Posted in: Comics | Tagged: alessandro vitti, Comics, entertainment, iceman, Kevin Wada, LGBTQ, marvel, Sina grace, x-men

Ice, Ice, Baby! Reaction to the Iceman Reveal

By Joe Glass, Bleeding Cool's Senior Mutant Correspondent 

Well, another day, another ResurrXion X-Men reveal (which means we're inching closer to the Generation X reveal which may make or break this relaunch for me).

This time we have Iceman, the first solo book for this original X-Man, but also Marvel's first ongoing gay male lead book.

AND I'M EXCITED!

Here's why: there is a largely queer team involved with the making of this book. Between writer Sina Grace and cover artist Kevin Wada, both openly gay creators, and with Alessandro Vitti on art duties as well, we are seeing an extra level of legitimacy added to the book that is, at this time maybe more than ever, absolutely important.

Now, let me say this: I am not one of those that thinks only people who themselves identify as a minority or identity should be the only ones to ever write such characters. However, I do believe when the only creators behind such characters are those that DON'T identify as such, it's massively problematic, and can sometimes lead to stories feeling…false. Or more false than is acceptable in stories involving people shooting laser beams in their PJs.

So if Marvel had announced Iceman written by, for example, Brian Michael Bendis, as much as I'm sure he could do an awesome and fun take, I'd have been pissed.

And whilst I had previously noted my hopes that we may see Grace take on the reins of Generation X, I am just as excited to see him tackling the wise-cracking, powerful, classic and GAY Iceman!

We have queer creators steering the tales of a queer character, and who will be able to tell the story in a natural, respectful and open way that I am sure will bring elements of the identity and situation that anyone can relate to. It has always been my experience that if you can tell such a story with honesty, forthrightness an element of genuineness to it, then all will find they can relate to it.

And hey, they are remembering that Robert 'Bobby' Drake is an OMEGA LEVEL MUTANT! This guy can create clones, reform his body after being shattered, hell, sublimate from a gas to solid form when needed! He has been the savior of the day way back in Operation: Zero Tolerance (a plot line that gave us such AWESOME new X-Men as Marrow, Cecilia Reyes and…err, Maggott!).

Plus, in some of the PR gubbins, X-Editor Daniel Ketchum said, "When Iceman's not bringing up the next generation of X-Men at the Xavier School", so I guess we can rest assured that the school is back to being a school with students again?

Joe Glass is a Bleeding Cool contributor and comics creator. He's the writer and creator of LGBTQ superhero comic series, The Pride. The entire first volume is out now and available on ComiXology, and even as a hardcover collection at The Pride Store. He is also the co-writer on Welsh horror comedy series, Stiffs, on ComiXology and here.

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