DC Queering Superman Next? Why All DC Comics Superheroes are Gay

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At one time, around the turn of the twenty-first century, a reasonable argument could be made that a writer’s personal interpretations that led to altering the sexual preferences of long-time characters in comics and fiction was a bridge too far and that if new creators wished to impose a ‘reading’ on a character that was very different from that held by previous creators, then they should invent a new character that fits that mold rather than trying to sell comics using controversial press or pandering. One excellent example of this approach is DC’s Midnighter who is basically a gay version of Batman.

In fact, some of the biggest names in comicdom have gone on the record about their opposition to the trend of changing the sexual preference of established characters in comics. Mark Buckingham, perhaps best known for his art for Neil Gaiman’s Death and Sandman once remarked:

“…I cannot help but feel it’s increasingly lazy on the part of both creators and publishers to do shocking things with or to established characters for instant notoriety and a brief sales rise. I want to read New Comics with New Characters. We will not open up comics to a wider audience simply by slapping a different sexual preference, gender, religion or ethnic background on an existing hero.” 

Even Alan Grant has gone on record against the trend of this superhero conversion therapy.

 

“…I don’t understand is why people want to impose themselves on established characters. Why don’t they create a new character espousing the extra characteristics they’d like the established character to have? Why don’t they do a spoof version?

The partial answer might be that they’re incapable of creating an iconic character; much easier to leech onto someone else’s creation. Unless they’re handled properly, over a period of time by a writer and artist who care, claims like “Batman is gay” are just one-shot jokes, a gag before moving on to Jim Nick-Nick Davison’s next one-liner. They have little relevance, and no endurance.”

Hard to argue with that, but as recently as last week, DC Comics did just that. Out of nowhere, writer Meghan Fitzmartin turned a former Robin, Tim Drake, into a gay man, or at least “bi-curious“.  And make no mistake, Tim Drake is one of the most important characters in the DC world. He’s dated and snogged at least a dozen popular female characters and has even been in a serious relationship with a fellow Batman family member, since 1993.

Tim Drake, also known as Robin, a.k.a. Red Robin, as first created by Marv Wolfman and Pat Broderick in 1989. The character took over as Robin following the controversial reader-demanded death of the second Robin, Jason Todd. Drake went on to remain a popular character for 21 years, starring in comic books and the popular Batman the Animated Series. And after two decades of being a fan favorite, in a last page reveal, Robin suddenly appears ready to go date a gay boy.

Consternation quickly ensured, but things don’t stop there. Fresh on the heels of this queer development, a rumor circulated that DC Comics was replacing Clark Kent with his fully grown son, Jonathan. And that Jon Kent was going to be… care to guess?

Gay, of course.

According to early reports, DC Comics is considering having Jonathan Kent come out as gay after he takes over as Superman for Clark Kent. Jonathan, or Jon  is the biological son of Clark Kent and Lois Lane. He was introduced in 2015 in Convergence: Superman #2 and used to help sell the idea of Clark Kent becoming a family man. In that attempt, DC succeeded. Comic book fans loved Jon Kent and the new Kent family.

According to Cosmic Book News, former DC Comics artist Ethan Van Sciver posted an alleged leak on his YouTube channel ComicArtistsPro Secrets. He began the discussion by stating that DC is looking for a method to do away with the iconic Clark Kent version of Superman. The reason for this is that the company is weary of dealing with the difficult families of the characters’ creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Van Sciver alleges that not only is DC considering passing over the famous mantle to Clark Kent’s son, but he says they plan to make Jon Kent gay as well. 

Over the past few years, comic stories built a bond between young Jon Kent and Damien Wayne, aka Bruce Wayne’s biological son and the youngest Robin. The two even had a hit series called Super Sons. However, DC Comics and writer Brian Michael Bendis opted to mature up the character in 2018. The character returned as a young man after journeying through space. When Jon Kent returned to Earth, he learned that what had been several years for him had only been three weeks. Lately the aged-up Superboy has been thinking about constructing a new identity for himself with the assistance of Damian.

Blame Bendis, where have we heard that before?

Now this may still be a rumor, but Van Sciver has broken scoops like this in the past. Could DC really be willing to take the risk of making Superman gay? Bendis’ aging-up of Jonathan Kent was not received well by DC fans, and this month’s Tim Drake sudden sexual preference conversion was also divisive. Will DC add more to their recent controversies?

Building sales on a one-sided social agenda didn’t pay off for Marvel 5 years ago, and it’s not going to pay off for DC now. But as far as I’m concerned, I’m done with DC and their ilk, but we shouldn’t be surprised at these developments. This is what happens when you hire a far left activist as your Senior Vice President and General Manager. DC is effectively dead.

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