Gay superheroes under fire from US pressure group

[William769]

Fresh from failing to prevent an Archie comic featuring a gay marriage from being sold in America, conservative American mothers' group One Million Moms has launched a new attempt to stamp out homosexuality from the world of graphic novels.


The American Family Association-run conservative Christian organisation has taken issue with the news that DC Comics is planning to reveal that one of its established characters is gay – speculation is centring around Batman, Green Lantern and Wonder Woman – and that Marvel's new issue of Astonishing X-Men will feature Northstar's marriage to his boyfriend. "Here are two people, trying to live their lives – mutant and gay, black and gay – empowered in their own ways, but also fringe-dwellers," author Marjorie Liu told Rolling Stone earlier this month. "And they're making it happen. They're living life on their own terms. It doesn't matter that it's a superhero comic, the message is: You can do the same thing."


This is not, something One Million Moms approves of. "Children desire to be just like superheroes. Children mimic superhero actions and even dress up in costumes to resemble these characters as much as possible. Can you imagine little boys saying, 'I want a boyfriend or husband like X-Men?'" says the organisation. "This is ridiculous! Why do adult gay men need comic superheroes as role models? They want to indoctrinate impressionable young minds by placing these gay characters on pedestals in a positive light. These companies are heavily influencing our youth by using children's superheroes to desensitise and brainwash them into thinking that a gay lifestyle choice is normal and desirable. As Christians, we know that homosexuality is a sin."


Members are writing to DC Comics and Marvel to ask them "to change and cancel all plans of homosexual superhero characters immediately". Whether the move will have the effect that the mothers desire remains to be seen: following One Million Moms' campaign to stop Toys R Us selling the Archie comic, which featured the marriage of Kevin Keller, the series' first gay character, the issue sold out.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/31/gay-superheroes-graphic-novels?newsfeed=true

I'm going to have to start reading comic books again

[Drale]

1. Why does this "One million moms" think they have any power?

I can guarantee they have never read a comic book in their lives and they already took a backhand across the face from JC Penny's.

[Call Me Wesley]

2. Hulk smash one million moms.

Really, on a more serious note, I find this quote hilarious: "Children desire to be just like superheroes. Children mimic superhero actions and even dress up in costumes to resemble these characters as much as possible. Can you imagine little boys saying, 'I want a boyfriend or husband like X-Men?'"

Can you imagine little boys saying, 'I want to be Batman!'

[HillWilliam]

3. Well, FWIW,

I distinctly remember in my preteen years wanting a boyfriend like Aquaman or Race Bannon when I got older. There was never a single question in my military mind what my orientation was. I'm pretty sure I was/am hardly alone. A young boy's imagination can be pretty vivid, heh.

I pretty quickly grew out of comic books (by thirteen, anyway) but I never lost my admiration of the heroes in them: good, good-hearted, brave, living life on their own terms with the lot they were dealt.

[William769]

4. ...

[Call Me Wesley]

6. Agreed.

I still love comics, but never collected DC or Marvel - it was more 'Metal Hurlant.' I remember that I really liked Spider-man (probably because he's the only one with a hyphen in his name, compared to Batman, Superman, etc.) But I also had a pet tarantula.

What I was trying to say above is that these parents of little boys should be much more concerned if they adore Batman. You know what made him Batman, the killing of his parents. Heh.

[TlalocW]

5. One Million Moms is a little late - especially with the Hulk

In the 90s, Bruce Banner was diagnosed with Multiple Personality Disorder and had all (or most) of them merged so he retained Banner's mind (with a sarcastic streak seen in the Gray Hulk). He was recruited by a super-powered team called, "The Pantheon," the members of whom were all very distant cousins of each other and who used the names of heroes of Greek mythology. One member, Hector, was gay, and his cousin Ulysses was not happy about it. One story run dealt with the run-up to and the actual wedding of Hulk sidekick, Rick Jones, who, through Hulk and Captain America, knows most superheroes in the Marvel universe and invited them, including Northstar, who Hector flirted with, at the bar before the wedding. Ulysses went to stop it, but Hulk stopped him and dragged him off somewhere to keep him from causing a scene.

I think Marvel has been ahead of DC on the issue of having gay characters, but Million Moms is behind when it comes to DC as well. The new Batwoman is a lesbian as is Rene Montoya, who was a detective in Gotham before taking over as the new Question.

As for who will be the superhero to come out, I doubt it will be Batman, as he's been with a lot of women unless he's confused about his orientation. Also DC doesn't want to dredge up the whole, "Seduction of the Innocent," thing from the 50s, which made it look like Batman and Robin were in an "inappropriate" relationship.

My cynical guess is that it will be Wonder Woman because she's from an island of women; I don't think she's had a male squeeze for a while, and because most comic book writers/artists and readers are male. Plus, she does have a weird history thanks to the psychiatrist who came up with her character, which will add to any tittilation.

TlalocW

[Fearless]

8. +1

I'd love to hear them say they wanted to be Wonder Woman too!

[ropi]

7. What's all the fuss?

I don't know why they are protesting. Don't the OMM bunch have Jack Chick comic books for their children to read?

[Initech]

9. The AFA and One Million Moms really need to get some fucking lives.

[swimboy]

10. FAIL

influencing our youth by using children's superheroes to desensitise and brainwash them into thinking that a gay lifestyle choice is normal and desirable.

gay lifestyle choice

66.6% FAIL