LGBT Characters, Themes Throughout Comics History

[CBR News]

CBR contributor Alan Kistler brings a detailed history of LGBT characters and concepts in superhero comics from Tiajana Bibles to the creation of Northstar and Alan Scott's reimagining as a gay man.


Full article here.

[Legion_Quest]

Really good article, but can't help but notice that Wiccan and Hulkling are missing from it, much like how they are missing from being published at the moment :(

[darima80]

Really good article, but can't help but notice that Wiccan and Hulkling are missing from it, much like how they are missing from being published at the moment :(

From the article:

The series "Young Avengers" received praise for having two of its teenage characters be young gay men in a positive relationship, but the couple received criticism when it wound up being years before they were ever seen having a single kiss on-panel.

[Legion_Quest]

Not really a named mention considering the details given to some rather random and minor characters, but I did mange to miss that and thus retract some of my criticism, only to add that their relationship was what was important about them, they were characters who were gay in amongst what else was going on, it didn't matter (to me) that they didn't kiss on panel and I hardly see that as a step back.

[Chaelamity]

Good article, but still missing a lot of notes, especially where the Legion is concerned.

[poneley]

Great article!

[Dr Manolis Dooplove]

great article. I found one very important omission, one of the very first characters to come out in comics, the Pied Piper in Flash. That was a very well-handled coming out scene as well.

[JPalmer567]

Nice! Did you have any sources?

[carnv]

I think I would have rather had Alan Scott presented as a loving FATHER of a gay man instead of being gay himself. Positive role models for parents of LGBT characters are in short supply in today's comics, IMO.

[PaxHouse]

Not really a named mention considering the details given to some rather random and minor characters, but I did mange to miss that and thus retract some of my criticism, only to add that their relationship was what was important about them, they were characters who were gay in amongst what else was going on, it didn't matter (to me) that they didn't kiss on panel and I hardly see that as a step back.

Some more than other, as Karolina Dean (from RUNAWAYS), Brandon Sharpe & Julie Power (Striker & Lightspeed respectfully from AVENGERS ACADEMY, though Miss Power was revealed to be bisexual.) weren't also mentioned; although their moments are considered more recently is preassumabley why.

[Shadowtag]

Pied Piper coming out was the first time I'd ever really seen homosexuality dealt with in comics. I'm surprised he was overlooked.

[ILoveVibe]

Anyone remember the Mrs. Tree comic that had a really great gay theme to it. I know I did not dream it.

[Craig M.D.]

Pied Piper coming out was the first time I'd ever really seen homosexuality dealt with in comics. I'm surprised he was overlooked.

Yeah. Flash #53 (Wally West's series) had Piper come out. A few issues later (#59) Wally and Piper discussed HIV and the "death of the human race". I remember there being a (mostly) positive response in the letter columns back then.

Piper was killed just before the New 52 reboot, but is now back in the current Flash series and is dating Detective Singh. Piper is apparently out but Singh prefers to remain in the closet because he's afraid of what others in the police department will think of him.

[BamaRainbow]

From the article: "Earlier in the 1990s, Marvel gave its old Western character the Raw-Hide Kid his own mini-series "Slap Leather," revising the character as a gay man (although, due to the area and time period he lived in, he was not open about it)."

Nitpick time, but the date is wrong. That series came out (pun not intended) in 2003.

[dswynne]

I really could care less about LBGT characters for being LBGT characters in comics. Personally, I prefer to appreciate a character based upon the strength of the writing, and no fan of any medium should seek validation from fiction. Validation and strength of character should come from the self, not outside of one's self. IMHO, of course...