Category Archives: X-Men
First Gay Superhero to Get Married in June!
Even the mainstream media is picking up the story that Marvel Comics is going to have a gay wedding take place in the June issue of Astonishing X-Men, marrying off the superhero Northstar with his longtime boyfriend Kyle. I applaud this development, as well as the fact that Marvel is supporting such an obscure superhero who just happens to be gay.
Why does Doop get seated next to the groom’s mother?
Northstar, a mutant with superspeed and flight, was the first ever gay superhero in comic books back in the late 1970s. Though due to social norms at the time, he couldn’t actually come out until the early 90s. Northstar is a character with a long history of being gay, but he’s far from popular or even well known. He’s not about to appear in The Avengers sequel, for example. But still, I think it’s great that Marvel Comics is using Northstar despite his obscurity to show their support for gay marriage.
The announcement was made on The View this morning.
Who knew Whoopi Goldberg was so comic book savvy? Marvel first announced the impending wedding back in March, but they were tight-lipped about who was getting married. Though I, like everyone else, pretty much guessed Northstar right away. It was the worst kept secret in recent comics. Again, I’m all for this happening. Even if it kind of reeks of a desperate attempt at publicity. And that Marvel announced the gay wedding shortly after Archie Comics already had a gay wedding, and drew so much media attention back then.
So anyway, the wedding will be in Astonishing X-Men #51, which comes out in June. Northstar is going to propose in Astonishing X-Men #50, which comes out tomorrow.
A proposal and wedding only one month apart? They really are superheroes
And here’s what writer Marjorie Liu had to say about the storyline:
“The story of Northstar and Kyle is universal, and at the core of everything I write: a powerful love between two people who have to fight for it against all odds,” said Liu. “This is the quintessential Marvel story, one that blends the modern world with the fantasy of super heroes in order to tell an exciting story that begins with a wedding—and continues in ways you can’t imagine.”
So I am absolutely in favor of this wedding, and I can’t wait to read it. Hopefully I reserved Astonishing X-Men at my local comic shop.
But Marvel isn’t the only comic book company jumping on the gay bandwagon. DC Comics announced over the weekend that they are going to re-introduce a previously straight character as gay when he makes his upcoming debut in the New 52 reboot. This has led some mainstream news agencies to wildly speculate that Superman or Batman might be revealed as gay, but that’s just silly.
First of all, they said it’s a character who has yet to appear in the New 52 reboot, so all major superheroes are out of the running. Second, Batman and Superman are as much brand names as they are characters in a comic book. DC is not going to alter the brand in such a way.
So my guess is that Vibe is going to be revealed as gay.
The 80s were a weird time
I think he would be a great choice, seeing as how the character is essentially a blank slate, considering he hasn’t appeared in comics in 20 or so years. DC can take this established character, who does have credentials as a member of the Justice League, and mold him into a positive gay role model and icon.
Instead of doing something creatively bankrupt like just saying that Batman is now gay. Which, again, they’re not going to do.
Review: X-Factor #236
I am not a fan of reality television, but the rest of the world is clearly in love. Ordinary people are turned into TV stars in shows like Ice Road Truckers, Pawn Stars or Hoarders. Programs focus on the day-to-day of real jobs or real lives more so than scripted television. Viewers are enthralled by every minute detail of the Kardashian family or the Real Housewives of Wherever for no other reason than the cult of celebrity. There is a show where Steve Urkel and other Z-list “celebrities” dance for our amusement, and a show glamorizing unwed, 16-year-old mothers – and both shows are incredibly popular. Jersey Shore!
X-Factor #236
We are living in the Mojoverse and we don’t even realize it.
Comic rating: 3/5: Alright.
Writer Peter David throws that bomb at our feet in this issue, and I for on am absolutely blown away. Whereas once upon a time the villainous Mojo’s TV-obsessed world was a parody of sleazy studio executives and bad taste, it has now become the stark, cold reality of our own television programming. We may not have real live gladiatorial combat yet, but how long until it’s here? How long until people are maliciously hurting one another for our amusement on reality TV?
The idea of Mojo being behind the nation’s love of the Kardashians would make a great story. How would our heroes fight against pop culture’s seemingly endless obsession with trashy TV?
Unfortunately, this brilliant idea is wasted and buried in an issue that amounts to little more than an extended fight scene between Shatterstar and the new villain Scattershot, who himself is a parody of trashy comic books. The fight’s OK, if you’re into extended fight scenes. But this issue has little else going for it, with barely any appearance of anyone else from X-Factor. The fight itself is lacking any deep character conflict, with Scattershot being one-dimensional and Shatterstar just showing off his fighting skills. There are a few hints towards Peter David’s larger plans for the series, but those hints continue to be so vague that I just don’t care anymore. So all in all, this is an issue that just doesn’t amount to much.
Other than that amazing Mojoverse idea!
Review: Avengers vs. X-Men #4
Four issues in to Marvel’s big summer event, one thing has become very clear: Avengers vs. X-Men the series is going to speed through the basic plot, leaving all the actual fighting and meaningful character interaction to the tie-ins. While normally I might have a problem with this, I’m happy to say that Avengers vs. X-Men remains a good read in and of itself. I’ve been avoiding the AvX fight series, because I don’t need to spend good money on pages full of punching. And I’ve been buying a few of the regular series tie-ins, especially the X-Men ones. They haven’t exactly matched up perfectly with the main series, but I can live with that.
Avengers vs. X-Men #4
Four issues in and Avengers vs. X-Men is still good, as far as I’m concerned. The story is moving at a crisp pace, always changing and always giving me something new and exciting to read. Heck, everybody visits the Moon in this issue, for crying out loud!
Comic rating: 4/5: Good.
At the end of last issue, I was worried that we were going to spend several issues with the various teams searching for Hope in the five different locations across the globe. Turns out, those searches were relegated to the tie-ins. We see brief glimpses of each search in this issue, and the fights that occur in those places, but by the end of the issue they’ve found Hope and we move on to the next big part of the story. One could argue that those five separate location visits were just filler or padding, but not the kind we usually get in these big event comics. If the filler lasts less than an issue before moving on to the next exciting event, I’m cool with that. If I wanted to read that filler, I know which tie-in comics to buy.
I’m definitely enjoying the pace of Avengers vs. X-Men. That’s probably it’s strongest element. Part of me wants to give this comic a lower grade because of the lack of depth, but I can honestly say I enjoyed the comic while I was reading it. All in one sitting, I bet the full series is going to be even better. Avengers vs. X-Men isn’t going to have depth and intense character drama. While that might improve things, the series definitely isn’t broke without them.
Join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more analysis.
New Comic to Feature Wolverine, Stupid Retcon
I didn’t even want to report this comic book news, because it just makes me shake my head and sigh. But I might as well, in case any of you are interested. Though turn back now if you don’t like listening to nerds bitching about stupid comic books on the Internet.
Marvel Comics is going to release a new mini-series in August entitled The First X-Men. It’s going to star Wolverine. And it’s going to involve a stupid retcon in which Wolverine put together a team of mutants before Professor Xavier.
With Wolverine, Sabretooth, Magneto, and token black and female characters
The worst thing is that the idea behind the series actually sounds pretty fascinating, but then Marvel go and mess things up by just making it another Wolverine book. Which is obviously done because Wolverine is a high-selling character, but c’mon! Can’t you guys just publish a cool X-Men book without jack-knifing Wolverine into it?
Marvel Superheroes are a Wacky Bunch
Somebody needs to give Imajunation a lot of money so that they can make a million more of these videos! A wacky, hilarious little clip show of wonderful Marvel superhero vignettes called ‘Disassembled’. DC may have the Super Best Friends Forever, but this video is almost as good. If you watch only one video on my blog, make it this one. Enjoy!
Henchman-4-Hire 