LGBT characters in comics

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see also Media portrayal of lesbianism: Comics

In recent years, mainstream comic book publishers have portrayed more of their characters, both protagonists and supporting, as being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered (LGBT). Both male and female gay comic book characters are represented, as are imaginary persons from all walks of life, economic, social, and ethnic.

Contents

[edit] Public reaction

 This section may contain original research or unverified claims.
Please help Wikipedia by adding references. See the talk page for details.(January 2008)

While it may be too early to tell how the public in general and comic book fans in particular will react to these publishers' portrayal of homosexuality, one thing seems certain: the political, social, and cultural landscape appears to be such that it supports at least a trial effort in developing comics featuring gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered characters. Whereas only a few decades ago, comics would likely have lost their approval by the Comics Code Authority for including gay characters of any kind in any comic for any reason, no one seems to be suggesting that the comics, in highlighting gay characters, have done anything to warrant disapproval, social or otherwise.

[edit] Characters notable for being gay

[edit] Firebrand

Main article: Firebrand (DC Comics)

Firebrand was a costumed hero published by Quality Comics, premiering in Police Comics no. 1 (August, 1941) and appearing regularly until issue 13 (November 1942).

Firebrand's superhero costume included a transparent or pink shirt over bare chest, allowing original artist Reed Crandall to show off his mastery of anatomy. In All-Star Squadron #5 (1981) writer Roy Thomas penned thought balloons for Rod Reilly's sister Danette that suggested Firebrand had been involved in a gay relationship with his sidekick and bodyguard Slugger Dunn. "Good old Slugger! He's been Rod's bodyguard -- and his friend -- for years now -- though what a confirmed bachelor playboy like my brother needed with a bodyguard I've never understood!" Immediately after, she finds several of his superhero costumes in a hidden closet, as she thinks "from the look of these clothes -- I didn't know my brother quite as well as I thought I did." Gay topics were still largely taboo in mass-circulation comic books in 1981, and words such as "confirmed bachelor" and references to a closeted identity were as close as a writer could come to actually saying that a character was gay.

[edit] Rawhide Kid

Main article: Rawhide Kid

In 2002, Marvel Comics revived The Rawhide Kid in their Marvel MAX imprint, introducing the first openly gay comic book character to star in his own magazine. The Western gunfighter is the first main character among Marvel’s comic book cast to be homosexual. The first edition of the Rawhide Kid’s gay saga was called Slap Leather.

According to a CNN.com article, “The new series pairs the original artist, John Severin, now 86, with Ron Zimmerman, a television writer. Making the Rawhide Kid homosexual was Zimmerman’s idea."

The character’s sexuality is conveyed indirectly, through euphemisms and puns, and the comic’s style is campy. For example, the Rawhide Kid says, of the Lone Ranger: "I think that mask and the powder blue outfit are fantastic. I can certainly see why the Indian follows him around."

According to a CBS News story concerning the character, “Part of the comedic slant will come in the Rawhide Kid's asides to the reader after the townsfolk can't quite figure out what makes the gunslinger ... different. In his previous incarnation, the Rawhide Kid was very shy around women. Nothing about that will change in the new version.”

[edit] Northstar

Main article: Northstar

The Rawhide Kid was preceded by other gay Marvel characters, such as Alpha Flight’s Northstar. Created in 1979 and a member of the original Alpha Flight team, the character was revealed to be gay in 1992's Alpha Flight issue 106.

Northstar's sexual identity was hinted at in 1983, in issues 7 and 8 of Alpha Flight. He and his sister Aurora visit Raymonde Belmonde, a friend of Northstar's. After Aurora leaves, Belmonde asks Northstar, "So, you didn't tell her all about me." When, later, Northstar meets Belmonde's daughter, the superhero is astonished to learn that his friend is a father. Moreover, Belmonde tells Jean-Paul Beaubier (Northstar's alter ego) not to fear his mutant powers or anything else, and Aurora chastises her brother for questioning her romantic choices by remarking, "You, of all people, dare to challenge my love life?" However, in Alpha Flight issue 11, which details the character's origin, Northstar's apparent lack of interest in women was chalked up to his obsessive drive to win as a ski champion [1].

[edit] Devlin Waugh

Main article: Devlin Waugh

The first openly gay hero in mainstream British comics was Devlin Waugh, who first appeared in 2000AD in 1992. He was created by writer John Smith and artist Sean Phillips. The character's homosexuality is frequently referenced in the strip, and in his first story he attempts to seduce one of the men he is rescuing.

[edit] Gay fanzine and parody art

Fans have also created artwork that depicts heterosexual Marvel and DC characters as being gay. Other, similar art is designed to parody these characters. One notable incident involved the artist Mark Chamberlain and works depicting Batman and Robin in homoerotic poses. DC threatened both the artist and a gallery showing his work, with legal action. [2][3].

[edit] Transgendered superheroes

[edit] Coagula

Main article: Coagula

Kate Godwin, a male-to-female transsexual, was one of the first transsexual characters to have a major role in a comic series. She was a member of the Doom Patrol, and had the ability to coagulate liquids and dissolve solids at will.

[edit] Gender-swapping storylines & superheroes

Very few mainstream comic books have introduced transgendered characters. However, it is quite commen for characters to have their gender changed for a short time by science-fictional or magical means. A number of characters also exist that have the ability to change their sex at will.

In comic books that include male-to-female or female-to-male transformations, the characters undergo these transformations as a result of a variety of causes, including:

  • Genetic mutation
  • Magic
  • Shape-shifting ability
  • Psychic power
  • Sex-change drug

[edit] Babewatch

In 1995, Image comics sought to profit from the "'bad girl' trend in comics. . . by briefly turning many of their male heroes into women." This series was initiated in Youngblood, when "Glory's nemesis Diablolique takes revenge on Glory (and men in general) by turning every man Glory had ever met into a woman" [4].

[edit] Cloud

Cloud, who was able to take the form of a female, a male, or a cloud, appeared in a revival of The Defenders. The character could take on male or female form. Romantically attracted to the female Cloud, Iceman was upset by her male form.

[edit] Courier

Main article: Courier (comics)

A shape-shifting mutant, sometimes allied with the X-Man Gambit. An encounter between them and Mister Sinister resulted in his 'default form' being permanently altered from male to female. A situation she accepted, though not without a degree of resentment.

[edit] Flare and the Champions

This series, which was based on the Champions superhero roleplaying game, included transgendered plots in which body possession and shapeshifting abilities were used to set up male-to-female transformations with Dr. Arcane entering Dark Malice's body and Flare's brother Philip uses his shapeshifting abilities to impersonate her so as to avenge himself upon his sister who, earlier, had forced him to pose as a girl.

[edit] Lusiphur

When Lusiphur is trapped by his foes, a sorceress offers to help him, whereupon she casts a love spell on him. However, the spell goes wrong, transforming Lusiphur into "Lucy."

[edit] Mantra

Main article: Mantra (comic book)

On a 1994 Ultraverse trading card, Mantra's creator, Mike Barr, provides this information concerning his creation: ""Mantra is a man, he just has a woman's body. It was from this dichotomy that Mantra sprang. From the major theme--a switch in genders--came the minor theme of the series: a warrior who must become a sorcerer, a slayer who must become a nurturing mother, a man who has died hundreds of times must become a woman who can only die once. That's the conundrum--and appeal--of Mantra" [5]. A Malibu Comics title, Mantra recounts how a warrior was reincarnated into a female fighter's body. After Marvel Comics bought Malibu, Mantra was retired.

[edit] Masquerade

A shapechanger able to assume the form of any animal (including humans), Masquerade was a woman who concealed her true nature from the rest of the Blood Syndicate by transforming into an idealized male version of herself.

[edit] Sasquatch ("Wanda" Langkowski)

Main article: Sasquatch (comics)

Again, as a result of a complex series of transfers between male and female bodies, Sasquatch is reborn, if only temporarily, as Wanda Langkowski in Alpha Flight issues 45 through 68. In the series Exiles, an alternate universe'sHeather Hudson serves as a female host for Sasquatch.

[edit] Shade, the Changing Woman

After Peter Milligan revamped Steve Ditko's Shade the Changing Man in the 1990s, the series explored the idea of a character being reborn in different bodies. One of Shade’s rebirths results in a sex change that allows opportunities for humorous, ironic, sometimes satirical, social and political commentary. Among other themes, this comic book dealt with a man's becoming aware of, and sensitive to, the challenges and issues that a woman faces due to her own femininity, sexism, chauvinism, and life in general in a patriarchal society: She must learn to deal with female clothing and men's advances. There is a more than passing reference to dealing with PMS, the "heroine" has sex with the first man she comes across, and there is even the obligatory urinal joke. [6].

Awakening as a female one morning, Shade is first horrified by her transformation. However, with the help of her female friends, she meets these and other challenges, experiences her first kiss and her first sexual encounter with a man, and must make the ultimate decision as to whether to become a man again. Later in the series, “Shade's son George is put into the body of Lenny's daughter, Lilly” [7].

[edit] Shvaugn Erin

A female Science Police officer, Shvaugn Erin took a sex-change drug because he was in love with Element Lad of the Legion of Super Heroes.[citation needed]

[edit] Sir Tristan

In Camelot 3000, Merlin casts a spell to bring King Arthur's knights back. The members of the Round Table have been reincarnated as individuals around the world, with the spirit of Sir Tristan inhabiting a female body, causing the usual crises and problems associated with such transformations.

[edit] Superman

Main article: Superman

In an issue of the series Whom Gods Destroy, Superman is transformed into a woman to make amends for the unwitting crimes he has committed against those of the opposite sex.

[edit] Thor

Main article: Thor (Marvel Comics)

At Loki's suggestion, to teach his son a lesson in humility, Odin transforms Marvel Comics' thunder god into a female deity, making Thor, literally, a diva.

Other storylines in which Thor swaps sex include when Donald Blake's girlfriend discovered Mjolnir and when Rogue absorbed Thor's powers. Both of these stories are part of Marvel's What If series.

[edit] Xavin (Runaways)

Main article: Xavin

Xavin is an alien shapeshifter, who when fighting is usually in male form, however whenever having 'down time' or relaxing tends to revert to female form. Xavin possesses the ability to take any form he/she desires, including sex changes. After becoming engaged to Karolina Dean, a lesbian, he/she begins to spend much of his/her time as a female. Though most of his/her teammates have expressed discomfort with Xavin constantly switching between forms, Xavin views his/her shapeshifting no differently than most people view changing hair color and has defended this decision vocally. This may be an overt nod to transgender issues - Runaways creator Brian K. Vaughan is notably friendly to LGBT issues.

These other superheroes also are (or have briefly been) transgendered superheroes:

[edit] List of gay, lesbian or bisexual comics characters

This is a list of all the known gay, lesbian or bisexual characters in the comics.

[edit] Gay characters

A

B

  • Terry Berg - DC Comics' Green Lantern supporting character.
  • Titus Bird - The Enigma; comic book author and creator of The Enigma, who appears to leap into the "real" world.
  • Bloke (Mickey Tork) - Marvel Comics' X-Statix - One time member of X-Statix. Featured with Mutant Non-Superheroic Boyfriend.
  • The Brain - A supervillainous disembodied brain, the Brain is the devoted life partner of Monsieur Mallah
  • Brahma - Gaming Guardians.
  • Ken Brassai - Circles.
  • Alex Burgess - The Sandman; a magus and lover of Paul McGuire.

C

D

  • Rodney Davis - Carpe Diem
  • Taylor "Taye" Dooley - Circles
  • Jean-Paul "Frenchie" DuChamp - Supporting character in Marvel Comics Moon Knight title

E

  • Element Lad - DC Comics' Legion of Superheroes (gay, original continuity - had a relationship with m2f transsexual Sean/Shvaughn Erin, saying "anything we've ever shared physically...was in spite of" the sex change, not because of it) [8]
  • Sean/Shvaughn Erin - DC Comics' Legion of Superheroes (original continuity - see Element Lad)
  • The Enigma - Enigma; Apparently a comic book character come to life. Lover of Michael Smith.
  • Extraño - member of DC Comics' New Guardians; an effeminate man from Peru, he made references to himself as gay several times, and even references a former lover who had died from AIDS.

F

G

  • Jafaar Garfield - Fullmetal Alchemist, automail mechanic in the manga version
  • Trent Gaudaen - Carpe Diem
  • Bob Glover - Preacher; Sexual Investigator and small-time drug trafficker. Partners with Freddie Allen (see above)
  • Go Go Fiasco - DC Comics' Vertigo title Codename: Knockout
  • Harlequinn (Harley) Goldman - Boy Meets Boy.
  • Kyle Graham - Lead character in the syndicated gay comic strip about a gay B&B, Kyle's Bed & Breakfast by Greg Fox.
  • Ethan Green - Appears in a series of humorous books about his openly gay life and loves (long and short term), and his struggles in this journey.

H

  • Hector - The Incredible Hulk; member of the Pantheon, his sexuality is an occasional topic among his colleagues, and one of his brothers disapproves of his homosexuality. During a wedding party, Hector is observed chatting with another gay character, Northstar. [9].
  • Hooded Justice - Watchmen; super-hero.
  • Michael Bernard "Mikey" Hopkins - The Class Menagerie, The Suburban Jungle.
  • Hulkling - Marvel Comics' Young Avengers - Confirmed as being in a relationship with fellow Young Avenger, Wiccan.
  • Rick Hundecoph - Umlaut House

I

K

L

Damon Matthews and Todd Rice (Obsidian) share a kiss in the pages of Manhunter
Damon Matthews and Todd Rice (Obsidian) share a kiss in the pages of Manhunter

M

  • Monsieur Mallah - A genius gorrila supervillain who after developing human-level sapience and articulation, fell in love with "the Brain".
  • Stanley Wayne Manor - Hellblazer; billionaire infatuated with John Constantine. Insane.
  • Tony Mantegna - Secret Six; deaf former reporter who was member of the second incarnation of Secret Six.
  • Damon Matthews - Manhunter; coworker and friend of Kate Spencer and lover of Obsidian.
  • Paulie Mayhew - Circles
  • Paul McGuire - The Sandman; lover and personal assistant to Alex Burgess.
  • Burt McPhearson - Carpe Diem
  • Midnighter - Wildstorm Comics The Authority (Married to husband Apollo.)
  • Martin "Marty" Miller - Circles
  • Mindsweeper - Pride High
  • Yoshi Mishima - Starfleet cadet and best friend of Matt Decker in Paramount Comics' Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.
  • Ray Monde - Hellblazer; Antiques and curiosities dealer with an interest in the supernatural. In mourning for his lover, who died during a war.

N

O

P

  • Phat (William Robert Reilly) - Marvel Comics' X-Statix - Superhero and Rap Star. Began a "fake" homosexual relationship with Vivisector. It is later revealed that both characters are gay but are not in love with each other.
  • Ken Pierce - Carpe Diem
  • Douglas "Doug" Pope - Circles
  • Lawrence Poirier - For Better or For Worse comic strip
  • Josiah Power - DC Comics' Power Company; He and his partner Rupert were portrayed as a social unit in Power Company, and Josiah was officially outed in Manhunter. Technically, this may make Josiah the first gay title character in DC Comics' history, since "Power Company" was named after Josiah.

R

S

T

U

V

  • Vivisector (Myles Alfred) - Marvel Comics' X-Statix - Superhero, Role model, Harvard Undergraduate. Began a "fake" homosexual relationship with Phat. It is later revealed that both characters are gay but are not in love with each other. He then went on to date various movie stars.

W

  • Detective Paulie Walters - Preacher; supercop. Investigating the "Reaver-Cleaver" killings.
  • Wallace Wells - Scott Pilgrim; Scott Pilgrim's Gay Roommate.
  • Wiccan - Marvel Comics' Young Avengers - Confirmed as being in a relationship with fellow Young Avenger, Hulkling.
  • Drezzer Wolf - The Suburban Jungle
  • Wulf - Top Ten; expert pilot and former member of the Skysharks squadron. In a lifelong relationship with Steve Traynor.

[edit] Lesbian characters

A

  • Amanda Shane - Image Comics; Sci-fi character from Amanda & Gunn and self-published, CyberZone

B

  • Bambi - The Invisibles; member of the "Poison Pussies" cell.
  • Barb - Swamp Thing; lesbian lover of Liz Tremayne.
  • Batwoman (Kathy "Kate" Kane) - the fourth lesbian character to act as a lead in a DC Universe title. Debuts in 52.
  • Bobby - The Invisibles; member of the "Poison Pussies" cell.

C

  • Carol Swanson - Sandman Mystery Theatre; closeted, although she secretly has relationships with Madeline Giles (The Vamp) and an unnamed woman.
  • Catwoman (Holly Robinson) - Currently sharing the Catwoman identity with Selina Kyle, is a former prostitute who operates in the DC Comics One Year Later continuity, is in a relationship with another woman.
  • Chelle Archer - Jane's World, Jane's former lover, a mysterious and potentially dangerous former spy? cop? secret agent?
  • Amy Chen - Silver Sable; former mercenary and assassin, now a member of Silver Sable's Wild Pack.
  • Clarice Clifton - Dykes To Watch Out For

D

  • Dorim - Accidental Centaurs (from her discussion with Samantha, bisexuality is apparently the norm among female centaurs in OtherSpace)

F

  • Fauna - Outsiders; Fauna Faust, daughter of Felix Faust and lover of Syonide II. A member of Strike Force Kobra, later killed by her father.
  • The Flying Fox - Astro City Featured in a story in "Local Heroes", she's out in her private life.
  • Foxglove AKA Donna Cavanagh - The Sandman and the Death comics; writer turned poet turned pop star. Lover of Hazel McNamara and Judy (see below for both). She has a non-biological son with Hazel.

H

J

K

L

  • Lucielle - Marv's parole officer in Sin City. Lover, Claire is a psychiatrist.

M

O

P

R

S

T

V

Z

[edit] Bisexual characters

A

B

C

  • Zoe Carter - Venus Envy. (bisexual, MTF transgendered)
  • Amanda Cartwright - Umlaut House
  • Margarita Luisa "Maggie" Chascarrillo - Locas, Has had a long relationship with the woman Hopey, as well as with several different men.
  • Chelsea Chattan - Clan of the Cats. Witch and werepanther (and possibly, the avatar of the 'Queen of the Netherworld'); her sexuality is at least in part influenced by the duality of her part-animal nature. It is implied that her sister, Corrine (Melpomene) is bisexual as well.
  • Cherry Poptart - Comedic/pornographic character.
  • Katina "Katchoo" Choovanski - Strangers in Paradise.
  • Cobweb-America's Best Comics. Relationship with mail Greyshirt and implied relationship with her female driver.
  • John Constantine - In issue 51 of Hellblazer ("Counting to Ten"), John reveals that he's had "the occasional boyfriend", whilst in issues 170-174 ("Ashes and Dust in the City of Angels" 1-5), he has a homosexual relationship with billionaire Stanley Manor, albeit as part of an elaborate revenge scheme.

D


E

  • Electro - Marvel Comics' supervillain, who in Marvel Knights Spiderman #2 reveals that in jail he'd found a new side to himself, heavily implying prison homosexuality. (implied bisexual)
  • The Engineer- Predominantly heteroesexual, Angela Spica of the Authority made mention of a lesbian fling in college. (bisexual or bi-curious)

G

H

I

  • Icemaiden - Occasional member of the Justice League (bisexual; dislikes labels)

J

K

L

  • Pierce Lee - Umlaut House Two
  • Volair Lee - Umlaut House
  • Lightning Lass - DC Comics' Legion of Superheroes (original continuity)
  • Patrick Kevin Louis - Carpe Diem

M

N

  • Nick - Carpe Diem
  • Nioi - El Goonish Shive. (It is assumed that her younger duplicate, Kaoli, is bisexual as well)
  • 'Nico Minoru - (Implied when she states that she misses Karoline when she goes into space with Xavin, and when Nico is conversing with Karoline on a rooftop in New York)

O

P

R

S

T

  • Elizabeth "Liz" Tremayne - Swamp Thing, former celebrity television journalist and famous writer, suffers abusive relationship with fellow company fugitive Dr. Dennis Barclay, later recovers from recurring post-traumatic stress disorder, begins a sexual relationship with Chester Williams, but breaks up with him when she deeply falls in love with volunteer rape crisis support worker Barb, who is a lesbian.

W

  • Beatrice Wechsler - Lucifer; waitress at Lucifer's piano bar. Primarily heterosexual but is in love with Mazikeen.
  • Alisin Worthington - Fans!
  • Beryl Wyndham - The Invisibles; occultist from the 1920s, lover of Edith Manning.

V

Z

  • "Zed", AKA Mary - Hellblazer; former girlfriend of John Constantine and Marj. She was raised to become a vessel for a new Christ-child, but rebels and runs a pagan travelling group instead.
  • Zig Zag - Sabrina Online, Badly Drawn Kitties, Supermegatopia, and others.

[edit] Other

B

  • Bueno Excellente - Section 8 (apparently pansexual)
  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer - although professing that the experience does not make her gay, Buffy has sex with another female Slayer in the Season 8 comics.

C

  • Cutter - Elfquest Confirmed sexual relationship with Skywise (another male elf). According to the creators of Elfquest, Wendy and Richard Pini, all the Elfquest elves are "omnisexual."

D

  • Danny the Street - Doom Patrol; a sentient, transvestite street, usually illustrated by the presence of pink curtains in building. Later transformed into Danny the World. (transvestite)

L

M

S

  • Skywise - Elfquest Confirmed sexual relationship with Cutter. (omnisexual)

Z

  • Zsazsa Zaturnnah - Biologically female, whose alter ego, Ada, is a homosexual male. (homosexual, transgender)

[edit] External links

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