Green Lantern is Gay: An Editorial
Greetings Geeks,
In an effort to make the Green Lantern more relevant, DC comics has gone through the trouble of publicly announcing that the return of the Green Lantern to the recently rebooted "New 52" universe is eminent...and that he is gay. Warning. This is an editorial. My thoughts are solely my own and do not represent the thoughts of the Geek Grotto collectively. Nevertheless, read my thoughts after the jump.
One question. Who cares?
Let me be clear. I have absolutely no problem with a superhero being gay. I say "good job" to any company wanting to represent the gay community in their comics. Here is what I have a problem with...That this is news. Seriously. Before the hate mail starts, hear me out. The rebooted Green Lantern is Alan Scott. To those of you who don't know, we are talking pre-Hal Jordan Green Lantern. 1940's Green Lantern. That being said...if I was gay, I would honestly be insulted. First and foremost you chose the Green Lantern to be gay. That's bad enough. Anyone who knows me, knows that I think the Green Lantern is quite possibly the lamest super hero on the planet. (A ring that can do ANYTHING and he's making giant boxing gloves and slip n' slides!?!?!?!) But I digress...Second, you can't just make the lamest character in your universe gay, you have to make the oldest, most irrelevant version of the lamest character in your universe gay. @$$holes. THEN, you have the audacity to announce it to the general media like you've done the world a great service. Arrogant @$$holes.
Marvel's not innocent in this either. Northstar has been gay for years. "Who is Northstar", you say? "Exactly", I say.
I want to see the comics world take a real chance. Make Thor or Superman or Wolverine gay. And what's more, don't make such a big friggin' deal about it. It just makes you look pretentious.
Now, the writer and the artist are trying to play this one with a little finesse.
Series writer James Robinson said, “I’m very proud to be introducing Alan Scott into DC COMICS-THE NEW 52. He was my favorite Golden Age character and one I’m very familiar with so I’m really excited to be updating him for a contemporary readership. Oh, and on Earth 2 there is only one Green Lantern, so Alan's title is The Green Lantern. Alan's sexuality is just one facet of him, along with his innate goodness, valor, charisma and skill at leadership that makes him the perfect man to wield the power of the green light in the world of Earth 2."
Series artist Nicola Scott had this to offer, "Alan strikes me as an incredibly open, honest and warm man, a natural leader and absolutely the right choice to be Guardian of the Earth. His sexuality is incidental. Every time I draw him I love him even more."
So if it is so incidental, then why is this such big news? Sound off! I want to know what you think.