How Superman Became Gay
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Executives at DC Comics were considering the future of the company, and what its signature superhero meant today, in the story behind how Superman became bisexual.
The Washington Post: “This was an opportunity to do something different, something not seen before. And to have this Superman represent people who haven’t been represented before and haven’t been able to see themselves in Superman,”said Tom Taylor, who writes the Jon Kent series, which is mostly illustrated by John Timms. “To pitch something like this [to DC] is a little bit daunting. You go, are they going to go with this? Because historically, I have had queer characters erased or rejected [at other publishers]. But there’s been a real shift, a really welcome shift in comics.”
LGBTQ superheroes are nothing new at the big two comics publishers, DC Comics and Marvel Comics. At DC, Alan Scott, the original Green Lantern, came out in 2012.
In August, Tim Drake, the Robin of the 1990s and the third of four Boy Wonders to fight alongside Batman, was revealed to be bisexual. Aquaman ally Jackson Hyde, a.k.a. Aqualad, is gay. Harley Quinn, perhaps DC’s most popular character right now, has had love for the Joker and her fellow femme fatale Poison Ivy. Marvel LGBTQ characters include America Chavez; Wiccan, who’s the son of the Scarlet Witch; and X-Men members Ice-Man and Northstar.
But none of them are Superman, part of DC’s elite “trinity” of superheroes along with Batman and Wonder Woman.
Just as DC’s straight heroes aren’t defined by their sexuality, Taylor wants to make sure the same courtesy is given to DC’s new Superman. Which is why Jon and Jay kiss in the fifth issue, and not when the series debuted in July.
Superman’s shift is part of a larger attempt to diversify DC’s trinity, along with the new Brazilian Wonder Woman, Yara Flor, and the Black Batman, Jace Fox. Javin notes that it’s the biggest change in the threesome since the 1990s, when Superman famously died and was replaced with four others, and there were new takers for Batman and Wonder Woman as well. But whereas those newbies were temporary replacements, DC’s new trinity will build their legacies alongside the original real deals.
Taylor says this new Superman’s present will be about fighting for “truth, justice and a better world” and will eventually reveal updates about his love life to those closest to him, including one of his best friends, Damian Wayne, who’s the son of Batman and the current Robin.
“His thing is going to be that he stands for everyone,” Taylor said. “Everyone who is oppressed. Everyone who is underrepresented. Everyone who needs him. He’ll be there.”
