This week, the organizers of Flame Con, the first LGBT-focused comic book convention, issued a statement in preparation for its second annual event, set for August 21-22, 2016, in Brooklyn, New York, at the Marriott, Brooklyn Bridge. In honor of those we lost in Orlando last week, the convention organizers are prohibiting toy guns. Read…
LGBT Visibility: Trans-Modification
Back in July, our dear senior editor Matt Santori spoke about the recent changes to major characters in DC and Marvel comics. A woman shall wield Mjölnir and be known as Thor. The first African American superhero Falcon will be succeeding Steve Rogers as Captain America. The mantle of Ms. Marvel now belongs to a…
Crisis of Epic Proportion: I Want a Gay Iron Man
This time last week, I was still reveling in the miracle that was nearly unanimous praise for my first love, DC Comics, over its new direction for the Batgirl comic book. In a manner of three days, more than 500 pieces of fan art for Barbara Gordon’s new costume were produced and shared online (and…
Review: A VOICE IN THE DARK #2
A VOICE IN THE DARK #2 Written by Larime Taylor Art by Larime Taylor Published by Image Comics Release Date: January 8, 2014 Author and illustrator Larime Taylor continues to lead us down a dark path of self-examination with “Blood Makes Noise, Part 2.” While part 1 of this story dealt primarily with murder and…
LGBT Visibility: Weathering the Storm
Batgirl: Gay Icon? was my first attempt at examining the cultural trend of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people’s idolization of heterosexual and cisgender public figures in history and popular culture. In short, the long-held demonization of same-sex attraction and gender variance has left the existence of prominent, influential and well-respected LGBT figures as…
Review: A VOICE IN THE DARK #1
A VOICE IN THE DARK #1 Written by Larime Taylor Art by Larime Taylor Self-published by Larime Taylor Re-release Date: November 20, 2013 (from Image Comics) Have you ever fantasized about what it would be like to get away with murder? I’m sure everyone has at some point, but for the sake of argument, let’s…
LGBT Visibility: Batwoman and the Agency of Marriage
Thursday, Batwoman co-authors J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman released a joint statement announcing their departure from the title due to conflicts with DC editorial staff. One of the most significant revelations out of this statement was the fact that Batwoman (Kate Kane) and girlfriend Detective Maggie Sawyer would not be allowed to marry,…
Interview: Joseph P. Illidge on the Intersections of Comic Books
Joseph Phillip Illidge started his editorial career at Milestone Media, Inc., the first Black-owned mainstream comic book company and home to Static Shock!, the award-winning Warner Bros. cartoon. The first African-American to become an editor of the Batman line of comic books and graphic novels for DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros., Joseph was…
Review: FF #6
FF #6 Written by Matt Fraction Art by Joe Quinones and Laura Allred Release Date: April 24, 2013 In the wake of Medusa’s disappearance, the remaining leaders of the Future Foundation take a “day in the life” issue (is there really any other kind?) to search her out and continue to deal with the reality…
The Million Dollar Debut of Alysia Yeoh
Okay, so this isn’t exactly about the debut of Alysia Yeoh, who actually made her first appearance in Batgirl #1 (2011). It’s more of a revelation, which is just as significant. For the longest time, people who do not fit into the binary XY-male/XX-female gender model have had no proper representation in comic books. Gender…
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