lgbt themes comics lgbt themes comics relatively new concept lesbian gay bisexual lgbt themes characters historically omitted intentionally content comic books comic strip predecessors censorship perception comics children mention homosexuality mainstream united_states comics forbidden earlier attempts exploring issues took form subtle hints character sexual orientation lgbt themes tackled earlier underground early 1970s onward independently published comic books series produced gay creators featuring autobiographical storylines tackled political issues interest lgbt readers 1990s lgbt themes common mainstream comics including number titles gay character star european comics inclusive earlier date lack censorship greater acceptance comics medium adult entertainment led controversy representation lgbt characters popular japanese manga tradition included genres girls comics feature homosexual relationships 1970s form works extremely romantic include characters identify gay lesbian japanese gay boom 1990s body manga creators aimed lgbt customers established including manga gay men aimed realistic autobiographical themes pornographic manga includes depictions people noted lgbt characters mainstream comic books usually shown society alternative comics diversity lgbt culture emphasized comic strips dealt wide distribution newspapers limiting inclusion controversial material openly gay characters appeared prominent strips late 1970s representation lgbt issues titles causes reaction praise condemnation present day comic strips aimed lgbt audiences syndicated lesbian targeted magazines comics created educate people lgbt related issues influence real world politics format distribution allowing transmit messages subtle complex positive typical education material portrayal lgbt themes comics recognized notable awards including outstanding comic book comic strip comic strips early comic strips avoided overt treatment gay issues examples homosexual identified edition terry pirates features primary villain interpreted lesbian designs hero girlfriend widely distributed comic strip tackle lgbt themes include gay character strip introduced character diagnosis hiv aids related death representation issue comic strips storyline led pulitzer prize nomination newspapers carrying strip refused publish bad taste years later long standing character revealed gay continuing reputation controversial content liberal continues feature strip focus relationship politically conservative partner chase including marriage separation july installment strip main characters staying run gay couple better worse explored coming character provoked vigorous reaction conservative groups readers opposed homosexuality threatened cancel newspaper received hate mail death threats family newspapers ran replacement strips canceled comic result storyline jury selected nominated finalist pulitzer prize editorial pulitzer board said strip depicted youth disclosure homosexuality effect family friends subsequent appearances character focused sexuality creator said continue widely circulated strips lgbt characters remained supporting figures 21st century including featuring occasional appearances gay characters conservative strip occasionally approached gay issues critical perspective storylines described insulting lgbt people openly gay lesbian comic creators self publish work online giving greater editorial freedom strips printed collections example kyle bed breakfast series focusing group gay friends live face realistic problems associated including relationship troubles late 1980s specifically gay publications included comic strips lgbt themes local lgbt newspapers carry strips like new_orleans paper impact strips including larry syndicated national gay magazines like advocate best known longest running lgbt comic strips watch written dubbed elder lgbt comics watch known social political commentary depictions characters walks life graphic memoir family lauded media outlets best books year noted lgbt themed comic strips included boys social life green adapted live action feature film underground alternative comics lgbt themes found underground alternative comics published small independent presses self published comics frequently advocated political positions included depictions sex usually intended solely cause included exploration themes including gender sexuality captain pirates featured explicit sexual homosexual acts instrumental making underground approach taboo subjects gay characters rarely featured underground comics usually comic instalment stands attacking sex manual wanted know sex afraid ask featuring explicit mutual gay sex acts promoting eventually comics appeared aimed gay audience documented example widely circulated underground gay comic produced issues mid-1970s struggled find audience notable publications included created featured work gay lesbian artists close ties gay liberation movement early content autobiographical diverse themes explored later editions autobiographical themes included falling love coming repression sex served source information non mainstream lgbt themed comics events artists producing work included creator lesbian book come created lesbian underground serial comic book character tackled issues homosexuality regular basis issue venue comic strip featuring lesbian called sandy comes excerpts included anthology earliest histories subject anthology gay male comics sequels collect works range artists work gay cartoonist note appeared series including works stylized pornography contents generally explicit mainstream oriented tom finland prolific artist specializing images men exaggerated primary secondary sex traits extreme large drawings frequently feature men immediately preceding explicit sexual activity described important gay cartoonist work explores pop gay culture lgbt themed work adults addition featured syndicated publications raw village_voice creators comics medium educate readers lgbt related issues including safe sex examples strip aids influence real world politics british comics book artists rampant government produced british american canadian artists response law promoting homosexuality illegal british government comic book format humour described giving works positive message typical education material comic strip style educational material aids dates chart french magazine liberation simple figures explain unsafe practices fiction comics produced specifically foster aids prevention include widely distributed french language created prevention series aimed young audience humour subject hiv status indicated little green monster graphic novel latin american writer based hiv activist educator published aids novel narrated english spanish commenting themes gender identity sexual experiences hiv aids awareness life highlighted graphic novel particularly transition political uprising cuba vibrant lgbt community san_francisco hiv aids epidemic work commenting hiv aids prevention collaborated educational comics criticised ignoring special relevance subject lgbt community homosexuality favour depicting hiv threat conventional relationships blamed continuing perception comics young people targeting specific groups failing provide characters lgbt young people identify educational comic books exclude explicit reference homosexuality drug taking prostitution spite target audience older mainstream american comic books mainstream comics historically excluded gay characters superhero comics particular publishing houses marvel largest publishers genre criticized lack characters likewise represented common storyline superhero having sex changed magical technological means regarded oblique reference issues british comics author said included characters works response lack realistic representation people comics theory analyses noted lgbt characters mainstream comic books shown society alternative comics diversity lgbt culture forefront mainstream comics labelled comparison alternative comics censorship criticism 20th century creators strongly discouraged depicting gay relationships comic books regarded medium children imposed facto censorship comics sold united_states forbade suggestion homosexuality lgbt characters excluded comics bearing seal came response innocent comic book creators accused attempting negatively influence children images violence sexuality including homosexuality claimed strength independence lesbian stated batman type story stimulate children homosexual fantasies subsequently drop subtle hints stating directly character orientation overt gay lesbian themes found later underground alternative titles carry seal approval recent years number lgbt characters mainstream superhero comics increased greatly gay characters appeared supporting roles roles increasingly prominent trend prompted praise lgbt community organizations like criticism conservative groups critics accusations comics attempting readers gay lifestyle trying lure young american boys web homosexuality aids encyclopedia cultures notes gay found publications early golden age comic books readers homosexuality sex women introduction mystery theatre discusses case replacement sandy golden boy serial batman relationship robin famously come scrutiny spite majority creators associated character denying character gay psychologist innocent asserted batman stories psychologically homosexual claimed find subtle atmosphere adventures mature batman young friend robin claimed batman interesting gay audiences fictional characters attacked grounds presumed homosexuality 1960s series remains camp described nightmare views character sexual urges crime fighting remarked interpretation autobiography noting relationship interpreted sexual appearance fat man closet homosexual gay repeatedly calls pie hair grabs girlfriend saying gon hit purse friends start hitting chair obviously gay character man means strange spanish created appeared millennium new guardians new guardians successful short run featured team member jet contracting aids series controversial characters team infected hiv scratch character called angry letters printed response hiv transmission gay readers stereotypical official aftermath millennium vol depicted male gay aids rally characters including describing men police helicopter pilot named screaming influenced attempting crush rally seven headed spirit thanks actions doctor fate later revealed bisexual men saved annual brother diana late publicist shows reading saying member family didn hate gay mechanic task force gay dad organization head psychiatrist refers choice sexuality wonders son adjusting tells homosexuality natural conflict christian scripture early 1990s saw lgbt minor characters portrayed titles dealt gay issue constantine having jumped train end found gay weakened state severely beaten rescued constantine gay bisexual sexually active women gay friends beaten hospitalized tried protect case gay working behest demon run story arcs ones arc featured elderly gay men themes explored game story storyline notable storylines featuring lgbt themes include coming assistant arc gay stories earned writer title awards spectrum awards nomination lesbian couple lee supporting characters example gay character starring role violent superhero appears comic books published imprint batman like revealed relationship superman like apollo time members superhero team authority comic book focused female lawyer hunting super villains trial notable featuring gay supporting character adjusted gay lawyer later starts dating superhero drew widespread media attention announcing new lesbian incarnation known character number minor characters identified lgbt continues increase includes bisexual reformed villain introduced batman animated series stated sexual preference eventually introduced comic books lesbian considerably main character launched new program introduced number new titles addition new series released featured african american bisexual woman title character additionally new introduced bunker openly gay superhero featured teen ongoing series changes brought reboot classic character gay man depicting longtime gay man stories set parallel world marvel marvel comics incorporation lgbt themes compared use gay characters described prolific deliberate marvel reportedly marvel universe policy 1980s tenure marvel policy 1990s stated series emphasizing solo gay characters carry adults label response conservative protests policies stop creators slipping gay characters themes introduced childhood friend comes cap seeking help rescuing roommate michael later captured forced dress flamboyant clothes stage speech love michael false unnatural cap rescues love michael genuine cap love girlfriend story appears gone radar purely use word gay subsequent official character biographies confirmed gay policies longer enforced lgbt characters appear regularly marvel comics sex couples depicted occasionally kissing intimate sexual scenes shown marvel adult imprint use discrimination face men comics seen metaphor real world discrimination directed minority groups including lgbt people member original alpha flight superhero team major gay character created said planned gay inception character finally revealed gay alpha flight issue comic book issue inducted storylines involving alpha flight limited series generally ignored sexuality criticism fact years shown kissing man finally kissed boyfriend kyle issue series eventually member time team mentor gay teenage later young men member gay teen lgbt members marvel teams men new deaths villains destiny latest incarnation written longtime friend ambiguous relationship shown panel kiss issue published confirmed blog expressed desire develop relationship shortly creators expressed disapproval decision stated chance despite complaints marvel editor chief defended development story likely planned david went win media award outstanding comic book work writer previously written adult underground reintroduced closely pages portrayed related said issue shown doctor strange initially brought howard issue exists doctor strange meet vol howard series concluded issue january depicted having vision life relationship woman marie years boyfriend shown fear april november vol point broken shown sharing bed boyfriend named october written creator later writer award nominated hard time thought making related ghost riders bad writing saying marvel change comics read issues question told newfound presents attitude having slept women makes bad girl direct character foil good girl match earlier portrayals ugly calls girlfriend ironic entry official handbook marvel universe states bisexual marvel revived marvel max imprint introducing openly gay comic book character star magazine edition kid gay saga called character sexuality conveyed indirectly comic style conservative groups protested gay character claimed corrupt children covers carried adults label young series debuted featured gay teenager major characters inception characters sexuality criticised readers defended writers extended series letters title letters page earned marvel award best comic book award young won second award awarded artist series revealed nearly entire team form lgbt including non race shape award winning series created author artist debuted vol appeared masculine form changed feminine form sake lesbian hero marry series switches forms april marvel comics announced men character gay new men comic book storyline mind reading asks bobby calls women hot knows gay september introduced openly gay character published canada story quickly falls new boy town sweet smile good looks kevin kevin beats eating contest tells interested gay unbeknownst kevin score settle requests kevin tell sexuality kevin willingly agrees bulk story widely considered traditional predictable publishers degree generations open recognition homosexuality addition came surprise readers recognizes long standing sexuality gay character gay doesn sex kevin went star mini series star digest size series guest starred life married life series issue depicting wedding fastest selling comics decades publishers 1990s saw creation number independent publishing houses output competed giants mainstream comics publishing marvel companies included morning later companies gave greater artistic freedom writers artists chose comics code allowing exploration mature themes result comics companies included greater relative number lgbt characters storylines traditional competitors lgbt superhero characters include comics created taken dating black white independent movement 1980s published image featured openly gay characters romantic leads gained series spectrum award nomination vampire slayer related comics feature lesbian characters willow kennedy character andrew television series season comics attracted media attention title character night stand girl fallen love encounter repeated character creators denied gay saying going gay going issues explaining young experimenting mention open minded awards visibility lgbt comic book creators characters increased comic book taken notice panels discussing lgbt topics occur regularly comic book lgbt conventions conventions feature stands dedicated lgbt comics event chair comics said sixth year exhibiting comic con presenting larger booth panels events number websites dedicated lgbt comic book featuring content staff writers exist award best comic book awarded flash number awards awarded mainstream titles including authority titles marvel young according lgbt fans creators debated awards mainstream comics media hype actual content comic stories spectrum awards given works science fiction fantasy horror works category allows nomination comic book series individual issues comic book winners include issues authority nominations given titles marvel force season european comics comics continental europe described having greater range themes narratives forms visual impact english language comics superseded popularity american comics mid-1980s french comics matching popularity japanese american comics lack comics code equivalent system incorporation lgbt themes controversial exemplified graphic novels created drake american chose publish france limited censorship write draw wanted included episodes title character dresses boy lure gay villain ambush gay secondary character ran strip club beginning 20th century french belgian comic strips regarded medium children restricted inclusion adult sexual themes lasted 1960s early franco belgian comics children sexual lgbt readers readers books speculated sexuality leading spokesperson saying homosexual male friends comics prominent historical comics text concerns restoration moral order homosexual invisible original readers includes portrayal close relationship companion frontal depiction teenage male bodies martin disputed gay readings central friendship books article palace called heroes notre strips 1960s break censored law passed assumed comics children prevented inclusion explicit sexual themes album remove nudity late 1960s saw greater acceptance comic strips mature use social commentary satire established mainstream newspapers 1970s continued banned pornographic works french comic book creator described ambitious autobiographical comics project published include series ongoing journal self published volume year works chronicle day day experiences place framework examines representation self identity sexual minorities creative process volumes focus author homosexuality status struggling gay artist french small town life story arc covered love male friend works pointed examples comics literature elevated regard autobiographical works comics retrospective nature works leads significant emotional events afforded greater coverage result issues sexuality interactions author men highlighted reflecting importance sexuality identity led critic character dismiss works trivial criticisms attributed bias autobiography comics inability identify gay character famous strips follow lives working class men centered character suburban rocker occasionally feature lgbt themes characters assumptions stereotypes characters dress gay character tries chat remains oblivious attempt occurrences noted comparison non masculine gay stereotypes depictions relationship social class sexual orientation explored character arrested vice police park number gay couples police officers insults character finds assumption gay close male friendship benefit fashionable literary groups seen interesting spanish comics described conventional diverse american comics creator bizarre noir thriller starring gay detective widely celebrated foremost subversive comics challenges sexuality gender openly gay writes underground comic says subversive impact underground comics expect comparison mainstream government comics readers underground comics unlikely shocked content appears socialist government sanctioned greater impact germany openly gay cartoonist created popular comics taking ironic view gay straight relationships began creating comic strips appeared munich underground magazine gay periodical comics das comic book published berlin wrote comic continuous story comics large gay fan base despite initial skepticism broader comics audiences work consistent gay culture setting gained great popularity readers comics adapted films work sold million copies translated languages british comics significant parts 20th century regarded aimed children avoiding adult themes exception mature violent comic book introduced openly gay hero story swimming blood form camp vampire created writer artist character homosexuality frequently referenced strip story attempts seduce men rescuing character deliberately created opposition characters judge men contrast camp flamboyant annual poll readers opinions character knock judge spot character seven years initial introduction production problems british small press launched claimed world gay superhero team japanese comics comics established art form japan biggest comic book industry world comics respected aimed child adult audiences sex violence common presence fictional manga regarded safety valve known boys love girls love respectively japanese genres incorporating homosexual romance themes media genres emerged 1970s branch manga aimed girls spread japan translated original available countries languages characters manga tend self identify homosexual bisexual famous works include angel came sun volume series beginning life buddhism japan volume series beginning chronicles relationship france manga anime science fiction fantasy environments common 1980s light novel series described boys love genre involves science fictional system described wonderful sci series rely content appeal audience male male female female denote level sexual work originated female targeted works today featured male targeted ones criticised stereotypical portrayals characters failing address gay issues presented issue plot device drama purity leads love suggested romance narrative strong political themes turn readers critics state genre challenges beautiful boys written japanese comfortable writing lgbt themes manga setting gender blurred straight manga gay comics exists gay manga called rose specifically targeted gay men gay characters writers fans distinguish gay manga calling prior early 2000s primary venue publication gay men manga gay men general interest magazines included manga inception typical manga story magazines page shot magazines notably men carry serialized stories surveying gay men magazines mid late 1990s indicates manga stories simply pornographic little attention character plot longer serialized stories generally developed characterizes containing crafted stories better described erotic pornographic manga men sexual attention characterization mood 1990s saw increased media focus lgbt people japan large increase production works written gay men called influential creator gay manga japan date work appeared gay magazines usually feature sexual abuse early work published magazine men founded cater gay men preferred fantasy opposed inspired styles popular 1980s like gay men general interest magazines men included manga prose stories editorial photographic material men encouraged steady readership presenting better defined fantasy image serialized continuing manga stories encouraged purchase issue depiction men muscular cited catalyst shift fashion gay men away clean slender stereotypes tendency work criticised notable gay manga writer lack complex storylines early works later moved gay manga works contain sex greater focus plot sex present form rape victim learns enjoy experience manga popularity continued increase major publishers manga today japan genres pornographic manga anime men frequently called west contains depictions male readers examples demon beast invasion twin angels common character types figures female mainstream non pornographic manga frequently contains gender sex roles usually purposes comedy realistic manner supporting characters cross dress series centred idea changing sex protagonist changes sex gender cold water manga characters won girls manga division class genre girl fiction tells stories female maria contemporary series includes manga adaptation described revival class genre
LGBT themes in comics