So it wasn't something that I missed on the page...

[Raye]

Yeah, Batwoman, Montoya, Sawyer, Midnighter and Apollo (if Stormwatch is your thing), Bunker in TT. Those are the only ones in DC I can think of off the top of my head.

If you're considering Marvel too, I recommend Hulkling and Wiccan in Young Avengers. Two very good characters in a very good series.

Also in Marvel are Rictor and Shatterstar in X-Factor. They're actually bi, but still. 2 guys, in a relationship with eachother. (albeit a slightly rocky one, but I count that as a positive, personally. gay people have relationship troubles just like anyone else) and Northstar is getting married next month to his boyfriend in Astonishing X-Men, and Wolverine and the X-Men has a gay student, Anole.

And not male, but DC has Voodoo too, who was stated to be bi early on, though with the whole clone story I am not sure if that's sticking, but she was bi in Wildstorm too, so probably is.

There's probably more, but those are the ones I know. If you wanted to get into Vertigo/indies, there's a bunch more.