An article by Andy Mangels at PrismComics.com analyzes in detail Marvel Comics ever-changing attitudes towards openly gay characters in their comics line. Seems like Marvel wants to appear open-minded but doesn’t want to offend… well, anybody, really, but gays get the short end. My favorite bit is this quick run down of the last few characters seen:
– Freedom Ring – Introduced in Marvel Team-Up #21 (May 2006), he is violently killed in Marvel Team-Up #24 (September 2006). Series is cancelled with #25.
– Northstar – Between February 16th and March 9th, 2005, THREE versions of Northstar were killed in three separate Marvel realities: Wolverine #25; X-Men: Age of Apocalypse #2; X-Men: The End. The “main” Northstar is resurrected from the dead as a villain in Wolverine #26. Current whereabouts unknown.
– Wiccan & Hulkling — 2 of 3 characters singled out for torture in Civil War: Young Avengers/Runaways (September 2006).
– Karolina Dean — now appearing in Runaways, the third of three characters tortured in Civil War: Young Avengers/Runaways (September 2006).
– Frenchie DuChamp— the previously womanizing alcoholic sidekick of Moon Knight is revealed to be gay in Moon Knight #3 (June 2006), is now a double-amputee, and is nearly beaten to death with his prosthetic leg.
– Ultimate Jarvis – killed in Ultimates Vol. II #9 (Dec. 2005)
– Minor characters Flatman and Living Lightning, both outed in GLA in mid-2005 have appeared in current Civil War books. They are not yet dead, nor tortured.
– Ultimate Northstar and Colossus — currently appearing in Ultimate X-Men. Colossus apparently “came out” in issue #65 (January 2006), Northstar in #46 (May 2004).
Oy. That supercloset’s looking safer and safer, an odd situation in a comics company that made its mark with characters that were all outsiders, misunderstood, human. You GLBT heroes might want to head over to DC and hook up with their new lesbian Batwoman. Safety in numbers…