Superman is coming out of the closet in June.
When you get down to it, there’s something about superhero comics that is just inherently homoerotic. You have these strapping, square-jawed men in skin-tight spandex with rippling muscles forging lasting bonds with equally spandex-clad muscle-men – it’s like the locker room after a football game. In that light, it’s a wonder that there aren’t more openly gay superheroes. However, DC Comics says that one of its major heroes will be soon joining the ranks of Northstar and the Midnighter as an openly gay crimefighter.
Speaking at the Kapow comic convention in London, DC co-publisher Dan DiDio was asked about DC’s policies regarding its universe “reboot” and the reimagining of its historic characters. DC had previously said that any LGBT characters would be newly introduced rather than existing characters reworked. But why, DiDio was asked, was it okay to change a character’s age, race, size, or any other number of features that made them identifiable, yet sexual orientation was off the table?
DiDio answered that DC had in fact reevaluated that policy as well. In fact, he said, a storyline in June would reintroduce a character who had previously been portrayed as heterosexual as gay. This superhero would be “one of our most prominent gay characters,” said DiDio.
Predictably, this answer caused quite a stir, with many across the internet trying to figure out which of DC’s many, many characters would be coming out of the closet. A statement from DC’s Senior VP of Publicity Courtney Simmons narrowed it down, when she confirmed to ABC Burbank that one of DC’s “major iconic” characters will “reveal that he is gay in a storyline in June.” So we know that the hero in question is male, and that he is considered an “iconic” level character.
That slims the field down considerably. The only male DC superheroes I can think of who would be considered “iconic” are Batman, Superman, Flash, Green Lantern, and maybe Aquaman. Any one of these coming out of the closet would be a huge deal, as he would easily be the most high-profile gay hero in the comics business – how many people who don’t follow comics have heard of Wiccan or Apollo?
Is this a publicity stunt? Whether it’s to keep pace with the mood of the country following President Obama’s declaration of support of gay marriage, or to keep pace with rival publisher Marvel, who just announced that two of its gay heroes would be getting married – it feels a bit more exploitative than it does genuine.
Of course, maybe DC will treat the subject matter with the seriousness it deserves. Maybe the high profile nature of the character will make it so that instead of being “that gay superhero,” he’ll be “that awesome superhero who fights crime, and oh yeah he happens to like dudes.” I would love for that to be the case.
Source: BleedingCool
You should be ashamed of yourselves for printing this garbage! DC is picking an iconic character that is being re-introduced into the DC Universe. Not Superman!
I do agree that the headline is completely misleading and should be changed. It could be superman, but we don't actually know.
As for the subject, this is just…….why? I have absolutely no problems with a gay superhero, but dammit, create a new hero and make him gay! Why change the sexual orientation fo an existing, long-standing and iconic character? Yes, comic book heroes can go through a lot of change, but this isn't just a small change, this is huge!
I think that the whole thing about Superman coming out of the closet is an insult to the gay community and shows what bunch of chickens the writers of DC Comics are. I also heard that they were thinking of doing the same to Wonder Woman.
The fact is that since Superman is a Kryptonian (an alien) and we know very little about his planet only suggests that the writers were unwilling to go out on a limb and make a human superhero gay, only an alien. And heck, after watching the movie and seeing their high council of all men perhaps they were sexist to boot. Wonder Woman was raised on the island of Amazons (a strictly enforced female only island) and she’s gay!?! OMG!! Didn't see that one coming! Really stuck your neck out on that one guys! Next I'll have to hear about how she was "conditioned" from a lack of choice by some a-hole in the cubicle next to me.
I guess the point is this. Of all the people they could have selected they came up with these two. There are plenty of superheroes who sneak out at night while dressing up in fashionable skin tight outfits to choose from. Cowards.
Superman?!? I figured it would have been Batman.
Think about it – if Batman were gay, he also could get labelled as a child molester for having sidekicks like Dick Grayson and Tim Drake.
Dude, it wouldn't surpise me, but they just made a statement that it is Green Lanteen that is gay.
Personally, I'd worry about Batman being gay. He does have a minor as a "sidekick."
Aww dumb Batman hater. These are batman’s girlfriends : Vicki Vale, Catwoman, Wonder Woman, Julie Madison, Black Canary to name a few. Batman has also made out with Lois Lane in DCAU. 😂😂
My bet is Booster Gold.
I bet Captain Marvel
Captian marvel is a child
I think whoever wrofe this is Gay !!
dc can take a flying leap. ruining an icon like superman. he gives a new meaning to being a power puff girl lmao
Horrible Horrible. Stereotypicly, gay men are fraile little morons who can't fight for crap. Not someone up to the ranks of Superman. Someone needs to slap some sense into DC and ask WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!!!!!!!1
hey marc i could probably kick your ass any day…
I have to tell you that I'm gay…and I totally think that this is the worst thing I have ever heard of. Superman has a past, namely with Lois Lane…she is a HUGE part of Superman's character. It doesn't make sense for Superman to be gay. I think the GLBT has gone too far with questions about why superman has been changed over the years but his sexuality hasn't. GLBT should stick to more pressing concerns…not worry about comic book sexuality…like really??? As for other comic book figures leave it alone. If you absolutely NEED a gay comic superhero, just invent one…this is such a stupid topic to discuss and ruining an already ESTABLISHED character in comics or movies is senseless at best!
All of the characteristics you jus wrote about have nothing to do with sexual orientation!