Posted in: Comics, Recent Updates | Tagged: Comics, entertainment, lgbt, LGBTQ

Tales From The Four Color Closet – Looking Forward To A LGBTQ+ier 2016?

By Joe Glass

It's been an interesting year for LGBTQ+ representation in comics. Hell, it's been an interesting year for the LGBTQ+ community at a whole. Parts of the world have become more open to accepting the LGBTQ+ people in their lives, while others have back-pedalled to older, more negative stances.

The same, in a way, could be said about the world of comics too, with one of the big name publishers really going all out in a massive show of supporting, including far more LGBTQ+ characters than ever before, more queer creators and also giving some of those characters leading roles; while another big name publisher is repeatedly making massive missteps in their relationship with the LGBTQ+ audience at large, and seems to be refusing to let queer characters lead their books – to the point of even denying when they do.

(What's even more interesting is just a few years ago I'd have said that the positions of these publishers was completely reversed)

But hey, it's a new year! A fresh page! And everyone has the opportunity to keep moving forward.

So here, in my humble opinion as a comics creator who has just finished his LGBTQ+ focused series, is a brief listing of things I would like to see in the new year of comics.

• -An LGBTQ+ character in a major, leading/key role in a major event…from any publisher. One may argue that the reason that certain characters are often the focus of major events is because they have decades of history and building to rely on. But in recent years, we've seen characters like Miles Morales and Ms. Marvel get a major focus and appear in many comics, events and key roles, and this is because of the weight of the publisher supporting them just as much as incredible creative teams. It would be nice to see some of this weight and strength from a publisher put behind an LGBTQ+ character.
• -A lead trans character – and as a hero too maybe. There are a few trans characters in comics at the moment, mainly as supporting cast members to the main heroes, but it would be nice to see one not just in a leading role, but maybe also as a superhero.
• -I'd like to see an LGBTQ+ lead book from Marvel, and one they are not ashamed to admit is LGBTQ+ led and/or focused. It is entirely possible to have a queer led/focused title that is accessible and enjoyed by any reader, no matter their own orientation: just look at Midnighter. Or Catwoman. Or Harley Quinn.Or John Constantine. Need I go on? Marvel have a good few queer characters in team books or supporting roles, but few (at least that they'd like to admit) in leading roles, so let's see that happen. I'd also like to see more from Image too, to be honest.
• – Finally, I would like to see more queer characters tackling queer issues, or at least being a bit more open about the 'LGBTQ' issues that make up their lives. I use inverted commas there because most 'LGBTQ' issues are human issues – ones that anyone can relate to with the modicum of imagination and understanding. After all, again, look at Midnighter. The book has a unashamedly open and forward gay lead, who dates, has sex and struggles with relationships old and new. The relationships may be with other men, but those feelings and situations can be related to by anyone. So instead of having queer character only story-line dealing with their queerness be their coming out, how about having them deal with some of the other things affecting queer people today?

Aside from these things, I'd also love to see the following queer characters return to the books, and maybe have some juicy stories to get involved with: Anole, Karma, Alpha Centurion, Starman, Northstar, Apollo, Prodigy.

Personally, I don't think it's too much to ask. And this really is just a small part of the things we can be doing to move comics forward in terms of LGBTQ+ representation – there's miles and miles left ahead of us.

What would you like to see in the coming year?

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