A Comic Book Gets Serious on Gay Issues

New York Times ^ | 08/13/02 | Geroge Gene Gustines

[MEGoody]

If I still had kids young enough to be interested in comics, I wouldn't be buying this one any more.

I wish someone would publish statistics as to the number of 'gays' who actually are physically 'bashed' because they are gay. Of that number, I'd also like to know how many were being obnoxious about pronouncing their 'sexual orientation' to everyone and demanding 'acceptance'.

[AppyPappy]

Kids don't buy comics, adults do.

[B-Chan]

I can't wait until the anal-fissures storyline begins. "When Bleeds... A RECTUM!"

Next: Thor discovers Asgardian love... in the arms of Loki.

Thank God I got OUT of the comics industry.

B-chan

PLUG - There are alternatives, however. Whoy not give our comics a try?

[Behind Liberal Lines]

DC Comics has been "PC" comics for years now.

This is hardly their first gay character. The Flash has had a gay friend ("the Pied Piper")(and yep, he plays the flute) for years now and Detective Maggie Sawyer, a supporting character in both the Batman and Superman books has been outed as a lesbian since at least the late 1980s.

Over at Marvel Comics, several X-men over the years, including Beast, Ultimate Colussus and Northstar have been outed, and Spider-man's ex-girlfriend, the Black Cat, recently admitted to being a bisexual.

By the way, "Green Lantern" used to be Hal Jorden, an ex-air force pilot/military man, but we couldn't have a solider be a hero, so they had him go insane and become a mass murderer and then replaced him with this current, Greenwich Village dwelling "artsy" Green Lantern.

[who knows what evil?]

Kids don't buy comics, adults do.

That is true...most comic book readers today are males, college age and up. I used to collect comics, and quit 'cold turkey' when social issues like homosexuality were introduced; along with enviromentalism in the form of 'gaia worship'. Another innocent childhood pursuit destroyed by liberals. Shame...I used to enjoy reading "Green Lantern".

[Lance Romance]

I hate to break it to the gay community, but the Green Lantern has an Achilles Heel. The color yellow. He will never be able to accessorize and maintain his powers. At least pink chiffon is still safe.

My question is how fast will circulation drop and how long before it's cancelled. I give it a year, tops.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

By the way, "Green Lantern" used to be Hal Jorden, an ex-air force pilot/military man, but we couldn't have a solider be a hero, so they had him go insane and become a mass murderer and then replaced him with this current, Greenwich Village dwelling "artsy" Green Lantern.

Yep, and that's when I stopped buying DC comics....

They outed the BEAST!?!?!?!

[HELLRAISER II]

Boy I miss Hal Jordan as the Green Lantern, maybe he would've kicked Terry's @ss & put him on the Heterosexual straight & narrow and possibly none of this would've happened. I have collected & read Comics since 1976, I have comics ranging from the Avengers to the X-Men & while I don't particularly have a problem with Gay people. That doesn't mean that I want them in my damn comic books, I read comics to briefly escape from the P.C. hell we all call reality.

[jwfiv]

We've come a long ways from when Peter Parker was a simple high school kid.

[HELLRAISER II]

Most of the time you & I are in disagreement, but this time you got it right. The comics appealing to children are long gone, Most comics are geared for intelligent adults & most of all their geared for adults with money. An average comic today will cost you $2.50 minimum, kids just can't afford that.

[HELLRAISER II]

Did you collect comics or did you actually write or draw for the industry?

[RAT Patrol]

This is the part that bugs me:

"It would be nice if some teachers recognized that this is a story that could spin off conversation," he said. "And not just on the issue of sexuality and brutality, but in how people react. Was Kyle right in hunting these guys down and beating them? Did one of these guys deserve to die? I think there's a lot to be said there."

[HELLRAISER II]

I knew about Northstar, but the Beast & Colossus? What issue was that in.

[ikka]

With good will being generated toward Terry, why then are things taking such a dark turn with the gay bashing? "It's a story that needs to be told," Mr. Schreck said. Some real-life tragedies have also played a role. "Where we're bringing Terry is very similar to the Brandon Teena and Matthew Shepard moments," Mr. Schreck said, referring to the cross-dressing woman in Nebraska who was murdered in 1993 and the gay University of Wyoming student who was beaten, tied to a post and left to die in 1998.

I am still waiting for the comic book that tells the story of Jesse Dirkhising, who was brutally murdered and raped by two homosexuals; of the story of the pink Mafia that runs a large portion of the Catholic Church; etc etc.

[Hemingway's Ghost]

I always assumed that Bat Man and Robin were lovers.

[gdani]

By the way, "Green Lantern" used to be Hal Jorden...

Or Alan Scott, if you *really* want to go "old school"

[Lance Romance]

And I will feel free to mention that Pedro and Judd were definitely two of the most self righteous annoying people they ever had on "Real World". Thank God for Puck.

[Polonius]

The New York Times is a little behind the curve on this issue — "The Authority," published by the DC-owned Wildstorm label, features two heroes named Apollo and the Midnighter. They are modeled after Superman and Batman, and recently became a married gay couple. However, the series ended and is now in limbo.

[wattsmag2]

Geez, the RAINBOW LANTERN!

I guess Superbunger can only be a step away.

[HELLRAISER II]

Oh Man, please don't say that. It's bad enough their putting a fag in Green Lantern.