Gayscape: Comic-Con Edition
Comic Con International 2009 was my 10th Comic Con, which I’m having a hard time believing even as i write it. Back in 2000 when I attented my first Con, Geek Culture was just about to take over in a big way, and you could feel it in the air that year. X-Men the movie had just come out, and for the first time in what seemed like forever, a comic book property was a huge hit. But I had no idea the Con would grow so far and so fast from where it was 9 years ago. In 2000 there were some 50,000 attendees at the Con, this year there were 126,000. And man, could you ever feel it (and smell it). Despite my utter annoyance at the increasing numbers of nerds packed into the San Diego Convention Center like cows in a slaughterhouse, there is one panel that gets bigger and bigger each year where I actually enjoy seeing the increase in attendance: The Gays in Comics Panel and Mixer, now celebrating its 22nd year.
One thing that has always remained consistent every year for me at Comic Con is that I always make it a point to go to the Gays in Comics Panel. Moderated by writer Andy Mangels, in many ways the panel is more or less the same thing every year, with the same questions raised and the same concerns voiced. And more often than not, the same panel members return every year too. But it is still empowering to sit in a room with hundreds of other gay geeks and know that there is strength in our growing numbers. But considering much of the bitching and moaning from panelists (as well as attendees like me) boils down each year to “there aren’t enough LGBT characters in mainstream comics”, this year there was something different in the air. Had the Glass Ceiling for LGBT characters finally been cracked this year?? Maybe? After all, two pretty significant events happened in the mainstream world of Marvel and DC Comics this past year, both of which were on everyone’s lips at the panel.
Batwoman Takes Over Detective Comics
Detective Comics, DC’s longest running title (not to mention the book the damn company is named after) is now showcasing a new lead character in the form of Batwoman, who is an out lesbian. Sure, it will only last a year or so, and sure, Bruce Wayne will eventually headline this book once more as he has for 70 years. But the point is that right now, a gay character headlines a popular mainstream super hero book, and one connected to arguably the most popular hero in comics. This is a BIG deal, and we gay fans should take a moment to acknowledge this and enjoy it, because it was a long time coming folks. Besides, Greg Rucka is knocking it out of the park with this book, and JH Williams’ art is totally stunning. If you aren’t reading it, then you aren’t deserving of the title comic book nerd. It really is that good.
X-Men on Men Action
Over at Marvel, another significant milestone has occured. One that even made national headlines (If you can count Perez Hilton’s site as National Headlines. Since I’m a gay guy, for me, Perez Hilton is up there with CNN.com) The first on-panel man on man kiss between two gay heroes in a mainstream super hero book. (I’m not counting The Authority, as that was an 18+ book). I speak now of the finally out of the closet relationship between mutant C-Listers Rictor and Shatterstar in Peter David’s X-Factor. Long rumored, and written with many “wink wink nudge nudges” by other writers over the years, Peter David finally outed the two heroes as a couple officially and for the record. Douchebag artist/creator and all around industry joke Rob Liefield has recently stated that the Shatterstar he created back in the 90’s, and for whom he wrote his first 12 appearances, was not gay, and were he ever go back to Marvel he would “undo it.” According to ol’ Rob, the Shatterstar he created was a fighter who only lived for war, like an ancient Spartan (note to Rob: Google “Spartan + Homosexuality” and see what comes up). X-Factor writer Peter David had this to say in response to Liefield’s comments, which he more or less reiterated at the Panel on Saturday
“I understand that some parents have the same reaction. They were responsible for their children’s first appearances and, when informed of their sexual persuasion, firmly declare it’s impossible, they can’t be gay. I find particularly distressing, Rob’s contention that Shatterstar can’t possibly be gay because he’s a warrior. That might come as a bit of a shock to Alexander the Great. For that matter, among his assortment of gay friends, I suppose Rob has none in the military since of course gays aren’t allowed to serve unless they keep their mouths shut. Perhaps Rob would like to see “don’t ask, don’t tell” implemented in the Marvel Universe”
Thankfully, according to Peter David at the panel, Marvel EIC Joe Quesada has gone on the record as saying as long as he is in charge, it will never be undone. (In other words, Gay Shatterstar is not a Skrull. Sorry, was that reference too last year?)
Both of these things are huge deals for us Gay Geeks. Of course, not everything is great and perfect yet in the world of gay characters in genre media. As pointed out in the panel, it would be really nice of creators of characters like Dumbledore in the Harry Potter books and Felix Gaeta on Battlestar Galactica didn’t wait to out their characters as gay after the fact, or on some web series like Gaeta was, but at the beginning of the series. Just lay all the cards out on the table. We are past the point of needing the gay aspect snuck in after the fact. And while sitting at the Gays in Comics panel this year, I was happy to see that comics were leading in this respect where other media is lagging behind. This is still COMIC-Con after all, and it was nice to see the comic book angle trump the Hollywood angle in at least one regard.
