Wednesday, June 20, 2012

ASTONISHING X-MEN #51

ASTONISHING X-MEN #51 was released today. It's an important issue because NORTHSTAR (X-Men & Alpha Flight) married his boyfriend, Kyle - the first same-sex marriage within the pages of Marvel Comics!

I was proud of Marvel when, 20 years ago, they made Northstar become their first openly gay character, and I'm proud of Marvel today for doing this. As an X-Men reader I could care less about this wedding, just the same way I didn't care about Cyclops & Jean Grey's wedding in '94 - I'm simply not interested in Romance Comics. But what I am interested in is EQUALITY, and not just for some, but FOR ALL

6 comments:

Homie Bear said...

Like!

MOCK! said...

Well said!

Anonymous said...

I have no problem with what your saying, what I DO have a problem with is when comics (MARVEL in this case) does this for the sake of doing it, in a "I'll show them" type of attitude.. They did the same thing with "Proposition X", changing the ethnicity of characters, and stories based around their Political beliefs ( ie,..Civil War).I personally have no problem with two people loving each other, the "gay lifestyle, whatever...but i really cannot stand it when these books try and shove something in everyone's face for nothing more than doing it. for example,... was this a build up? did we follow their relationship? were we all on pins and needles wondering when They would tie the knot? No,..it's someone over at Marvel trying to make a point, or flip their personal feelings and beliefs at everyone without the slightest bit of subterfuge to allow a reader who might not be so keen on it to see through analogous writing that they might want to re-think their position ( the original Star Trek was brilliant at this). This is nothing more than two gay men intentionally dressing in Leather and making out in front of a catholic church for no other reason than rile up everyone in a "We can do it, so screw you.."attitude.
it's just kind of petty....

-my opinion.

Jim said...

yeah, its very rushed and feels forced. When it was announced Northstar would be marrying his boyfriend, Kyle, I thought "Northstar has a boyfriend?"

Much like the Black Panther/Storm wedding, this lacked the organic buildup of storytelling that gives the reader an invested attachment. Show their first meeting... show their relationship grow... so that when the question is asked, we as readers are excited - "nice! they make a good couple and this makes sense"

That's where I feel Marvel really dropped the ball - make history through compelling storytelling. Dropping it in out lap from leftfield does not make me care and, like you said, comes off as forceful.

But in the end, I'm glad they atleast did something. Like I said, Equality for All.

Anonymous said...

I agree with anonymous. Throwing together a marriage just do to and thumb your nose at naysayers is silly.

I agree with Jim also, because peple who are in love are in love regardless of gender. People don't choose to be gay (real gay people not "experimenters" like Anne Heche)

Just a thought... shouldn't polygamy between consenting adults be smiled upon just as much as gay marriage?

Mr. Leggs said...

One step at a time, Anonymous.