Not to be outdone, Marvel wants to be Gay too

This is Comic Crack and this is what is currently going on in Comics. Creating a thread does not mean anyone needs to get over anything. Creating a thread means, feel free to discuss it.

Comics is foremost thought of as something for kids and kids grow into as adults. I got to say as a parent, I wouldn't feel comfortable allowing a kid less than 12 to be picking up a comic like this. Furthermore, all the heroes are standing around like it just makes their heart flutter seeing this. I don't know about you, but I always thought instead of Wolverine looking misty eyed over seeing this, I always pictured him being one of the 1st ones to be yelling "Faggot!!!"

No one doesn't understand that this is apart of life and the world around us. We all know this is out there. But kids don't need to be subjected to this kind of iconic imagery of their heroes. I think it sends the wrong message.

It's all your own personal perspective really. Comics has always introduced topics that have made audiences uncomfortable for well over 50 years now. In the 50's the PreCode horror and crime genre issues were seen as out of control and thus the comics code authority was born which brought us to the 70's and anti-drug messages started appearing in pages such as Amazing Spider-man and Green Lantern. These were topics that made adults uncomfortable about what their children was reading as well as brought thought provoking realism for children and young adults to become aware and think about. In some ways, this was probably good. I personally know the PreCode horror issues from companies like EC was some of the coolest comics I ever seen and after the code took hold, there was a real decline in how comics could be portrayed. Perhaps this limitation was bad.

We've done crossed the gay avenue a few times. Northstar was introduced as Gay a full 20 years ago. But even still, it was much more subdued then it is today. Between what the 2 companies are doing, I don't mind so much when it comes to Northstar, especially since he was characterized as gay all those years ago. Its not unthinkable that he would get married. Even still, I find the variant cover and some of the images from it as uncomfortable. Not so much for me an adult who fully realizes that gays are a part of the world we live in, but moreso because comics as I knew them was not something that we tend to have thought about in terms of sexual preference for so many years.

I know Marvel turned Rawhide Kid gay and made it almost into a comedy. The Western Comics he was originally depicted in was supposedly portraying as very macho and manly. Then they turned him into someone who was busy looking at all the other men. The Rawhide Mini Series I thoroughly enjoyed. I thought it was very funny at times. But truly there was no scenes that made anyone feel uncomfortable.

Hell, Image's The Pro series depicting a prostitute as a hero should have been more controversial than either Northstar or Rawhide Kid because it blatantly was adult themed. But at least it had the decency to put "For Mature Readers" on the cover. There are certain things that are okay for adults to see and not so good for children to see. That's why we have had age limits on things such as kids going into bars, viewing adult magazines and movies, drinking, etc. Its part of society trying to be responsible. When you become an adult, you can do what you want. Sure, you may be gay from the moment you knew you had a penis. Doesn't mean that non gay children need to be subjected to it.

The one that may bother me the most is DC's sudden urge to throw someone that would be seen as iconic into the gay ring. Icon for DC probably means a character that has been around at least 50 years and quite possibly 70. When you have a history reaching that magnitude where the question of sexuality was never a thought, its going to be to me, damaging to that characters legacy. Since we like to refer to how backstory is a nuisance to collectors, wouldn't the thought of knowing that an iconic character has been revealed as gay suddenly make all those back issues seem somehow different now? Why are we going to do this to this iconic character? To get everybody talking about it? No, I think its obviously to drive up massive sales for the quick term as usual. Same with Northstar getting married. Its not to make us a better country and more aware and better off for it. Its to make these guys richer at any expense. Comics doesn't care what it does anymore as long as you'll buy it and defend them doing it.

See the Northstar one doesnt bother me much except for the cover depicting the marriage kiss and seeing heroes stand around and watch like they are getting teary eyed over it and think its beautiful. I guess thinking of MY CHILDREN and not someone else, I think I've reached a moment with comics where I wouldnt want that comic to be seen by a child who is say, less than 12. Not so much because of homophobia, but moreso because its not something I think non-homo tended children such as say 8 year olds need to be questioning their parents about. Like "why are those 2 men kissing"? If a comic is being sold as adult, then I dont have a problem with it. But the X-Men was the comic I started buying at 11 and I didn't miss an issue for years. If I would have seen this when I was growing up, I might have questions or complaints to my parents of comics in general. Its a personal choice and what you would want your children to be subjected to is up to you. To each his own. If you want to read it to you children, thats on you and thats okay with me. But me personally, I wouldnt want my kids at younger ages getting their hands on it. Not because I think they would develop gay tendencies or something. That would already be predetermined. Its just a subject I don't personally think is something kids should be worrying about when it comes to heroes at a very young age.

Slap a Mature Readers tag on it and keep out of the reach of 8 year olds and I don't have much of a problem with it at all. Gays are apart of the world we live in. I just don't think Marvel and DC should be the one giving our children first glimpses at it. And by that, I mean the truly young ones who grow up idolizing these characters at a young age. If you think this is okay, then I guess we can have full blown penis and vagina insertions on the covers for 8 year olds to see too. Because after all, any intolerance is bigoty and stupidity. Let's just give Marvel and DC free reign to show the kids anything it wants to including full blown sex and anything else it wants to. Because obviously, there is no need to dilute two men kissing on a cover anymore without slapping "For Mature Readers" on it. Since this is okay, lets just let them see penis and vagina, buy them a beer and let them smoke pot. 8 is fine. I'll smoke weed with them and we'll all sit around looking at our comics and jacking off in front of company. Because you know....its okay.

So in other words put them back in the closet? It sounds like you don't like it because it makes you uncomfortable as a parent to have to explain to kids about sexuality. God, I already feel sorry for your kids when you have to "the talk" with them.

There have been weddings in comics before with covers that depict the bride and groom about to kiss (which is what Northstar and Kyle are doing they're about to kiss which is NOT same as kissing) with teary-eyed looking guests standing around. It's common icon assorted with weddings. In fact it's so common that have been romantic comedies that have made fun of it.

Then you worry about what if Marvel shows Northstar and Kyle on their wedding night or later on, having oral and anal sex (make sure your kids are not reading this G because the f-word is coming).

GIVE ME A FUCKING BREAK!

This ain't no fucking porno comic! It's The Astonishing X-Men a kiss and them laying in bed together after sex is the most you ever see! It's the same with Rictor and Shatterstar's relationship in X-Factor or Kate Kane's relationship in Batwoman. There is no NONE graphic sex scenes showing tits, penis, or vagina in any of those books. You would know this if you actually read them and honestly YOU SHOULD KNOW that regardless.

Just because Marvel releases The Rawhide Kid under their Max Comics imprint doesn't mean that every gay and lesbian character in comics have to be a "mature readers" book that is a VERY stupid idea whose time has passed. Having an LGBT characters in a title doesn't make the title a mature reader book automatically (and nor does it make a book relvent, hip, or cool).


As you said Northstar been out of the closet for close to 20 years and the fact that he's gay has been the only thing he has been known for the same with Shatterstar, Rictor, the Rawhide Kid, Kate Kane, Midnighter, Apollo (of Stormwatch/The Authority fame and they were married a long time ago). Also none of these characters are well known. While Batwoman is probably the most well known and the current version is the first time DC has used the character regulary in comics in several decades.

I also don't quite buy DC's announcement that a "major" character will come out of the closet. Since DC has a ton of characters with multiple versions and a whole fucking multiverse to play around with. Some rumors are saying it's an a new version of characters (like Blue Beetle or The Atom) or that new Earth-2 concept that their using, the character that will come out as gay in that universe. Hell even if it's in the "New" DC Universe my attitude remains the same: breaking down walls and barries is always a GREAT THING. Even though like you I find it little more than a cheap and quick way to get the mainstream media's attention. But if helps breaks down walls and barries for gay rights or helps an LGBT reader not to commit suicide then I can easily put up and live with it.

And FTR I'm not gay or bisexual. I just happen to have compassion for them.

I believe that hiding the realities of life from children is more harmful than good. My grandfather died when I was seven and my mother wouldn't take me to the funeral, and when she didn't explain what death is (she was most likely she was dealing with her own grief and didn't see my own) to me so that when she died suddenly and unexpectedly when I was 13 I didn't know quite how to handle it. In fact it was comics that kept me from committing suicide. Love, sex, death, and other life issues shouldn't be taboo from children they should be taught how to handle it.