lgbt themes american mainstream comics lgbt themes american mainstream comics relatively new concept lesbian gay bisexual lgbt themes characters historically omitted intentionally content comic books formal censorship perception comics children lgbt themes inappropriate 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 mainstream comics genre superhero comics published united_states late 1930s historically excluded gay characters superhero genre largest publishing houses criticised lack characters likewise represented common storyline superhero having sex changed magical technological means regarded oblique reference issues theory analyses noted lgbt characters mainstream comic books shown society alternative comics diversity lgbt culture forefront mainstream comics labelled comparison alternative comics 1990s lgbt themes common mainstream comics including number titles gay character star 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 regular accusations comics attempting readers gay lifestyle trying lure young american boys web homosexuality aids according writer creative freedom allowed editors portrayal lgbt characters depends popular established character long standing characters require change sexuality likely shown lgbt newer characters changes character continuity fans particularly sexuality involved suggests creating new character claims fans editors stronger negative reaction lgbt issues moore notes probably fashionable odd gay character inclusion lgbt people continues improve mainstream comics characters continue limited stereotypes represent varied cross section lgbt people says scenes sex interactions rejected editors sexual content general lgbt content hand inclusion lgbt issues attract media attention hype makes fans creators uncomfortable points example gay marriage comic issue treated event series significant openly gay characters wondering attention media gives gay characters hopes near future news common encyclopedia cultures notes gay found publications early golden age comic books readers homosexuality sex women 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 creating character teen considered making gay marked appearances gay character major super hero book ultimately passed idea concluding stereotypical sensitive artistic featured homosexual obviously gay character hispanic man means strange spanish created appeared millennium new guardians new guardians successful short run featured character dying aids 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 men saved previous hugely influential central characters referred possibly homosexual critics interpreted series strongly implied minor characters justice captain metropolis gay silhouette kicked superhero team publicly lesbian philosophy write gay relationships remain ambiguous lots particularly surprising challenges homosexuality true captain metropolis gay sure don act look like gay described writer gay friendly inclusion complex lgbt characters realistic treatment lgbt issues 1990s early 1990s saw lgbt minor characters portrayed titles themes explored storyline element finds woman love actually man taken sex change drug element subsequently reveals prefers male lesbian relationship implied lightning non characters reboot straight explored themes having sir body woman initial dismay notable storylines featuring lgbt themes include flash vol received award best comic book reformed villain revealed gay coming assistant arc gay written stories earned writer title awards spectrum awards nomination lesbian couple lee supporting characters 1990s title doom patrol introduced number lgbt characters explored themes doom patrol base operations later stories street named british female dresses drag hosting typically masculine shops gun shops bright patterns inclusion described increasingly absurd tone book twentieth issue member team bisexual dissolve created fantasy writer gains powers working prostitute customers radioactive gains powers having sex number including originally studio producing work noted greater proportion lgbt characters imprint produces comics mature audiences allowing sexual themes notes cultures encyclopedia substantive mainstream presentation gay themes future likely adult titles titles tackled lgbt themes include shade changing man game character creator said included characters works response lack realistic representation people comics title character shade changing man alien change surface form resulted people female remained essentially male implied relationships superhero genre title characters homosexuality playing large protagonist hinted bisexual confirmed television series constantine portrayed straight nbc guidelines brought criticism critics fans example gay character starring role violent superhero appears comic books published batman like revealed relationship superman like apollo time members superhero team authority portrayal relationship initially subtle writer informing artist intentions editorial board censored kiss characters described openly gay couple comics apollo married later issue adopted daughter starred solo title comic criticised ignoring protagonist relationship husband continual use insults villains criticism leveled storyline apollo raped critics saying straight subjected treatment pointed characters example comics strange attitude lgbt themes describing vicious muscle queens starting stars solo series published making gay male superhero series mainstream publisher 2000s created caused reaction fan community revealed boyfriend title character gay counsel long time member number failed member later struggled come terms sexuality wasn appearances character revealed gay accepted homosexuality said making character openly gay seen logical step character growth homosexual interpretations batman continued 21st century notable example occurred refused permission panels illustrate paper family 1950s summer painter displayed number depicting batman robin suggestive sexually explicit poses threatened artist gallery legal action cease selling works demanded surrender remaining art profits derived drew widespread media attention announcing new lesbian incarnation known character openly lesbian characters police officer existed revealed new_york comic con highest profile gay superhero appearing new comic book written taking lead character issue said editors problem writing lesbian media controversy sexuality positive effect industry forced character minor roles major crossover storylines gained title new comics makes lgbt character headline monthly series universe brought secret team villains new members lgbt including lesbian lover knockout bisexual bisexual secret december returning writer scandal savage return recurring characters team consists new members save 2010s green revealed gay issue scott revealed boyfriend named sam intends propose vacation china train couple travelling suddenly wrecked mysterious green flame protects scott voice informs crash caused force threatens world sam survive grief stricken scott told given power avenge love protect world alongside released series starring bisexual african american woman new introduced bunker openly gay latino superhero core cast new teen series brought shining knight previously appeared seven soldiers victory girl male knight new series says man woman makes possible hero number minor characters identified lgbt continues increase including bisexual major ones confirmed bisexual critics claim iconic famous characters universe furthermore officially stated poison ivy relationship fans speculated romantic sexual jealousy marvel 1990s 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 publisher claimed policy longer force 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 alpha flight member original alpha flight superhero team major gay character created said planned gay inception hints sexual identity appeared issues alpha flight apparent lack interest women attributed obsessive drive win ski champion character finally revealed gay alpha flight issue comic book issue inducted storylines involving included illness seen readers metaphor aids cured revealed character actually fairy race non human beings adopts abandoned baby soon dies aids criticism fact years shown kissing man interactions gay characters shown shown gay member cancellation alpha flight appeared miniseries ignored sexuality eventually member time team mentor gay teenage later young men member gay teen notable tenure death separate month lgbt members marvel teams deaths villain having relationship character destiny explicitly revealed years relationship ended destiny murder 2000s freedom ring character depicted gay debut creator touted leading gay hero stories dedicated adventures despite character killed month later death general treatment met negative reactions including accusations particularly respect imagery death character killed spikes commented controversy stating freedom ring planned inexperienced hero beaten constantly probably die wanted comment fact powers okay life works working book noticing gay characters gay straight characters rounded characters like chicks wanted rounded character happened like decided combine ideas yeah killing gay character good best intentions mind later stated frankly small gay characters comics general unfortunate portrayals far intentional completely understand backlash death freedom ring regardless intentions wouldn kill regret time goes got rid gay characters marvel killing character took stuff consideration writing marvel revived marvel max imprint introducing openly gay comic book character star magazine edition kid gay saga called according article new series pairs original artist television writer making kid gay idea 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 date comic book award originally planned female character according originally pitched female character shape changing abilities pose man suspect close felt depicting openly gay relationship marvel comic got underway started second thoughts approached maintaining involved male characters latest incarnation written longtime friend ambiguous relationship shown panel kiss issue published confirmed blog expressed desire develop relationship shortly creators expressed disapproval decision despite complaints marvel editor chief defended development story likely planned 2010s astonishing men held long term partner wedding sex marriage featured superhero comics apollo married authority mainstream comics characters sexuality fans speculated writers director film accepts fan theory creators character stated twitter speculation sexuality invalid brain cells constant gay minute etc comment upset fans suggests sexuality linked mental disorder hercules previous works hercules fall men portrayed bisexual marvel editor chief stated hercules new series disappointed fans critics lgbt character recent major characters confirmed lgbt include came gay bisexual publishers image dark horse 1990s saw creation number independent publishing houses output competed giants mainstream comics publishing marvel companies included 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 image comic written depicts alien culture exotic gender sexual gay 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 featured gay character spoke character issues containing sex romance popular sold resulting solo series 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 awards award outstanding 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 published united_states works category allows nomination comic book series individual issues comic book winners include issues authority nominations given titles marvel force season general encyclopedia isbn graphic novels guide book length comics isbn paul evolution american comic book isbn homosexuality comics iii july
LGBT themes in American mainstream comics