Source: patheticfangirlI don’t normally post anything about DC Comics because, to be honest, I don’t read them anymore. I’ve put up with them over the years so that I could enjoy things like Paul Dini’s Detective Comics and Gail Simone’s Wonder Woman. In general, though, I don’t get DC. I’m a pathetic Avengers fangirl, not a pathetic Justice League fangirl for a reason.
The reason is that I find DC’s characters too powerful and the plotlines that result from this fact mostly ridiculous. But that’s neither here nor there. That could be a novel, and would earn me more hate mail than I’m already going to get for this.
Last year, DC rebooted their entire comics universe and I didn’t approve of some things:
- The lack of female creators
- The end of Superman and Lois Lane’s marriage
- The disappearance of Stephanie Brown and Cass Cain
Then:
- Catwoman straddled Batman
- Zatanna showed up in a thong
- The Amazons were re-written as sadistic rapists
While some people may want to read/see the above, I don’t. So I dropped DC comics from my pull list. That’s how capitalism works. I don’t regret it; they made room for Winter Soldier, Avengers Academy, and the upcoming Captain Marvel (Carol!).
If I’m out-of-date on any of these points re: DC, don’t get pissed. Just let me know. Like I said, I haven’t been reading.
Recently, I was intrigued by the announcement that DC Comics would make a major character gay in their rebooted universe. I wish my first thought had been “how cool,” but DC’s recent track record made my first thought “I’ll bet it’s a hot lesbian from the Batman family.” Honestly, I wish my mind didn’t immediately go there, but it did. And that’s not a slight against Batwoman. She’s awesome. I just thought for sure the reveal would be Huntress or Harley Quinn or something.
Then they announced that it would be a major male character, and I was confused. DC Comics would acknowledge the existence of gay men … in a major character? That’s awesome. That’s the kind of thing that might indicate a change in tone for the company and could lure someone like me back. Who would it be? Nightwing, one of the Green Lanterns (Hal?! Kyle?!), The Flash? Would they dare go as major as Batman? (probably not)
That excitement lasted about a week, until all was revealed. The major character who is now gay in the DC universe:
No, not Hal Jordan. This guy:
Alan Scott. Alan fucking Scott.
This is DC’s idea of a major character: an Earth-2 Justice Society member with a wood allergy who was literally born flaming.
Why the fuck would you—? How can—? I don’t—
Okay, my thoughts are re-composed.
Dear DC Comics:
Don’t act like you’re going to break new ground when you aren’t.
Sincerely,
The Pathetic Fangirl
What’s Marvel doing at the moment? Well, Wiccan and Hulkling are engaged and Northstar and Kyle are about to get married. This was all happening before DC’s announcement. But I have to say: I don’t think that’s good enough either.
(Clarity Edit: I stopped reading DC because of their treatment of women, not their lack of gay characters. I know there are some Wiccan/Hulkling equivalents out there in Apollo and Midnighter.)
When is there going to be a gay character who is actually a major character? When I say major, I mean major. I mean characters that the general public knows. For DC, that means Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and Flash. For Marvel, that means Spider-Man, Hulk, Captain America, Iron Man, and Wolverine.
(Side-note: It’s pretty fucking sad that only one of the characters I listed is a woman.)
The message I get is that these companies want to show support while causing as little controversy as possible. It doesn’t mean anything. Alan Scott’s never going to get a movie. No one outside of our small comic-reading community will ever know who he is. The only people who will care are the “one million moms” who, I suspect, are actually only about half a dozen nutjobs.
Let’s get down to business: It’s time for a major character to come out.
I nominate Captain America.
(angry fanjerk reaction)
I will pre-emptively respond to an inevitable question:
“Why not Wonder Woman? You’re just a fangirl who wants to see two dudes making out in comics.”
If DC wants to make Wonder Woman a lesbian, great. I would support that. But I don’t think it would mean as much in the context of comic books (which have an overwhelmingly hetero male fanbase) to make
the onlya major female character gay.Mostly, you’d see the reaction of “Hot.”
I say make one of their idols gay. Make them squirm and throw a temper tantrum. Make them deal with why this makes them uncomfortable. Make them (hopefully) realize that sexual orientation has nothing to do with a person’s character. Maybe that’s assuming a level of self-awareness that isn’t there, maybe not. Maybe it would cause Marvel to lose readers, maybe it would gain them some new ones. I say we find out.
Why Marvel?
Because now, following the overwhelming disappointment in the Alan Scott reveal, would be the perfect time to differentiate their company.
Why Captain America?
You’re skeptical. I understand.
Let’s start by figuring out why not one of the other major Marvel characters. I throw Wolverine and Hulk out of the running because they aren’t heroes. Not to me, anyway. Your mileage may vary, but I’m looking for a character everyone can agree is a good man.
That rules out Iron Man too (Sorry, Tony fans).
So I’m down to Spider-Man and Captain America, and here’s what I ask myself:
“When people think of Peter Parker, what do they think of?”
With great power comes great responsibility. His intellect, his photography job at the Bugle, his relationships with Gwen and MJ. Scratch Peter from the list, because Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane Watson-Parker (fuck you, Joe Quesada) are critical to the character.
“When people think of Captain America, what do they think of?”
A soldier. A weak young man who found strength. A man who found himself struggling to come to terms with a world he didn’t understand. Hmm. A man who found himself struggling to come to terms with
a world he didn’t understandhis sexuality. I think we’ve hit the potential jackpot here.
(fuck you, Joe Quesada)
Are any of Steve Rogers’ relationships with women critical to the character? I’m going to have to say no. Peggy Carter isn’t mentioned much (at least in the 616 universe). Bernie Rosenthal reads like Steve’s best friend rather than his girlfriend. Seriously, go read some back issues from the Bernie era. It’s like an episode of Will & Grace. Diamondback is my personal favorite, but their relationship made very little sense. That leaves Sharon Carter. She’s probably the most important girlfriend, but she’s still nowhere near as important to the character as, say, Bucky or Falcon.
My judgment: Yes. This can be done.
“You’re only saying that because you want to see Captain America with Iron Man.”
I wasn’t even going to suggest such a thing. I was going to suggest someone who’s just now being introduced into the comic book universe:
(Agent Phil Coulson, ladies and gentlemen)
We already know Steve has a thing for S.H.I.E.L.D agents anyway.
Other reasons I think this is a good idea:
- Captain America has always been a political book. Like it or not (I don’t), sexual orientation is political in the United States.
- Captain America has always been about identity. Count the number of times he’s changed his name and uniform because he struggled with his ideals versus the nation’s.
- The other characters in the Marvel universe would be just as shocked as readers. This would make for excellent material.
- He’s Captain America. Nothing would send more of a “fuck off, haters” message than choosing the character who wears the American flag.
I think that’s all for now.
Just think about it.
