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Queer Comic Characters: Northstar (Oct 23rd)

Jean-Paul Beaubier (Northstar) is technically the first openly gay character in the Marvel universe. Created by Chris Claremont and John Byrne, Byrne says he always meant for Northstar to be gay; he just wasn’t allowed to say so due to Marvel editor Jim Shooter seeing an openly gay character as a “political position” and the Comics Code Authority.

Jean-Paul Beaubier (Northstar)

Northstar

If you’ve never heard of Northstar, that’s probably because you’ve never read Alpha Flight. Alpha Flight’s Canada’s premiere superhero team, government-run like all those socialist programs in Canada. 😉 And Northstar’s their requisite snobby French-Canadian champion skier turned superhero. Okay, you might’ve also heard of Northstar from this little title called X-Men where he also appears. Continue reading “Queer Comic Characters: Northstar (Oct 23rd)”

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Queer Comic Characters: Maggie Sawyer (Oct 22)

Maggie Sawyer first appeared in John Byrne’s Superman Vol. 2 #4 in April 1987, which was the same year the Comics Code Authority dropped its ban on LGBT characters in comics. She’s a no-nonsense detective who started out on the Metropolis PD and has since moved to Gotham. And Maggie’s just awesome enough to ride out on a horse in her formal wear from a biodome being poisoned by a bad guy (long story).

Maggie Sawyer

Maggie Sawyer

Continue reading “Queer Comic Characters: Maggie Sawyer (Oct 22)”

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Queer Comic Book Characters: Destiny (Oct 10th)

Until 1989, the Comics Code Authority banned all mentions of homosexuality and definitely all openly gay characters. Jim Shooter, Marvel editor-in-chief in the 1980s, had a “No Gays in the Marvel Universe” stance and in the 1990s, all solo features with gay characters had to be labeled as “Adults Only.” Thankfully, as of 2006, current editor-in-chief Joe Quesada says this policy’s no longer in effect.

Unfortunately, Irene Adler aka Destiny died in Uncanny X-Men #255, which was published December 1989. She has not be resurrected.

Irene Adler (Destiny)

Destiny

Irene is a blind mutant precognitive, born in Austria. During her adolescence, she filled 13 volumes with her future predictions called “The Books of Truth.” After this, she went blind. Though throughout her lifetime, Irene continued to make many accurate predictions. Continue reading “Queer Comic Book Characters: Destiny (Oct 10th)”