Posted in: Comics, Marvel Comics | Tagged: Comics, gay, Jeremy Whitley, lgbt, LGBTQ, marvel, princeless, raven

Jeremy Whitley, On Not Being Allowed To Write Gay Characters Kissing in Comics

Published Sat, 07 Dec 2019 08:00:48 -0600

Jeremy Whitley, author of Princeless, The Unstoppable Wasp, The FF, Rainbow Brite, the upcoming The School For ExtraterrestrialGirls and many other comic books has just shared one part of the editorial process. And shown what is still going down. He posted out in a series of tweets and replies;

So, this was the week I actually got a script note that said: "As discussed, the relationship between x and y should be implied, not openly stated." Where x and y are characters of the same gender. So, if you're wondering later, that happened.

True story. Actual quote.

If you're reading this and you're one of those people that accuse queer readers of misreading or "making everything gay" I can state unequivocally that companies do give these sorts of notes.

It's worth stating that Marvel has never given a note like this. In fact, the opposite. I've been told that if we're going to do it, we need to do it right and give it the space it deserves.

You can feel however you want about the movies, but I have yet to write a comic at Marvel that didn't have openly queer people/relationships

The 90's called and they want their idea of progressive media back.

Anything he can do?

Nope, other than imply strongly. Character is not my property.

Well, the good news is, I have a lot of creator owned stuff coming out in the next couple of years and nobody ever tells me I can't make my own characters kiss.

Talking of which, here's the first issue of Raven: The Pirate Princess, by Jeremy Whitley, Rosy Higgins and Ted Brandt, spin-off from Princeless, available free, courtesy of Jeremy. So those publishers can see what they're missing – and wonder what all the fuss is about.