The Evolutn of Extraño, DC's First Openly Gay Superhero | DC

Contents:

• GAY SUPERHERO APOLLO AND MIDNIGHTER RNE FOR A NEW DC COMICS SERI
• DC'S MIDNIGHTER & APOLLO JT MA A BOLD STATEMENT ABOUT MASCULY AND GAY SEX
• MARVEL ANNOUNC FIRST GAY CAPTA AMERI
• MIDNIGHTER: DC'S GAY SUPERHERO COULD USE SOME {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}NEWSBY KARMAN KREGLOEJUNE 26, 2007/6:16 PMBY KARMAN KREGLOEJUNE 26, 2007 / 6:16 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"MIDNIGHTER: DC'S GAY SUPERHERO COULD USE SOME RCUG","DATEPUBLISHED":"2007-06-26T22:16:19.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2007-06-26T22:16:19.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"KARMAN KREGLOE","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"NEWS"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ALMOST TEN YEARS AGO, WRER WARREN ELLIS AND ARTIST BRYAN HCH CREATED MIDNIGHTER, WHO THIS PAST NOVEMBER BEME THE FIRST GAY DC SUPERHERO TO HEADLE HIS OWN STANDALONE SERI. BUT AS OF JUNE'S ISSUE, MIDNIGHTER'S SEXUALY HAS YET TO BE FULLY TEGRATED TO HIS CHARACTER OR HIS STORY. IN ANTICIPATN OF THE ARRIVAL OF A NEW REGULAR WRER FOR THE SERI, LOOKS AT MIDNIGHTER'S ORIGS AND THE HANDLG OF HIS SEXUALY BY VAR WRERS AND ARTISTS OVER THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}STORMWATCH #4 (WILDSTORM/IMAGE COMICS, VER DATE FEB. 1998) TRODUCED TWO CHARACTERS THAT WOULD SOON BEE SYMBOLS FOR A GENERATN OF GAY ICS FANS: APOLLO AND MIDNIGHTER. AT FIRST GLANCE, THE PAIR WERE SEEMGLY ANALOGS OF SUPERMAN AND BATMAN: WHILE APOLLO WAS STRONG, FAST, VULNERABLE AND PENNT ON THE SUN FOR HIS POWERS, MIDNIGHTER WAS CLAD BLACK LEATHER, ULD PREDICT HIS OPPONENTS’ MOV AND LIKED TO FLICT HEAVY DAMAG ON BAD PEOPLE. SO FAR, SO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT OM THEIR FIRST APPEARANCE, SOMETHG WAS UNUAL: THEY WERE SOMETIM SEEN HALF-NAKED, DRSG TOGETHER BEFORE ANOTHER DAY OF FIGHTG, AS YET UNAFFILIATED WH ANY OTHER HERO. (THEY WERE SECRETLY REBUILT AS HUMAN WEAPONS BY YET ANOTHER POWER-MAD CHARACTER, WH NO MEMORY OF THEIR PREV LIFE.){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}A YEAR LATER, AS THE STORMWATCH SERI MORPHED TO THE AUTHORY (WH THE WILDSTORM IMPRT NOW PUBLISHED BY DC COMICS), THE TWO CHARACTERS WERE CLUD THE EPONYMO GROUP, AND OVER THE URSE OF THEIR 12-ISSUE N, ELLIS AND HCH GAVE MORE AND MORE HTS THAT, UNLIKE SUPERMAN AND BATMAN, THE TWO NEW CHARACTERS WERE, ED, MORE THAN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE TERTG THG IS THAT THE WORD "GAY" WASN'T ED AT THE TIME. INSTEAD, REARS ME TO UNRSTAND WHAT WAS GOG ON THROUGH SCEN SHOWG APOLLO AND MIDNIGHTER RG FOR EACH OTHER, AS ISSUE NO. 7 WHEN APOLLO IS WOUND AND MIDNIGHTER HOLDS HIM HIS ARMS. IT WAS SUBTLE (WHICH WAS FELY THE GOAL OF THE WRER, WHO AT FIRST HADN'T EVEN TOLD THE ARTIST THE CHARACTERS WERE GAY), BUT VERY CLEAR. GAY SUPERHERO FANS FALLY HAD AN ENDURG GAY UPLE THEIR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THEN WRER MARK MILLAR TOOK OVER, AND WHILE THE GAY GENIE WAS CERTALY NOT PUT BACK THE BOTTLE, THE SUBTLETY QUICKLY EVAPORATED. MILLAR'S N, WHICH LASTED ABOUT 20 ISSU (CLUDG A FOUR-ISSUE MISERI), WAS FULL OF HOMOPHOBIC SULTS HURLED BY VILLAS, ANAL SEX JOK AND RAP (OF APOLLO, AND THEN OF HIS ATTACKER BY MIDNIGHTER) WH LARGE, TUBULAR OBJECTS, A FATE RARELY, IF EVER, ENDURED BY STRAIGHT MALE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE CHARACTERS WERE MORE OR LS RCED TO THEIR GAYNS, THOUGH THEY ALSO GOT MARRIED AND BEME FOSTER PARENTS OF A YOUNG, SUPERPOWERED GIRL — FELY A FIRST FOR MASTREAM SUPERHERO ICS. AND AT LEAST THEY WERE PORTRAYED AS THE MORE STABLE MEMBERS OF THE AUTHORY TEAM TERMS OF RELATNSHIPS, WHICH WAS A NICE BLOW TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}VAR MEMBERS OF THE AUTHORY ALSO HAD SEXUAL RELATNSHIPS, BUT THEY WERE STRICTLY TEMPORARY AND SHOWN AS BEG MORE ABOUT GOOD SEX BETWEEN IENDS THAN LOVE. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE GAY UPLE IS NEVER ACTUALLY PICTED CMPLG THE BED SHEETS, UNLIKE THE STRAIGHT CHARACTERS WHOSE SEX LIV DON'T HAVE TO BE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}OTHER MIDNIGHTER CREATORS OF TERT CLU ED BBAKER (STORY) AND DT NGUYEN (ART) FOR THEIR 12-ISSUE THE AUTHORY: REVOLUTN (2005) STORY, WHICH ACTUALLY ED THE RELATNSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO GAY CHARACTERS AS A TALYST FOR THE TEAM'S DISMANTLG. ONLY APOLLO ULD HAVE NVCED MIDNIGHTER THAT DISBANDG WAS A SENSIBLE IA, AND ONLY MIDNIGHTER ULD DO BY JT WALKG OUT ON HIS TEAMMAT WHOUT ANY EXPLANATN. BBAKER CLEARLY UNRSTOOD HOW TO E THE EP LOVE BETWEEN THE TWO MEN, AS WELL AS MIDNIGHTER'S TENNCY TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SOLO SERI, MULTIPLE PROBLEMS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT WAS THE FIRST TIME A GAY SUPERHERO HEADLED HIS OWN SERI (NOT UNTG A 1994 NORTHSTAR MISERI OM MARVEL WHERE THE CHARACTER, THOUGH OFFICIALLY GAY, WAS PLETELY SEXLS), BUT GAY REARS WERE TROUBLED BY ENNIS' CLARATN A FEW MONTHS BEFORE THE START OF THE SERI: "I'LL TRY TO MATA AS A SOLO BOOK, WHOUT ANY MAJOR APPEARANC BY THE AUTHORY GENERAL (SUPERTEAM, YAWN) OR APOLLO PARTICULAR (BORG BLOND TWAT)."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ENNIS APPEARED UNTERTED WRG A GAY CHARACTER WHO HAPPENS TO BE LIVG HAPPILY WH ANOTHER MAN AND RAISG A TEENAGE GIRL. OF URSE, SCE ENNIS IS A GOOD WRER, HE GAVE HIS CHARACTER A BELIEVABLE MOTIVATN BY SHOWG HIM THKG OF HIMSELF AS "NOT A LOVER," "NOT A FATHER" AND "NOT A IEND." MIDNIGHTER HAS ALWAYS BEEN PICTED AS A LONER AT HEART, AS WELL AS SOMETHG OF A PSYCHOPATH. AFTER ALL, HE WAS BUILT TO BE A "KILLG MACHE," WHICH WAS THE TLE OF THAT FIRST {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT ALSO SEEMED LIKE AN EASY WAY OUT OF SHOWG HIM HAVG AFFECTN TOWARD ANOTHER MAN, WHICH HE NEVER DO DURG THE SIX ISSU WRTEN BY ENNIS. THAT DON'T MEAN ENNIS TRIED TO -GAY HIM EXACTLY. ONCE AGA, VILLAS SULT MIDNIGHTER WH HOMOPHOBIC MENTS ("LTLE U," "TROER-PILOT" — EVERYBODY KNOWS HE'S GAY, APPARENTLY), BUT WE DO GET A ONE SCENE WHERE THE CHARACTER, TRAVELG TIME, LEARNS THAT THE DISTANT FUTURE SEXUAL ORIENTATN WON'T EXIST ANYMORE AND "EVERYBODY JT … DO EVERYONE," WHICH VIGORAT HIM TO NO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WAS NOT SHOWG HIM WH APOLLO A WAY TO MAKE THE SERI MORE PALATABLE TO A LARGER DIENCE? WAS AN EDORIAL MANDATE OR SIMPLY ENNIS' PREFERENCE? IT'S A CUR ISSUE, PECIALLY SCE EVEN THE SIXTH STALLMENT — WHICH PRENTS A TRAGIC LOVE STORY BETWEEN TWO JAPANE SAMURAIS WHO LOOK VERY MUCH LIKE APOLLO AND MIDNIGHTER — DON'T NTA ANY STANCE OF SAME-SEX AFFECTN. THEY LIE BIS EACH OTHER AT NIGHT BUT DON'T TOUCH OR KISS. MOREOVER, THERE'S THE PROBLEM OF FDAL JAPANE SAMURAIS G WORDS SUCH AS "SODOM" AND GENERALLY BEHAVG LIKE HOMOPHOBIC MIDDLE AG KNIGHTS, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY OUT-OF-CHARACTER FOR PEOPLE OF THAT TIME AND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AT LEAST, THGS WEREN'T AS BAD AS DURG MILLAR'S N BACK 2000, WHEN DC EDORIAL CENSORED A KISS BETWEEN MIDNIGHTER AND HIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE SEVENTH ISSUE OF THE NEW SERI, WRTEN BY BRIAN K. VGHAN (WHO'S ALREADY PROVEN HIS GAY-IENDLS HIS EX MACHA SERI, WHERE A MIXED-RACE GAY MARRIAGE TAK PLACE), BEGS WH A CUTE FULL-PAGE KISS BETWEEN THE TWO MARRIED MEN, TH BREAKG THE NO-KISSG TRACK RERD OF THE SERI SO FAR. BUT EVEN VGHAN FALLS BACK ON G A HOMOPHOBIC VILLA HIS ISSUE. HOMOPHOBIA SEEMS TO BE SHORTHAND FOR "BAD GUY," BUT REEKS OF LAZS OM THE WRERS. AFTER ALL, WE DON'T SEE THE OPPONENTS OF FEMALE CHARACTERS ALWAYS BEHAVG A MISOGYNISTIC WAY. IT WOULD QUICKLY GET BORG AND WOULD RIGHTFULLY RAISE A FEW {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE JUNE ISSUE OF MIDNIGHTER — THE MOST RECENT — WRTEN BY CHRISTOS GAGE, HAD ABSOLUTELY NO GAY NTENT. AT LEAST BOASTED A NONHOMOPHOBIC OPPONENT, WHICH WAS SOME {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}NEXT MONTH BRGS ANOTHER SGLE-ISSUE STORY, AND FOLLOWG THAT THE SERI WILL WELE S NEW REGULAR WRER, KEH GIFFEN, A WELL-KNOWN AND RENOWNED WRER AND ARTIST CURRENTLY VOLVED DC'S PANY-WI CROSSOVERS. GIFFEN ISN'T PECIALLY KNOWN FOR WRG GAY-CLIVE ICS, THOUGH HE'S WRTEN A FEW GAY-IENDLY SCEN HIS RECENT HUMORO JTICE LEAGUE MISERI. HE'S CLARED HIS PLAN TO LVE EPER TO MIDNIGHTER'S UNKNOWN PAST, BUT HAS STATED NO TENTN OF VOLVG APOLLO. (DC HAS NOT ANSWERED OUR REQUT FOR AN TERVIEW ON THAT SUBJECT.) IT REMAS TO BE SEEN WHETHER HE'LL WRE A MORE WELL-ROUND CHARACTER THAN MOST OF HIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE BLACK {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MIDNIGHTER WAS ST THE SAME MOULD AS VLENT SUPERHERO LIKE BATMAN (WHO AT LEAST IS SUPPOSED TO NOT KILL ANYONE), MARVEL'S WOLVERE AND THE PUNISHER. INED, MIDNIGHTER IS VERY MUCH LIKE THEM, APART OM THE FACT THAT HE'S UNASHAMEDLY AND OPENLY GAY — AT LEAST THEORY. TO RCE HIS BEG GAY TO A FEW JOK OR JIB, AS GAY-IENDLY AS THEY MIGHT BE TEND, SHOWS A RELUCTANCE (OR AN ABILY) TO WRE A BELIEVABLE GAY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}INSTEAD, THE TELLIGENT TEGRATN OF HIS GAYNS IS A GOAL AT BT SPORADILLY REACHED. NOT SHOWG MIDNIGHTER WH HIS LOVER — OR SOME WAY ACKNOWLEDGG HIS SEXUALY — MAK HIM JT ANOTHER BLACK-CLOTHED VLENT HERO, SOMETHG THAT SUPERHERO ICS DON'T REALLY NEED. THE ORIGALY OF THE CHARACTER SEEMS TO LIE THE BALANCE BETWEEN HIS TOUGH BEHAVR AND HIS TENRNS WH HIS MALE LOVER AND HIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT WOULD BE NICE IF GIFFEN CID TO SHOW MIDNIGHTER BEG HAPPY WH HIS PARTNER, OR AT LEAST TERACTG AS A UPLE BEYOND A KISS HERE AND THERE (AND WOULD BE NSISTENT WH THE WAY THOSE CHARACTERS HAVE BEEN PORTRAYED). AND GIFFEN ALSO NEEDS TO FD OTHER WAYS TO EMPOWER THE VILLAS THAN BY SIMPLY HAVG THEM SULT MIDNIGHTER WH ANTI-GAY RHETORIC. EVEN IF 'S ALWAYS DONE AS AN EXCE FOR THE ANTIHERO TO KICK THEIR ASS (WHICH, AFTER ALL, IS WHAT MOST REARS WANT TO SEE A MIDNIGHTER IC), 'S A SELECTIVE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE HERO'S SEXUALY THAT RC WHAT ULD BE A PLEX, VIBRANT GAY CHARACTER TO A NFLICTED, NSISTENT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}OTHER MIDNIGHTER FACTS: {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}· THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF MIDNIGHTER AND APOLLO IS LLECTED STORMWATCH: A FER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}· ALL THE AUTHORY ICS ARE AVAILABLE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}· THE FIRST MIDNIGHTER LLECTN, ENTLED KILLG MACHE, WILL BE PUBLISHED BY DC NOVEMBER AND WILL CLU THE SIX GARTH ENNIS-PENNED {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ILLTRATNS:{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}· COVER OF ISSUE #5 OF THE MIDNIGHTER SERI, ART BY CHRIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}· THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF MIDNIGHTER AND APOLLO, ART BY BRYAN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}· APOLLO AND MIDNIGHTER KISS, OM MIDNIGHTER #7, ART BY DARICK {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
• MIDNIGHTER & APOLLO, GAY SUPERHERO OF COMICS, TO RNE THIS FALL

GAY SUPERHERO APOLLO AND MIDNIGHTER RNE FOR A NEW DC COMICS SERI

Fan NewsThe Evolutn of Extraño, DC's First Openly Gay SuperheroBY: Alex Jaffe. For over fifty years, not a sgle openly gay superhero uld be found on DC’s pag.

One of the dividuals was Gregor De La Vega, a gay Pevian stage magician who cintally shar his surname wh Zorro. But his wake, many characters even olr than he beme open about their own inti as gay men.

A queer thor himself, Orlando felt was time to brg back DC’s origal gay character om limbo to help celebrate DC’s first ic headled by an openly gay uple. Set the same Gotham Cy more well-known for ped csars like Batman and Rob, Batwoman is the first superhero TV show whose lead character is an openly gay woman. Iceman — was a gay man, and the way unfold was unique a way that uld only happen a superhero ic.

DC'S MIDNIGHTER & APOLLO JT MA A BOLD STATEMENT ABOUT MASCULY AND GAY SEX

So when the teen Jean Grey tak the teen Iceman asi 2015's All-New X-Men #40 to reveal that she knows he's gay, there is also an olr versn of Iceman out there the world who has been datg women for his entire adult life. How uld he be gay if his future unterpart isn't?

In 1992, Marvel Comics ma history wh s first openly gay superhero.

MARVEL ANNOUNC FIRST GAY CAPTA AMERI

In Alpha Flight #106, durg a battle wh the World War II era superhero Major Mapleleaf, Northstar adms that he's gay. Curtis Holt, played by Echo Kellum, has been an openly gay man sce his first appearance on CW's Arrow, though he wasn't always a superhero.

The hero were noteworthy for not only beg some of the earlit openly gay hero, but for beg obv reflectns of Batman and Superman. Ameri Chavez is a lbian raised by a gay uple — and she's also one of Marvel's most powerful superhero. Karma, is one of the foundg members of the New Mutants — the junr X-Men team — and an openly gay superhero.

I thought you were the Gay/Lbian Alliance, " and fli away. So was particularly and wonrfully subversive to base the two young gay men on hero — Hulk and Thor — who are known to regularly beat the tar out of one another. It isn't clear whether Kaldur intifi as gay or bisexual.

MIDNIGHTER: DC'S GAY SUPERHERO COULD USE SOME {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}NEWSBY KARMAN KREGLOEJUNE 26, 2007/6:16 PMBY KARMAN KREGLOEJUNE 26, 2007 / 6:16 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"MIDNIGHTER: DC'S GAY SUPERHERO COULD USE SOME RCUG","DATEPUBLISHED":"2007-06-26T22:16:19.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2007-06-26T22:16:19.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"KARMAN KREGLOE","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"NEWS"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ALMOST TEN YEARS AGO, WRER WARREN ELLIS AND ARTIST BRYAN HCH CREATED MIDNIGHTER, WHO THIS PAST NOVEMBER BEME THE FIRST GAY DC SUPERHERO TO HEADLE HIS OWN STANDALONE SERI. BUT AS OF JUNE'S ISSUE, MIDNIGHTER'S SEXUALY HAS YET TO BE FULLY TEGRATED TO HIS CHARACTER OR HIS STORY. IN ANTICIPATN OF THE ARRIVAL OF A NEW REGULAR WRER FOR THE SERI, LOOKS AT MIDNIGHTER'S ORIGS AND THE HANDLG OF HIS SEXUALY BY VAR WRERS AND ARTISTS OVER THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}STORMWATCH #4 (WILDSTORM/IMAGE COMICS, VER DATE FEB. 1998) TRODUCED TWO CHARACTERS THAT WOULD SOON BEE SYMBOLS FOR A GENERATN OF GAY ICS FANS: APOLLO AND MIDNIGHTER. AT FIRST GLANCE, THE PAIR WERE SEEMGLY ANALOGS OF SUPERMAN AND BATMAN: WHILE APOLLO WAS STRONG, FAST, VULNERABLE AND PENNT ON THE SUN FOR HIS POWERS, MIDNIGHTER WAS CLAD BLACK LEATHER, ULD PREDICT HIS OPPONENTS’ MOV AND LIKED TO FLICT HEAVY DAMAG ON BAD PEOPLE. SO FAR, SO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT OM THEIR FIRST APPEARANCE, SOMETHG WAS UNUAL: THEY WERE SOMETIM SEEN HALF-NAKED, DRSG TOGETHER BEFORE ANOTHER DAY OF FIGHTG, AS YET UNAFFILIATED WH ANY OTHER HERO. (THEY WERE SECRETLY REBUILT AS HUMAN WEAPONS BY YET ANOTHER POWER-MAD CHARACTER, WH NO MEMORY OF THEIR PREV LIFE.){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}A YEAR LATER, AS THE STORMWATCH SERI MORPHED TO THE AUTHORY (WH THE WILDSTORM IMPRT NOW PUBLISHED BY DC COMICS), THE TWO CHARACTERS WERE CLUD THE EPONYMO GROUP, AND OVER THE URSE OF THEIR 12-ISSUE N, ELLIS AND HCH GAVE MORE AND MORE HTS THAT, UNLIKE SUPERMAN AND BATMAN, THE TWO NEW CHARACTERS WERE, ED, MORE THAN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE TERTG THG IS THAT THE WORD "GAY" WASN'T ED AT THE TIME. INSTEAD, REARS ME TO UNRSTAND WHAT WAS GOG ON THROUGH SCEN SHOWG APOLLO AND MIDNIGHTER RG FOR EACH OTHER, AS ISSUE NO. 7 WHEN APOLLO IS WOUND AND MIDNIGHTER HOLDS HIM HIS ARMS. IT WAS SUBTLE (WHICH WAS FELY THE GOAL OF THE WRER, WHO AT FIRST HADN'T EVEN TOLD THE ARTIST THE CHARACTERS WERE GAY), BUT VERY CLEAR. GAY SUPERHERO FANS FALLY HAD AN ENDURG GAY UPLE THEIR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THEN WRER MARK MILLAR TOOK OVER, AND WHILE THE GAY GENIE WAS CERTALY NOT PUT BACK THE BOTTLE, THE SUBTLETY QUICKLY EVAPORATED. MILLAR'S N, WHICH LASTED ABOUT 20 ISSU (CLUDG A FOUR-ISSUE MISERI), WAS FULL OF HOMOPHOBIC SULTS HURLED BY VILLAS, ANAL SEX JOK AND RAP (OF APOLLO, AND THEN OF HIS ATTACKER BY MIDNIGHTER) WH LARGE, TUBULAR OBJECTS, A FATE RARELY, IF EVER, ENDURED BY STRAIGHT MALE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE CHARACTERS WERE MORE OR LS RCED TO THEIR GAYNS, THOUGH THEY ALSO GOT MARRIED AND BEME FOSTER PARENTS OF A YOUNG, SUPERPOWERED GIRL — FELY A FIRST FOR MASTREAM SUPERHERO ICS. AND AT LEAST THEY WERE PORTRAYED AS THE MORE STABLE MEMBERS OF THE AUTHORY TEAM TERMS OF RELATNSHIPS, WHICH WAS A NICE BLOW TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}VAR MEMBERS OF THE AUTHORY ALSO HAD SEXUAL RELATNSHIPS, BUT THEY WERE STRICTLY TEMPORARY AND SHOWN AS BEG MORE ABOUT GOOD SEX BETWEEN IENDS THAN LOVE. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE GAY UPLE IS NEVER ACTUALLY PICTED CMPLG THE BED SHEETS, UNLIKE THE STRAIGHT CHARACTERS WHOSE SEX LIV DON'T HAVE TO BE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}OTHER MIDNIGHTER CREATORS OF TERT CLU ED BBAKER (STORY) AND DT NGUYEN (ART) FOR THEIR 12-ISSUE THE AUTHORY: REVOLUTN (2005) STORY, WHICH ACTUALLY ED THE RELATNSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO GAY CHARACTERS AS A TALYST FOR THE TEAM'S DISMANTLG. ONLY APOLLO ULD HAVE NVCED MIDNIGHTER THAT DISBANDG WAS A SENSIBLE IA, AND ONLY MIDNIGHTER ULD DO BY JT WALKG OUT ON HIS TEAMMAT WHOUT ANY EXPLANATN. BBAKER CLEARLY UNRSTOOD HOW TO E THE EP LOVE BETWEEN THE TWO MEN, AS WELL AS MIDNIGHTER'S TENNCY TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SOLO SERI, MULTIPLE PROBLEMS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT WAS THE FIRST TIME A GAY SUPERHERO HEADLED HIS OWN SERI (NOT UNTG A 1994 NORTHSTAR MISERI OM MARVEL WHERE THE CHARACTER, THOUGH OFFICIALLY GAY, WAS PLETELY SEXLS), BUT GAY REARS WERE TROUBLED BY ENNIS' CLARATN A FEW MONTHS BEFORE THE START OF THE SERI: "I'LL TRY TO MATA AS A SOLO BOOK, WHOUT ANY MAJOR APPEARANC BY THE AUTHORY GENERAL (SUPERTEAM, YAWN) OR APOLLO PARTICULAR (BORG BLOND TWAT)."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ENNIS APPEARED UNTERTED WRG A GAY CHARACTER WHO HAPPENS TO BE LIVG HAPPILY WH ANOTHER MAN AND RAISG A TEENAGE GIRL. OF URSE, SCE ENNIS IS A GOOD WRER, HE GAVE HIS CHARACTER A BELIEVABLE MOTIVATN BY SHOWG HIM THKG OF HIMSELF AS "NOT A LOVER," "NOT A FATHER" AND "NOT A IEND." MIDNIGHTER HAS ALWAYS BEEN PICTED AS A LONER AT HEART, AS WELL AS SOMETHG OF A PSYCHOPATH. AFTER ALL, HE WAS BUILT TO BE A "KILLG MACHE," WHICH WAS THE TLE OF THAT FIRST {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT ALSO SEEMED LIKE AN EASY WAY OUT OF SHOWG HIM HAVG AFFECTN TOWARD ANOTHER MAN, WHICH HE NEVER DO DURG THE SIX ISSU WRTEN BY ENNIS. THAT DON'T MEAN ENNIS TRIED TO -GAY HIM EXACTLY. ONCE AGA, VILLAS SULT MIDNIGHTER WH HOMOPHOBIC MENTS ("LTLE U," "TROER-PILOT" — EVERYBODY KNOWS HE'S GAY, APPARENTLY), BUT WE DO GET A ONE SCENE WHERE THE CHARACTER, TRAVELG TIME, LEARNS THAT THE DISTANT FUTURE SEXUAL ORIENTATN WON'T EXIST ANYMORE AND "EVERYBODY JT … DO EVERYONE," WHICH VIGORAT HIM TO NO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WAS NOT SHOWG HIM WH APOLLO A WAY TO MAKE THE SERI MORE PALATABLE TO A LARGER DIENCE? WAS AN EDORIAL MANDATE OR SIMPLY ENNIS' PREFERENCE? IT'S A CUR ISSUE, PECIALLY SCE EVEN THE SIXTH STALLMENT — WHICH PRENTS A TRAGIC LOVE STORY BETWEEN TWO JAPANE SAMURAIS WHO LOOK VERY MUCH LIKE APOLLO AND MIDNIGHTER — DON'T NTA ANY STANCE OF SAME-SEX AFFECTN. THEY LIE BIS EACH OTHER AT NIGHT BUT DON'T TOUCH OR KISS. MOREOVER, THERE'S THE PROBLEM OF FDAL JAPANE SAMURAIS G WORDS SUCH AS "SODOM" AND GENERALLY BEHAVG LIKE HOMOPHOBIC MIDDLE AG KNIGHTS, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY OUT-OF-CHARACTER FOR PEOPLE OF THAT TIME AND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AT LEAST, THGS WEREN'T AS BAD AS DURG MILLAR'S N BACK 2000, WHEN DC EDORIAL CENSORED A KISS BETWEEN MIDNIGHTER AND HIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE SEVENTH ISSUE OF THE NEW SERI, WRTEN BY BRIAN K. VGHAN (WHO'S ALREADY PROVEN HIS GAY-IENDLS HIS EX MACHA SERI, WHERE A MIXED-RACE GAY MARRIAGE TAK PLACE), BEGS WH A CUTE FULL-PAGE KISS BETWEEN THE TWO MARRIED MEN, TH BREAKG THE NO-KISSG TRACK RERD OF THE SERI SO FAR. BUT EVEN VGHAN FALLS BACK ON G A HOMOPHOBIC VILLA HIS ISSUE. HOMOPHOBIA SEEMS TO BE SHORTHAND FOR "BAD GUY," BUT REEKS OF LAZS OM THE WRERS. AFTER ALL, WE DON'T SEE THE OPPONENTS OF FEMALE CHARACTERS ALWAYS BEHAVG A MISOGYNISTIC WAY. IT WOULD QUICKLY GET BORG AND WOULD RIGHTFULLY RAISE A FEW {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE JUNE ISSUE OF MIDNIGHTER — THE MOST RECENT — WRTEN BY CHRISTOS GAGE, HAD ABSOLUTELY NO GAY NTENT. AT LEAST BOASTED A NONHOMOPHOBIC OPPONENT, WHICH WAS SOME {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}NEXT MONTH BRGS ANOTHER SGLE-ISSUE STORY, AND FOLLOWG THAT THE SERI WILL WELE S NEW REGULAR WRER, KEH GIFFEN, A WELL-KNOWN AND RENOWNED WRER AND ARTIST CURRENTLY VOLVED DC'S PANY-WI CROSSOVERS. GIFFEN ISN'T PECIALLY KNOWN FOR WRG GAY-CLIVE ICS, THOUGH HE'S WRTEN A FEW GAY-IENDLY SCEN HIS RECENT HUMORO JTICE LEAGUE MISERI. HE'S CLARED HIS PLAN TO LVE EPER TO MIDNIGHTER'S UNKNOWN PAST, BUT HAS STATED NO TENTN OF VOLVG APOLLO. (DC HAS NOT ANSWERED OUR REQUT FOR AN TERVIEW ON THAT SUBJECT.) IT REMAS TO BE SEEN WHETHER HE'LL WRE A MORE WELL-ROUND CHARACTER THAN MOST OF HIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE BLACK {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MIDNIGHTER WAS ST THE SAME MOULD AS VLENT SUPERHERO LIKE BATMAN (WHO AT LEAST IS SUPPOSED TO NOT KILL ANYONE), MARVEL'S WOLVERE AND THE PUNISHER. INED, MIDNIGHTER IS VERY MUCH LIKE THEM, APART OM THE FACT THAT HE'S UNASHAMEDLY AND OPENLY GAY — AT LEAST THEORY. TO RCE HIS BEG GAY TO A FEW JOK OR JIB, AS GAY-IENDLY AS THEY MIGHT BE TEND, SHOWS A RELUCTANCE (OR AN ABILY) TO WRE A BELIEVABLE GAY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}INSTEAD, THE TELLIGENT TEGRATN OF HIS GAYNS IS A GOAL AT BT SPORADILLY REACHED. NOT SHOWG MIDNIGHTER WH HIS LOVER — OR SOME WAY ACKNOWLEDGG HIS SEXUALY — MAK HIM JT ANOTHER BLACK-CLOTHED VLENT HERO, SOMETHG THAT SUPERHERO ICS DON'T REALLY NEED. THE ORIGALY OF THE CHARACTER SEEMS TO LIE THE BALANCE BETWEEN HIS TOUGH BEHAVR AND HIS TENRNS WH HIS MALE LOVER AND HIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT WOULD BE NICE IF GIFFEN CID TO SHOW MIDNIGHTER BEG HAPPY WH HIS PARTNER, OR AT LEAST TERACTG AS A UPLE BEYOND A KISS HERE AND THERE (AND WOULD BE NSISTENT WH THE WAY THOSE CHARACTERS HAVE BEEN PORTRAYED). AND GIFFEN ALSO NEEDS TO FD OTHER WAYS TO EMPOWER THE VILLAS THAN BY SIMPLY HAVG THEM SULT MIDNIGHTER WH ANTI-GAY RHETORIC. EVEN IF 'S ALWAYS DONE AS AN EXCE FOR THE ANTIHERO TO KICK THEIR ASS (WHICH, AFTER ALL, IS WHAT MOST REARS WANT TO SEE A MIDNIGHTER IC), 'S A SELECTIVE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE HERO'S SEXUALY THAT RC WHAT ULD BE A PLEX, VIBRANT GAY CHARACTER TO A NFLICTED, NSISTENT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}OTHER MIDNIGHTER FACTS: {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}· THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF MIDNIGHTER AND APOLLO IS LLECTED STORMWATCH: A FER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}· ALL THE AUTHORY ICS ARE AVAILABLE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}· THE FIRST MIDNIGHTER LLECTN, ENTLED KILLG MACHE, WILL BE PUBLISHED BY DC NOVEMBER AND WILL CLU THE SIX GARTH ENNIS-PENNED {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ILLTRATNS:{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}· COVER OF ISSUE #5 OF THE MIDNIGHTER SERI, ART BY CHRIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}· THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF MIDNIGHTER AND APOLLO, ART BY BRYAN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}· APOLLO AND MIDNIGHTER KISS, OM MIDNIGHTER #7, ART BY DARICK {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

It uld be that he's bisexual, or that those earlier stanc he hadn't yet e to accept his homosexualy. Another difference between him and the more space-worthy Hal Jordan is that 2012's Earth 2 #2, we learned Alan Stt is gay.

MIDNIGHTER & APOLLO, GAY SUPERHERO OF COMICS, TO RNE THIS FALL

In 2019's Avengers #26, Marvel revealed s Earth's very first gay uple clud a member of s prehistoric Avengers. The first issue of Midnighter & Apollo, DC’s new solo seri about s first openly gay superhero power uple, opens wh a leral bang.

”Orlando’s right to a pot—mastream ics have featured fairly explic imag of straight, heteronormative sex for s now, but there’s fely somethg to be said for intifyg one of DC’s first openly gay hero as a leral power bottom on the wrer Warren Ellis created Midnighter and Apollo 1998, the characters were both a groundbreakg step forward for queer reprentatn ics and rather nservative tak on what gay superhero uld and should be.

Sure, they were technilly gay, but their queerns me very tradnal, not-straight-but-narrow of the problem wh the sorts of pictns of gay men is that they’re a two-dimensnal rponse to homophobic stereotyp about homosexualy and femy.