Gay or lesbian comic writers

[firehawk12]

Hi all!

I'm hoping someone here can help me out. To provide a bit of context, I'm currently in an English class dealing with gay playwrights who wrote "straight" - so we're looking at Noel Coward, Oscar Wilde, Edward Albee, etc.
I'm trying to find an essay topic that I might tackle and I was wondering if there was a comic/graphic novel equivalent?
Most of the big name writers that I know of - Vaughan, Bendis, Waid, Moore, Ennis, Wood, etc - I assume are straight, but I guess I really don't know.
Any author/book title suggestions would be greatly appreciated. :)

[lastchancer]

I'm not sure about homosexual writers. But I know Devin Grayson, who has worked on a number of different books is bisexual.

I'm not sure if that helps or not.

[luthor]

The only person I know for certain is Phil Jimenez (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Jimenez). I know Wizard(of all people) did an article about Gays and Lesbians working in the comic book business a few years ago but I'm not really sure what issue it was or anything.

[jaflanagan]

Eric Shanower (http://ericshanower.com/es/index.shtml) is a leading indy comic maker who is gay.

Judd Winick, while not gay himself, has certainly done a lot of work bringing the issue into comics.

Alison Bechdel (http://dykestowatchoutfor.com/alison-bechdel/)is another well known lesbian artist.

Every year at Comic-Con, there's a Gays in Comics panel, and if you do some googling on that, you'll likely learn more. You can start here (http://www.prismcomics.org/display.php?id=1473).

Then there's Allan Heinberg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_Heinberg), and Marc Andreyko (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Andreyko), and Bob Schreck (http://www.prismcomics.org/profile.php?id=47).

There are others, but at a certain point, I'd be speculating, and I don't want to incorrectly out someone.

[drwally]

Josh's list is a really good one, and
http://www.prismcomics.org
which he links to, is considered just about the best source there is.

I would also suggest (if you haven not already) check out the Comic Book Queers podcast - they have dealt with this subject in all kinds of forms. Includes creator interviews, http://www.comicbookqueers.com/ , a great discussion with the CBQ's favorite Hetero Comics guy, Tom Katers in one episode called "Heterosexuality in Comics" (that is not a typo, it is a great discussion), and other discussions that relate to the topic.

CBQ also did a great interview with Marc Andreyko, who Josh also mentioned, whose Nightwing Annual #2 got a P.O.W. nod from "straight man" Conor who wrote at the end of a gushing review of a romantic book about Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon, "Hey, it's Dick Grayson! I knew he'd been hiding somewhere, lo' these this last year or so. As it turns out there is someone left in comics who knows how to write him and his name is Marc Andreyko."

Alan Heinburg's Young Avengers is not just about the young gay couple - that is an important point. Some people made such a big deal about the gay couple, I was almost surprised to read all the stuff about the other characters on the team and their relationships and the degree to which "the gay thing" is played down quite a bit. Heinburg is a good writer to look at because he is (was) a writer on the television shows "The O.C." and "Grey's Anatomy" as well, which have their fair share of heterosexual romance, don't they?

Just a friendly suggestion, but I think there is an important aspect to the topic that deserves serious consideration. Noel Coward, Oscar Wilde, and Edward Albee, not to mention Christopher Isherwood and James Whale, led their lives quite privately. Even if their private lives were quite an open secret to the people who knew them, there was still a heavy veil between their private life and what was made known to the public. We only know so much about their private lives now because so much time has passed, so many people have done so much research, and attitudes have changed (to some degree).

Comic creators, on the other hand, are still alive and well and working, and whether or not they want to be known for their sexual orientation is a pretty big question that is quite difficult and complex, and a question that the topic "writer's who wrote straight" kind of underlines in a really big way. Probably in about 10 or more years, some big names might come out, but there hasn't been nearly enough time passed as there has been with people like Oscar Wilde, Noel Coward, and others.

I think you should also consider Midnighter and Apollo - even though they are gay characters written by straight men, they really have been ground breaking in a way few other characters have been, especially in terms of breaking stereotypes... and very well received by both gays and straights, if not always best selling. I think they should be considered in a "compare and contrast" kind of way within your set topic, if that makes sense.

Hope that helps.

[kahunablair]

The only person I know for certain is Phil Jimenez (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Jimenez). I know Wizard(of all people) did an article about Gays and Lesbians working in the comic book business a few years ago but I'm not really sure what issue it was or anything.

During my Comic hiatus, I saw a fantastic, short documentary TV Show on different stories affecting gay culture. They did a peice on Jimenez, that was really, really good.
I wish I could remember the name of the show...

[drwally]

During my Comic hiatus, I saw a fantastic, short documentary TV Show on different stories affecting gay culture. They did a peice on Jimenez, that was really, really good.
I wish I could remember the name of the show...

Hey Blair, I think I found what you mentioned, maybe - a great documentary about Jimenez, growing up drawing comics, his views, his history in the industry, his take on the mainstream characters. Also on the medium, and his really great articulation on why Wonder Woman is a a dearly beloved character by gay readers, and other things about his take on characters in general and how he views them - "In the LIfe, Part 1 and 2," two short 10 minute segments you can find on Youtube -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8iwoWwVtkY&feature=related (part 1)
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhmcuRpIYsU&feature=related (part 2)

Really quite good, highly recommended, more about what we share in common rather than what we don't. Is his what you meant?

[kahunablair]

Really quite good, highly recommended, more about what we share in common rather than what we don't. Is his what you meant?
It might be, sadly, YouTube is blocked here at work, and those won't load on my phone. When I get home, I'll give them a look and let you know.
Either way, Good Find!

[drwally]

It might be, sadly, YouTube is blocked here at work, and those won't load on my phone. When I get home, I'll give them a look and let you know.
Either way, Good Find!

Glad to help! I would recommedd checking it out - it really is about bridging two worlds rather than one opposed to the other, a nice thing to see.

[firehawk12]

Hi again!
Thanks for all the great posts.
On the connection between Wilde, et al and out comic book writers, you're right DrWally - the "problem" (well, for me anyway) is that those playwrights were "privately" gay and wrote straight dramas in part to distract from their own homosexuality whereas comic book writers now, at least ones mentioned in this thread, are not only out, but are also freely writing gay characters into their work.
I guess the question is whether or not there is a link between Wilde or Coward and Heinburg or Andreyko. I may have to give it a bit more thought, but I can't think of one right now.
Given that I haven't read Manhunter or Young Avengers, I imagine that the gay characters in those respective series were not, at one time (at least within the continuity of those series specifically) closeted? I guess it'd be a lot easier if that was the case though...

Food for thought, definitely. :)

[drwally]

Glad to help! I would suggest the link is somewhere close to - men writing strong women, well. Greg Rucka and Joss Whedon are two straight men that consistently create very popular female characters, that are strong yet flawed, and very adored by fans, but go against tendencies to pander to ... oh what do you call it... sexual objectification. In that respect, I prefer their work to sexually explicit gay work by gay artists that think just because they can portray a sexually attractive character, it is somehow more artistic, when really its just not, its just Super Booby Girl or Super Twink for the same sex, if that makes any sense. Just more food for thinking...:)

[euchre0]

I think you should also consider Midnighter and Apollo

While I am unable to confirm the accuracy of the source, I recall a fellow third grader, circa 1992, telling me that "Batman is GAY!" I'm not sure whether that helps or not, but it should be noted that said source quickly followed up his statement by adding that "Spawn rules!" Had he more time, he may well have rephrased his initial statement to say "Batman drools!"

[dave-accampo]

Given that I haven't read Manhunter or Young Avengers, I imagine that the gay characters in those respective series were not, at one time (at least within the continuity of those series specifically) closeted? I guess it'd be a lot easier if that was the case though...

The Young Avengers were created by Heinberg, so, no, they were never closeted.

Manhunter featured a straight main character, so there's that. However, a couple of the supporting characters are gay, most significantly Obsidian. Now, Obsidian wasn't written as gay in early appearances. In the 90's, Gerard Jones played with a storyline that SEEMED to add up to Obsidian being gay and attracted to his friend Nuklon. But this story was either changed editorially or it was always intended to be a big feint.

I'm not sure if Andreyko was the first to clearly depict Obsidian as gay. I feel like maybe Johns did something with it first? Someone else can probably remember. But maybe Andreyko was the first to write Obsidian as a gay character in a normal, gay relationship.

Of course, none of this really goes to your "problem" -- just thinking out loud.

I think among ANY writing circles (novels, comics, screenplays), there is no longer a need to be privately gay while writing "straight dramas." Hell, half the straight writers are writing "gay dramas." So maybe the link is the difference between now and then. ;)

[firehawk12]

It's why Manhunter seems kind of intriguing, because of Kate Spencer. But the gay character in the series might render that a bit irrelevant. :)

Someone on the CBQ forums suggested Andi Watson... and I don't know if I'm totally ignorant, but is Andi Watson out?
With the exception of Paris, based on his work I did kind of assume he was straight... which would really play well into the theme of the course I'm taking at the very least.

[dave-accampo]

Not certain, but I'm pretty sure Watson is married -- might even have kids.

Could be wrong, though.

[firehawk12]

Yeah, honestly I assumed with his latest writing that he had recently become a father.

[drwally]

The Young Avengers were created by Heinberg, so, no, they were never closeted.

I think among ANY writing circles (novels, comics, screenplays), there is no longer a need to be privately gay while writing "straight dramas." Hell, half the straight writers are writing "gay dramas." So maybe the link is the difference between now and then. ;)

Wait a minute, you mean the rest of the team besides Hulkling and Wiccan are closeted? (Just kidding)

But seriously, you make a wonderful point about the "gay writing straight" being so last century. Actually, Young Avengers is a great example of one man, a gay man in this case, writing a story about a team of young people who are mostly straight, but find the "gay" relationship of their two gay teammates to not be a "major thing," except that it is a very endearing and charming relationship. But, its just one more dynamic in a group of characters with many deeper dynamics - with straight, gay, male and female only being at the surface of things.

With gay relationships and gay characters popping out all over the place in some pretty mainstream media, it just goes to point that - if gay people like Heinburg or Russel T Davies or straight people like Joss Whedon and the people that work with them are considered good or even great writers/producers, then they have to be able to write convincing and compelling characters of all genders, sexual orientations, with all kinds of interesting complexities in their characters and actions.

What's that called? Good writers of good fiction, I'd say.

[luthor]

Hey Blair, I think I found what you mentioned, maybe - a great documentary about Jimenez, growing up drawing comics, his views, his history in the industry, his take on the mainstream characters. Also on the medium, and his really great articulation on why Wonder Woman is a a dearly beloved character by gay readers, and other things about his take on characters in general and how he views them - "In the LIfe, Part 1 and 2," two short 10 minute segments you can find on Youtube -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8iwoWwVtkY&feature=related (part 1)
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhmcuRpIYsU&feature=related (part 2)

Really quite good, highly recommended, more about what we share in common rather than what we don't. Is his what you meant?
That was excellent, thanks for posting DrWally!

[drwally]

That was excellent, thanks for posting DrWally!

Thanks, Luthor! I was really impressed by Jimenez, even though I reallly am not familiar with his work. His linking his love for Wonder Woman with his respect for his mother was really quite touching, I think I have a bit of that in myself. I also finally got the joke that CBQ does - always saying Jimenez name with an over the top macho latino accent, when the real guy is really such a sweet, modest guy.

Again, it really makes the point that the old conventional wisdom has it all wrong- that which supposedly divides us is far outweighed by what we have in common,iMHO.

[firehawk12]

I imagine there were "golden" or "silver" age writers that had to worry about outing themselves during those times though... although, that's just an assumption.

[luthor]

I imagine there were "golden" or "silver" age writers that had to worry about outing themselves during those times though... although, that's just an assumption.

Patrica Highsmith (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patricia_Highsmith), best known for her series of novels about murderer Tom Ripley (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Ripley) was infamously bi-sexual (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20030601/ai_n12582106). Not so infamously, she worked in comics during most of the 40s and is believed to have had a heavy hand in the stories of Golden Arrow, Spy Smasher, Captain Midnight and one of my personal favorite characters, The Black Terror.

[drwally]

Patrica Highsmith (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patricia_Highsmith), best known for her series of novels about murderer Tom Ripley (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Ripley) was infamously bi-sexual (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20030601/ai_n12582106). Not so infamously, she worked in comics during most of the 40s and is believed to have had a heavy hand in the stories of Golden Arrow, Spy Smasher, Captain Midnight and one of my personal favorite characters, The Black Terror.

The Black Terror? Spy Smasher? Captain Midnight? Ok, trying hard not to have a superiority complex... that's good stuff, thanks for the info, Luthor!

[cormano]

I didn't know most of the people mentioned were gay. It's always good to see that there is more diversity in comics than I realized.

Also, I remember reading the letters column in one of the early issues of Young Avengers and someone tiptoed around the fact that they were offended by Wiccan (then called Asgardian, which lead to a pretty funny joke) and Hulkling were gay. Up to that point, I thought Hulking was a girl.

[drwally]

I didn't know most of the people mentioned were gay. It's always good to see that there is more diversity in comics than I realized.

Also, I remember reading the letters column in one of the early issues of Young Avengers and someone tiptoed around the fact that they were offended by Wiccan (then called Asgardian, which lead to a pretty funny joke) and Hulkling were gay. Up to that point, I thought Hulking was a girl.

Yeah, the whole Huckling Wiccan thing was funny - I saw from the earliest pages what it was, and it was done pretty subtle but really not if you think of how male female relationships are portrayed -but it was funny to read people's reactions. One of our most beloved and wisest forum members had no idea the two were gay until like the very end when it was completely obvious and just mentioned directly, heh.

I think that speaks to how well Heinburg and Cheung were able to subtly portray the relationship in this very natural way, but also in a way that kind of messed with people's natural "expectations" and assumptions and "filters" as to what they were seeing, if that makes any sense. People would rather think 10 odd things about someone rather than guess the obvious - it's a gay thing. In comics? The same, but ten times more when you have mutants and aliens and all the rest. It's kind of neat magic trick that certain writers and artists can do to make a great story - what you think you are seeing is not actually what you are seeing, then BAM - wow. That's great stuff.

What I like to see too is this - challenge the whole notion that the thing we call "the straight male" is some monolithic uni-mind creature. I think the category of "straight male" and even "straight white male" needs to be seen with an eye for diversity, not uniformity.

But you thought Hulkling was a girl? Wow, that's funny. But I have known girls that looked kind of like that (but maybe not green), people come in many shapes and sizes... Although I prefer brunettes, I always thought the character in your avatar, Cormano, was Thor's coolest friend in Asgard when I was a kid... (for read dude). There's a topic - many of the biggest characters in comics were created by Jewish guys, what's that all about?

[firehawk12]

Patrica Highsmith (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patricia_Highsmith), best known for her series of novels about murderer Tom Ripley (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Ripley) was infamously bi-sexual (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20030601/ai_n12582106). Not so infamously, she worked in comics during most of the 40s and is believed to have had a heavy hand in the stories of Golden Arrow, Spy Smasher, Captain Midnight and one of my personal favorite characters, The Black Terror.

I don't suppose those comics are readily available... Google seems to say no. Dope.