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Latest news headline: Stan Lee to create first gay superhero.

Say what? If you look up 'first gay superhero' on Wikipedia, you get Extrano at DC, from 1988. And what about Northstar, a superhero so gay he had a press conference about it, but never had a boyfriend? At least he had the good taste to think Gambit was cute.

There are so many gay superheros, there are websites devoted to listing them. And the bi ones. And the trans ones. Remember Paradox, the bisexual shape-changer? I loved him. Her. Whichever. So obscure, he's not on Wikipedia. And the subject shouldn't ignore Apollo and Midnighter, who are not just gay, but a dramatically gay couple. In my favourite era of Legion of Super-Heroes, Element Lad was gay, as were Lightning Lass and Shrinking Violet.

Considering that the 'first gay superhero' phrase doesn't even specifically refer to comic books, I'm not sure the first gay superhero wasn't Achilles, from three thousand years ago.

I love media hype. And I hope Thom Creed is a raging success.

Date: 2009-01-15 02:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] 51stcenturyfox.livejournal.com
Oh yes, not the first. Though I suppose this is the first on television?

Well, there were the parody TV superheroes Ace and Gary, but they're just the Ambiguously Gay Duo.

Date: 2009-01-15 02:47 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fajrdrako.livejournal.com
I suppose this is the first on television?

Only if you exclude Xena from the list, where the subtext was hardly subtle! And I'd argue that Captain Jack Harkness is a superhero, though he doesn't get billed as such. I suppose if you are really into quibbling, you could argue that they are bi, not gay. Can't think of anyone unequivocal... but there may be someone I'm forgetting.

After all, in the 1950's, Wertham was convinced that Batman and Robin were gay.


Date: 2009-01-15 02:56 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] 51stcenturyfox.livejournal.com
Was Xena technically a superhero though, or just a well-skilled fighter? For Jack, I suppose being able to kill Abaddon with life force is a superpower skill, so that counts.

I'm personally equating superhero status with having "powers" or altered biochemistry which creates powers. (But what do I know?)

Date: 2009-01-15 04:57 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fajrdrako.livejournal.com
Was Xena technically a superhero though, or just a well-skilled fighter?

I'd call her a superhero because her abilities were way above the average. Enchanced ability to fight, great strength, skill with weapons, speed - these are common superpowers. No, she didn't carry it to the extent of, say, Wonder Woman (whom she most resembles), but I think she was on that continuum.

Many superheroes don't have internal physical powers. Batman, Robin (any of the Robins) and Nightwing are simply highly trained and skilled people. Other superheroes operate with technical devices - Green Lantern's ring, Iron Man's armour - they don't have any special powers without the gadget.

For Jack, I suppose being able to kill Abaddon with life force is a superpower skill, so that counts.

I think Jack has a lot of the characteristics of a superhero. His regeneration powers are very like Wolverine's, minus the claws. I was going to say he was prettier than Wolverine, but that's only true of comic-book Wolvie - Hugh Jackman isn't bad himself.

I'd say Captain Jack has the following superpowers, skills and attributes of the typical superhero:

- the ability to revive after death
- the ability to quickly heal all wounds
- the ability not to age, or to age very slowly
- a collection of alien tech which he can adapt to his use
- knowledge of the future and future technology - information that other humans don't possess
- the ability to travel in time (when his vortex manipulator works)
- the ability to teleport (ditto)
- unusual skill with weapons (marksmanship)
- the ability to make certain aliens glow yellow when he kisses them
- the ability to resist mind-probes (cf "Greeks Bearing Gifts")
- he wears a distinctive outfit by which he can be recognized (vintage military as a sort of costume)
- he has a team, which he trains
- he lurks on rooftops - that doesn't make a man a superhero, no, but it's very typical. Along with things like being chained spread-eagled to walls, engineering high-tech gadgets, living underground, and using a name he wasn't given at birth.
- his hair and beard don't grow

Abaddon is the least of it, but yes, he showed the ability to absorb infinite amounts of strange energy. One of Gambit's powers (in X-Men) is having the ability to charm - Jack has that, too.

Jack is never described as a superhero and you certainly don't need to think of him as such if you don't want to - we all have our own parameters for definition of the term. Since I love superheroes, I like thinking of Captin Jack as one of them, too.


Date: 2009-01-15 03:10 pm (UTC)
ext_15621: The Pixel in a paper bag (Default)
From: [identity profile] rosiespark.livejournal.com
I agree - Achilles! :)

Date: 2009-01-15 05:43 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fajrdrako.livejournal.com
Cousin.

Oh. yes.

Right.

Cousin!

That's what they were calling it in Homeric Greece?

Date: 2009-01-15 03:10 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] adnamamai.livejournal.com
Does that mean I can be the first ever photographer? O.o

Date: 2009-01-15 04:58 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fajrdrako.livejournal.com
Sure, why not?

Stan Lee himself has a superpower: he's the master of the media spin!

Date: 2009-01-15 04:01 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] judymoe.livejournal.com
And, technically, Lee isn't 'creating' the gay superhero, since Thom Creed already exists in the book "Hero", which I've read.

Hype on to of hype. The only really factual thing in that headline is "Stan Lee". LOL.

Date: 2009-01-15 05:00 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fajrdrako.livejournal.com
technically, Lee isn't 'creating' the gay superhero, since Thom Creed already exists in the book "Hero",

Point. As the article says. He's just adapting him.

which I've read

Is it good? Would you recommend it?

The only really factual thing in that headline is "Stan Lee".

So true!

Date: 2009-01-15 06:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] judymoe.livejournal.com
I was only referring to the headlines, not the article, where they do point out that he's adapting. :)

I enjoyed it. It's a YA book, but definitely not a children's book.

Date: 2009-01-15 07:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fajrdrako.livejournal.com
It really does sound like something I'd like.

Date: 2009-01-15 09:33 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mommimus-prime.livejournal.com
And Stan Lee is a pseudonym so yeah, nothing true there.

Date: 2009-01-15 10:18 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fajrdrako.livejournal.com
LOL!

Such is the world of comics.

Everything is the opposite of what it seems.

Date: 2009-01-15 04:35 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jwaneeta.livejournal.com
I confess to being a bit baffled about Stan's claim, but I guess his heart's in the right place. :)

Date: 2009-01-15 05:01 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fajrdrako.livejournal.com
Media spin. Stan Lee's heart is in the right place, and I think he manipulates journalistic ignorance in his favour. Or just... sows the seeds and lets it happen. Any publicity is good publicity, and his Thom Creed is being introduced on TV. The results are worthwhile, even if the item is suprious.

Date: 2009-01-15 04:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] haydenthorne.livejournal.com
Perry Moore wrote Hero (a fantastic gay YA novel that I highly recommend) because he was frustrated over the way the largely homophobic comic book industry kept offing gay/lesbian heroes in their series. Thom Creed is definitely not the first, and Moore would say that, too.

Date: 2009-01-15 05:05 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fajrdrako.livejournal.com
I want to read Hero.

Comic book writers and editors tend to like gay (and bi) heroes; and then the marketing department gets cold feet. Or something. It's a bizarre industry. Which is one of the things that make it interesting.

On the whole, I think comics are genrally a lot less homphobic than television - more likely to sideline gay heroes and kill off women. Their streak of homophobia comes from the same source - fear of reactions from the middle-American public. But they're a lot more likely than television is to push the envelope. The big companies less than the small ones, of course - they have more to lose.

And I'm sure some DC comics struggles with the same constrants as Warner Brothers on television.



Date: 2009-01-15 05:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] the-blue-fenix.livejournal.com

Considering that the 'first gay superhero' phrase doesn't even specifically refer to comic books, I'm not sure the first gay superhero wasn't Achilles, from three thousand years ago.


Gilgamesh was awfully, awfully attached to that Enkili guy.

Date: 2009-01-15 05:45 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fajrdrako.livejournal.com
Oh, good point. Achilles was a latecomer!

Date: 2009-01-15 08:37 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] the-blue-fenix.livejournal.com
I learned that reading Methos/Duncan slash.

Date: 2009-01-15 08:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fajrdrako.livejournal.com
Fanfic is so educational.

Date: 2009-01-15 07:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] monsieureden.livejournal.com
Fun! I want to read Hero now.

Date: 2009-01-15 08:27 pm (UTC)

Date: 2009-01-16 01:34 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] topgeargirl2.livejournal.com
I could consider Jack a superhero. Your argument was convincing. He definitely knows how to charm.

The British are alright when it comes to sexuality in tv shows or even diversity for that matter.

Date: 2009-01-16 01:38 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fajrdrako.livejournal.com
The British are alright when it comes to sexuality in tv shows or even diversity for that matter.

I couldn't agree more and I wish other people would follow their example.

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