DC Says One Of Its"Iconic" Heroes Is Gay

[Helmholtz Watson]

You know...it is times like these that, I really do wish I was a gay man.

Heterosexuality just seems to banal, unromantic, and uninteresting now.

Homosexuality seems more and more like real, true, and everlasting love....

What? You made this comment before [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.371690-I-wish-I-was-a-gay-man-updated-on-Page-4?page=1]. You were wrong then and your wrong now. It isn't more romantic.

 

[EeveeElectro]

I have a feeling it might be a woman. Probably Power Girl...
I don't know much about her, but I bet there's been some demand for her to be lesbian.

As long as it doesn't affect their abilities to be a hero, I don't really mind...

 

[Helmholtz Watson]

Thos reminds me of Marvel replacing Peter Parker with the new mixed race teenager. It shouldn't be a big deal because it's incidental to a character and diversity is good. Yet at the same time everybody threw a fit because "they were only doing it for the publicity and it wasn't just because." So now we have this weird paradox that comes up every so often where it's bad to have just whites or men or heterosexual people because of a lack of diversity but if you put anything else in instead then it's automatically for the sake of having diversity and not just because. Of course if people simply didn't think of male/white/hetero as a default then it wouldn't happen but whatever.

As for the announcement and unrevealed superhero I really don't care. Mostly because I don't keep up with DC as I'm mostly a Marvel fan but also who reads comics for the romance? Sure I'm sure somebody likes them but most relationships are token and it seems to be far outdone by the whole everybody has super amazing power thing.

Here is an idea, instead of changing a character, make a new one. He can be a gay, Black, atheist from Jamaica.

 

[Shoqiyqa]

Thos reminds me of Marvel replacing Peter Parker with the new mixed race teenager. It shouldn't be a big deal because it's incidental to a character and diversity is good. Yet at the same time everybody threw a fit because "they were only doing it for the publicity and it wasn't just because." So now we have this weird paradox that comes up every so often where it's bad to have just whites or men or heterosexual people because of a lack of diversity but if you put anything else in instead then it's automatically for the sake of having diversity and not just because. Of course if people simply didn't think of male/white/hetero as a default then it wouldn't happen but whatever.

As for the announcement and unrevealed superhero I really don't care. Mostly because I don't keep up with DC as I'm mostly a Marvel fan but also who reads comics for the romance? Sure I'm sure somebody likes them but most relationships are token and it seems to be far outdone by the whole everybody has super amazing power thing.

I'm strongly inclined to agree.

Strangers in Paradise? All about the people, and sexuality plays a huge part in their interactions.

The Amazing Spiderman versus Plan Z From Jupiter? More about the man with the spider-bite-based powers protecting the Earth from some sort of threat originating near Jupiter.

Enslaved By Mutants!? Kind of about mutants, "non-mutant" humans, racism, slavery, abuse, exploitation, strength, decency and so on. There may well be sex or romance in there, but ... eh, watch Schindler's List. Note the scenes with the camp Commandant and the Jewish girl.

Further to "No shit, Sherlock," everyone who was reading was reading anyway and is likely to carry on reading as long as the characters and their powers and stories remain good material. If they serialise Jenny Has Two Daddies, an awareness text for 5-y-year-olds they'll lose audience. If they carry on doing what they do well and doing it well and one of the cha.....

Wait. One? ONE? *ahem*

... and just one out of all those characters happens to not be heterosexual, they'll be fine.

As it's an "iconic" hero, we can at least be confident that they're not going to nose-dive into the wet cement with a new character called Yurineko whose first three issues will all be rated R for Remixed Porn.

 

[Shoqiyqa]

Robin could be gay, right guys? Unless hes under 14, that shit would suck.

Under 14? Suck? Insert obvious joke(s) about Roman Catholic priesthood here.

 

[the darknees abyss]

i always thought robin was gay so maybe batman is to as they could get together but it could be aquaman he seems gay but its not flash i always thought he was a lady's man.

 

[likalaruku]

Screw the heroes. Several friends & I hope it's The Joker.

 

[spaceinvaderj]

Hold on, haven't we already got a gay character in DC? What's-is-name, Starman or something.
But, he might not be part of the reboot, so, oh well.

It won't be Batman or Superman, Flash is married, Green Arrow has "had his way" with that many heroines, and Hawkman's lore says that he is so madly in love with Hawkgirl, that they constantly come back to life for each other. Aquaman has a wife, and kids. And all the Green Lantern's have either married, or are in a relationship with a woman.

Maybe, just maybe, it's Martian Manhunter. Oh, or Cyborg. But he's really not iconic that much.

 

[Vuljatar]

Sigh. This had better make sense, otherwise it will be one of the most pathetic examples of pandering and exploitation in modern comics.

I'm not particularly up on current comics continuity but the only "iconic" hero that comes to mind as logically being gay is Wonder Woman. We'll see, I guess.

 

[Cain_Zeros]

I bet Batman. Him and Robin, Come on guys!

The current Robin is his son... Also Batman was getting some Catwoman in early issues of Catwoman after the reboot, so yeah... If it was before the reboot it wouldn't be a big deal, but I think it'd be a bit too sudden a shift to go from him getting it on with Catwoman to him being gay.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

What? A Super-queer-o?
But seriously, now people are willing to send out an gay invitation to children? Really?
I don't mind gay people, but I resent presenting it as something normal.
Before anyone declares me a homophobe: I do have some gay friends and they are just fine people & I do feel comfortable hanging out with them (they are private about it, and I respect that). However I still believe it is absolutely wrong.

Uh-huh. "I have black friends, honestly, but...."
I want to hear this reasoning about how it is wrong. Every argument I've ever heard has been "because sin" or "because nature".

 

[CaptainMarvelous]

Hold on, haven't we already got a gay character in DC? What's-is-name, Starman or something.
But, he might not be part of the reboot, so, oh well.

He is, Mikaal's in the Shade mini-series. He was in the JL for a while too but he wasn't really prominent enough for editorial mandate I guess >_>.

Hydros was just an off the head suggestion, the point is it sounds more like a comic book character name than a bottled-water bascot, admittedly it sounds more like a SuperVILLAIN's name but still, I think it's better than Aquaman. Hydroman some some reason doesn't work. Maybe it's just too predictable.

Look, if it was super strength that let Aquaman (lets call him that for now) survive at such depth then that means he has no unique powers over Superman. He's jsut a lesser superman who has a pointless affinity for water. Think about it: if his gambit is the magical power to move water with near infinite force and superhuman precision then that means he is USEFUL beyond being a weaker 2nd-rate superman. No. For Aquaman to be really unique he has to have unique superpowers that would come from surviving such depths because he can reduce the water pressure around him, he can even suck dissolved oxygen out of the water to breath and allow others to breath.

In other words, he can do some things superman can't do and can't do some things superman can do.

This is my problem with various Super-Leagues, they all to often have NOT been structured in a away where their various strengths and weaknesses can compensate for each other. Their superpower lore has been constructed in singular.

Batman is already set apart by having essentially human strength, adding another character to to roster who can juggle cement-trucks and shrug off supersonic missiles just makes Batman more of a liability. Make Aquaman a mortal. Make superman (and Wonderwoman as well) the only indestructible superheroes. If you have too many indestructible heroes then whenever bad shit happens it'll be too tempting just to get the interesting but mortal characters to hide in a hole. And if you are going to have flash be super-speed then don't ALSO give superman super-speed and reflexes.

He is SUPER man. Make him super.

I'd extend Superman's weakness beyond kyrptonite to a general weakness to radiation and to varying extents to all energy weapons. He can exert huge physical force and absorb huge force but radiation cuts through that like a knife through butter. Kyrptonite would be still his most potent weakness as it is the one substance that NATIVELY releases a radiation that is harmless to humans yet very fatal to superman while remaining a fairly common substance, so would be used against him most. So superman would need Batman's technical expertise in dealing with such weaponry. I also think it would have interesting commentary on ideas of machismo where all obvious threats like fast moving projectiles can be shugged off yet radiation, that we don't understand: we cannot see, cannot taste, nor feel nor touch is his greatest weakness. I'd tie this in with nuclear weapons, their awesome destructive power and how that is tied with their poisonous curse.

It's not SuperAquaMan, It'a Aquaman. His power should be supreme control of water and only above average strength.

But his huge strength in fighting goons is how any punch can be magnified by how he can impart so much more force because his target is 80% water. But, just as superman needs his kryptonite, Aquaman needs a weakness, and that is how if there is no considerable water around and his opponents are mostly non-water then he is just the peak of human strength, so on par with batman or other mortal superheroes.

PS: I really think Aquaman could do with a big badass beard. Instantly 90% less lame having an awesome beard. And please, can we retcon it so "Aquaman" is said to be just the name the media gave him in this universe, that his friends and associates know him by another name that isn't so tabloid.

OK, throwing this out here now, READ an Aquaman comic. Seriously, just, any comic you can find, the new Geoff Johns run? Gold, it'll show you how there are some problems only Aquaman's really cut out for solving. A 90's run? You can watch the time Aquaman has to cut off his own hand and grows the beard you so desperately want to see

Spoiler

Superman is always going to be the top-dog around DC, even if Captain Marvel/Shazam has the same powers and a type advantage (Shazam used MAGIC it's SUPER EFFECTIVE!!!), but that doesn't by default make Aquaman lame. It makes him someone who can throw trucks around and is on the same scale of power as Wonder woman.

He is also Awesome

and not going to be the outed super-hero/

 

[Wayne Mander]

I always wondered why they called him Martian "Man Hunter".

hahaha You just made my day

 

[Zack Alklazaris]

I don't know about this. It feels like its just thrown in with no real reason other than to match a molding society. The character certainly wasn't gay before hand.

I just wish they had put a little more effort into it. This seems almost like a Bioware thing. Like how Garrus acts straight for 2 games, then just out of no where decideds he wants my sweet human ass.

 

[ReinWeisserRitter]

I don't see why anyone should give a shit. It just seems petty and inane to make a big deal over a fictional character's sexual orientation, regardless of what it is. You'd think we'd have more important things to care about, even as far as said fictional character is concerned.

I realize this is a publicity grab (a different rant for a different post) at certain members of the readership, and an attempt to collect a larger readership, but if said readers feel the need to validate their lifestyle choices through a piece of fiction, perhaps it's time to re-evaluate a few things in reality.

 

[CoL0sS]

Aw hell looking at that pic, it could be practically anybody. Big whoop.

 

[Treblaine]

Hold on, haven't we already got a gay character in DC? What's-is-name, Starman or something.
But, he might not be part of the reboot, so, oh well.

He is, Mikaal's in the Shade mini-series. He was in the JL for a while too but he wasn't really prominent enough for editorial mandate I guess >_>.

Hydros was just an off the head suggestion, the point is it sounds more like a comic book character name than a bottled-water bascot, admittedly it sounds more like a SuperVILLAIN's name but still, I think it's better than Aquaman. Hydroman some some reason doesn't work. Maybe it's just too predictable.

Look, if it was super strength that let Aquaman (lets call him that for now) survive at such depth then that means he has no unique powers over Superman. He's jsut a lesser superman who has a pointless affinity for water. Think about it: if his gambit is the magical power to move water with near infinite force and superhuman precision then that means he is USEFUL beyond being a weaker 2nd-rate superman. No. For Aquaman to be really unique he has to have unique superpowers that would come from surviving such depths because he can reduce the water pressure around him, he can even suck dissolved oxygen out of the water to breath and allow others to breath.

In other words, he can do some things superman can't do and can't do some things superman can do.

This is my problem with various Super-Leagues, they all to often have NOT been structured in a away where their various strengths and weaknesses can compensate for each other. Their superpower lore has been constructed in singular.

Batman is already set apart by having essentially human strength, adding another character to to roster who can juggle cement-trucks and shrug off supersonic missiles just makes Batman more of a liability. Make Aquaman a mortal. Make superman (and Wonderwoman as well) the only indestructible superheroes. If you have too many indestructible heroes then whenever bad shit happens it'll be too tempting just to get the interesting but mortal characters to hide in a hole. And if you are going to have flash be super-speed then don't ALSO give superman super-speed and reflexes.

He is SUPER man. Make him super.

I'd extend Superman's weakness beyond kyrptonite to a general weakness to radiation and to varying extents to all energy weapons. He can exert huge physical force and absorb huge force but radiation cuts through that like a knife through butter. Kyrptonite would be still his most potent weakness as it is the one substance that NATIVELY releases a radiation that is harmless to humans yet very fatal to superman while remaining a fairly common substance, so would be used against him most. So superman would need Batman's technical expertise in dealing with such weaponry. I also think it would have interesting commentary on ideas of machismo where all obvious threats like fast moving projectiles can be shugged off yet radiation, that we don't understand: we cannot see, cannot taste, nor feel nor touch is his greatest weakness. I'd tie this in with nuclear weapons, their awesome destructive power and how that is tied with their poisonous curse.

It's not SuperAquaMan, It'a Aquaman. His power should be supreme control of water and only above average strength.

But his huge strength in fighting goons is how any punch can be magnified by how he can impart so much more force because his target is 80% water. But, just as superman needs his kryptonite, Aquaman needs a weakness, and that is how if there is no considerable water around and his opponents are mostly non-water then he is just the peak of human strength, so on par with batman or other mortal superheroes.

PS: I really think Aquaman could do with a big badass beard. Instantly 90% less lame having an awesome beard. And please, can we retcon it so "Aquaman" is said to be just the name the media gave him in this universe, that his friends and associates know him by another name that isn't so tabloid.

OK, throwing this out here now, READ an Aquaman comic. Seriously, just, any comic you can find, the new Geoff Johns run? Gold, it'll show you how there are some problems only Aquaman's really cut out for solving. A 90's run? You can watch the time Aquaman has to cut off his own hand and grows the beard you so desperately want to see

Spoiler

Superman is always going to be the top-dog around DC, even if Captain Marvel/Shazam has the same powers and a type advantage (Shazam used MAGIC it's SUPER EFFECTIVE!!!), but that doesn't by default make Aquaman lame. It makes him someone who can throw trucks around and is on the same scale of power as Wonder woman.

He is also Awesome

and not going to be the outed super-hero/

Ok, well looks like they ALREADY have fixed him, it's just I never got his depiction in the media I am exposed to. You have to admit, when Family Guy does a skit like this:


(PS: I normally can't stand family guy) that is consistent with the mainstream view of Aquaman. His IP holders need to really put the new Aquaman out there and show he isn't the useless fish whisperer any more. Seriously, he is a liability to the whole Justice League's reputation as a team you'd want to read about. I'll concede you don't need to change the name, what's in a name, I'll be honest I only suggested the name be changed because in popular culture Aquaman had garnered such a bad reputation.

I'm not to sure about the hook/harpoon hand thing, I mean just trying to escape from the lameness of Superfriends you don't have to go all Youngbloods on us. That latter 4-series image, that seems to be the right look. Distinct, confident and with a very personable range.

But Aquaman need to be put out there in this form. I'll admit I don't read comicbooks yet I know about Superman, Batman and Wonderwoman, yet all I know about Aquaman is how badly he has been mishandled.

 

[DRTJR]

I am betting on Wonder Woman, It can't be Aquaman dude is married.

 

[CaptainMarvelous]

Ok, well looks like they ALREADY have fixed him, it's just I never got his depiction in the media I am exposed to. You have to admit, when Family Guy does a skit like this:

(PS: I normally can't stand family guy) that is consistent with the mainstream view of Aquaman. His IP holders need to really put the new Aquaman out there and show he isn't the useless fish whisperer any more. Seriously, he is a liability to the whole Justice League's reputation as a team you'd want to read about. I'll concede you don't need to change the name, what's in a name, I'll be honest I only suggested the name be changed because in popular culture Aquaman had garnered such a bad reputation.

I'm not to sure about the hook/harpoon hand thing, I mean just trying to escape from the lameness of Superfriends you don't have to go all Youngbloods on us. That latter 4-series image, that seems to be the right look. Distinct, confident and with a very personable range.

But Aquaman need to be put out there in this form. I'll admit I don't read comicbooks yet I know about Superman, Batman and Wonderwoman, yet all I know about Aquaman is how badly he has been mishandled.

It's cool man, but it IS worth looking into it before saying how lame he is, is all I'm saying. DC's trying to re-invent him as best they can but the Superfriends thing sticks like glue. If you search him on youtube from his appearance in Brave and the Bold you get the idea how he's handled nowadays.

 

[floppylobster]

It's so the dude on the right in the Robin Hood costume. Green Arrow? Is that what he's called? Sorry I don't know that much about Superheroes by 'gaydar' shifted to DEFCON 1 just looking at him.

If they make it Wonder Woman that would be really lame and have the opposite effect if they're trying to appear forward thinking.