Gay Marvel heroes

Unbeknownst to most, Marvel comics has been tackling heated social topics since the 60s. The Uncanny X-Men were established in September 1963 as a book about the disenfranchised minority struggling to survive in a world that ‘feared and hated them.’ Early on the X-Men books toted a cast that looked like the United Nations. Marvel, the first mainstream comic label to proudly boast some of the first black superheroes, also took a stance on the war in Vietnam and the Cold War. Now, in the days where issues of race relations seem a bit passé, Marvel has again moved to the front of the line to not only support but continually create and establish gay superheroes. 

Here are a few paving the rainbow way:

Northstar

Northstar:

The silver highlighted, Jean-Paul Beaubier, is a bit hot-tempered and a bit of a pre-madonna. But, why shouldn’t he be? The former Olympic skier was the first Marvel hero to come out in 1992 (Alpha Flight #106). His homosexuality had long been implied since 1983, but there was a ban on openly gay characters at the time. It was intended to give Jean-Paul AIDS and have him die from it (a published storyline that was eventually retconned [retroactive continuity]), but it was the death of his HIV infected adopted daughter, Joanne, that pushed him to utter the words ‘I am gay.’ He eventually settled down and got married to his husband Kyle.

Anole:

Anole

Victor Borkowski was raised in a small town that accepted him despite being born green with a spiky carapace on his head instead of hair. Upon arriving at the Xavier Institute he met and bonded with openly gay instructor, Northstar. When Northstar was killed, brought back to life and brainwashed by an evil organization, Victor was understandably upset. But, he soon came out and found acceptance and council with friends, family and another gay faculty member, Karma. Our little green gay friend even makes a cameo in X-3 the movie. 

Karma:

Xi'an ‘Shan’ Coy Manh (Karma) was born into the war torn Vietnam and escaped to America after the discovery of her ability to ‘posses’ and control other people. Alone, Shan raised her younger brother and sister while serving as a founding member of New Mutants. She nursed a crush on Kitty Pryde (Shadowcat) and officially came out in New Mutants v2 #4 when she became librarian at the Xavier Institute and mentor to several students.

Sunfire:

The daughter of Japanese aristocracy in an alternate world, Mariko Yashido (Sunfire) is rejected not only for her mutant powers but also for her sexuality. When she joins the Exiles, she finds herself on a world with a super-powered Mary-Jane Watson, Spider-Woman. The two have a serious long distance relationship as Mariko’s team hops dimensions on a regular basis. But, when Mariko dies on another world she is laid to rest in Mary-Jane’s dimension so that MJ can visit her deceased lover’s grave.

Ultimate Colossus:

Everyone’s favourite 6’6” hunky Russian, Piotr ‘Peter’ Rasputin (Colossus) gets a revamp in Ultimate X-Men, an updated retelling of the formation of the X-Men. This tin man with a heart of gold and soul of a painter has the ability to turn his whole body into organic steel (talk about fetish) and is dating his reality’s version of Northstar. Peter even faces off against his homophobic, x-best friend Nightcrawler who gets put into a psychically induced coma after going on a hate rampage.

Miss America

Miss America:

A member to the Young Avengers team, Miss America (America Chavez) is a platinum lesbian (i.e. she's a lesbian raised by two moms). She's the power house of the group and has some pretty kick-ass powers to go with it. She is una chica fuerta (even the Norse God Loki is afraid of her) that any lady lovers could be proud to look up to.

Beast:

Yes, even our favourite blue furball once switched teams. No, he never acted on it (that we know of) and he only claimed to be gay to get over a bad break-up with Trish Tilby (though the official story is he was doing it publicly to gain wider acceptance). But hey, the fact that he was cool with giving it a go makes he A-ok in my book. And before you ask, yes, I have a crush on Beast. I have a soft spot for intellectuals, a hairy chest and men who can pull off tweed.

Beast's explanation from New X-Men #134

Beast: What? The gay stuff? Come on, Scott! I’m challenging all kinds of stereotypes here!
Cyclops: But you’re not gay. I know you’re not gay, Hank.
Beast: So? I might as well be! I’ve been taunted all my life for my individualistic looks and style of dress… I’ve been hounded and called names in the street and I’ve risen above it.
Cyclops: Oh, for crying out loud, Hank. I love you, but you’re officially on the road to apocalyptic mind loss. No one but you is going to find this funny.
Beast: Come on, I’m as gay as the next mutant! I make a great role model for alienated young men and women. Why not?

Gay Couples

Hulking & Wiccan:

Hulkling and Wiccan

Marvel’s premiere gay teen couple have pasts that read like an episode of East Enders. Teddy (Hulkling) is the son of a shape-shifting alien and her rival alien race’s greatest champion. And, Billy (Wiccan) is the re-incarnated soul of one of Scarlet Witch’s imaginary demon twins. It was established at the beginning of the Young Avengers series that they were a couple (as Wiccan changed his name from ‘Asgaurdian’ because of jokes). But, when they came out to Billy’s parents Teddy was hugged and welcomed to the family. Coincidentally, Teddy’s half sister, Phyla-Vell, is also gay. How’s that for progress?

Phat & Vivisector:

X-Statix was a risqué series to begin with before they introduced the gay characters of Phat, a homo-phobic former rap-star modeled after Eminem, and Vivisector, the lycanthropic over privileged book-worm. A highly PR driven team the news of their relationship was originally thought to be a publicity stunt but soon was proven to be the real thing. Their presence on the team was preceded by, Bloke, a super-strong pink chameleon who was openly gay as exampled by him snogging his boyfriend on a street corner before going into battle.

Mystique & Destiny:

This pair, Raven Darkholme (Mystique) a blue-skinned shape shifting assassin and Irene (Destiny), a blind mutant- precog, were lovers in Marvel comics since the early 80’s. The women met in the early 20^th century, the relationship starting as a business partnership and eventually growing into more. Though not always explicit their tenderness and love are quite clear as even villains refer to Raven as Irene’s ‘leman,’ an archaic word for ‘lover.’ The pair raised a daughter (Rogue) and were together until Irene was killed in battle in 1989.

Carolina & Xavin:

Carolina is an alien who can channel solar energy. Xavin is a shape shifting Skrull with the power to control the cosmic elements. They were betrothed in order to stop the war between their two races and when Carolina announced she couldn’t marry Xavin because she’s gay, Xavin happily obliged, finding herself at home in the form of a black female. In this inter-racial, extraterrestrial love, there are no hang-ups about gender or species as Carolina understands that Xavin’s shape shifting between male and female is just a reflection of everyone’s struggle to find out who they really are. Recently, when Xavin lost control of her shape shifting ability she reverted to her base form, and it was revealed that she was happiest in her lady-skin.

With many more gay characters and heroes weaving themselves in an out of their comics, Marvel has taken a stand on the acceptance of gay characters. And, even if these heroes can lift buildings with one hand, sexuality can be as big a tangle as a battle with Doc Oc. However, the new generation growing up reading about gay heroes will find role models as easily as Captain America was a beacon of justice in generations before. And, with any luck, it will give them the courage to be just as brave.

Related websites:  

http://www.gayleague.com/gay/characters/

Enjoy!
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