Midnighter: DC's Gay Superhero Could Use Some Rescuing

This is what I'm talking about in the director piece. He's not gay enough. If he was a drag queen in his personal life with Apollo being his backup dancer, he'd be living a sterotype. What is the target group for comics? I don't think it's middle aged gay men. It is obviously known to the fans of the serious he is a gay man in a relationship. Deleving into the past will probably explore issues like coming out would it not? In Love In Light In Joy E "You will make all kinds of mistakes; but as long as you are generous and true and also fierce you cannot hurt the world or even seriously distress her. She was meant to be wooed and won by youth." Churchill

Hasn't there recently been controversy because this year's "Grifter and Midnighter" mini-series was handed to writer Chuck Dixon, a man who has publically said, among other things "I don't want to expect to be able to shield my kids from the subject of homosexuality as the media seems intent on bringing into my home and nothing short of cutting the electricity and boarding the windows will stop it. But I DON'T want my kids reading about it in comics." (Dixon was speaking of Marvel's "Rawhide Kid" mini-series, where the main character was revealed as gay).

So François Peneaud's excellent article suggests Midnighter's lover and family life have virtually-- if not completely-- been made to vanish, and a guy who sounds like an anti-gay pundit from Fox News is given the job of writing a mini-series about the character.

Maybe I'm naive, but that sure sounds like a serious problem.

Thanks for the kind words. 

I didn't write anything about Dixon because I haven't read the Grifter/Midnighter mini-series and have no intention to.
As you said, Dixon is openly homophobic, and DC gives him Midnighter to read...
Dixon tried to change his image recently (forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=96409): "My suggestion was that superhero comics are, whether die-hard fans like it or not, ostensibly children’s comics and perhaps not the forum to be informing children of homosexuality, heterosexuality, or sexually transmitted diseases", which might sounds fair, if stupid.
But then, "So Clark and Lois can be seen kissing and being affectionate and there’s no need to explain it." and " But if Wonder Woman and Supergirl are seen kissing then that does call for an explanation. The sexual aspect of a relationship like that will call forth questions from the kiddies."
Because, of course, two straight people can kiss, they just love each other, but if two gay/lesbian people kiss, it's only about sex.
What a moron.

François
---------------
http://gaycomicslist.free.fr

First of all: THANKS FOR A GREAT ARTICLE!

I really enjoyed the recap, esp. because I've only read the Midnighter solo title! For what it's worth, I'm actually enjoying it. Sure it's subtle (to almost non-existant), but Midnighter is a secretive type of guy. I feel that it's OK not to have Apollo in the series much, but I do think that his character should at least be more talked about. After all, they are married, and I would think Midnighter would be thinking of his lover more often.

I am a bit puzzled how villains know about his sexual preference, too. Was this explained in any issues of the Authority (or somewhere else)? Perhaps his marriage to Apollo was a public event which would help explain things. But even if it wasn't common knowledge, I would expect at least SOME enemies to be up on their facts, and rightly so. Esp. in the first story arch: the main baddie sought out Midnighter for a specific task, so I would expect the mastermind to know everything about him. As for the "random" one-story baddie knowing he's gay... that's a bit of a stretch. But to be "Devil's Advocate", I think issue #7 was meant as a humorous "fun" one-shot. This issue had a lot of one liner insults and just seemed more like fluffer, because it was essentially all action, and ended/began with a great big one page splash of Midnighter and Apollo making out! YESSSS! In addition, this story was printed BACKWARDS and was (I think) an intelligent way to link it to the time-travelling antics of the story arch that just finished.

I also believe that a lot of conflicts arise because comics are still primarily written by straight white men. So stories featuring diverse ethnicities, LGBT or women characters are not always as sensitive to these subjects or themes. Of course, a great writer should be able to transcend these things so I would place more "blame" on the editors (Scott Dunbier, ed. and Kristy Quinn, asst ed.).

In addition, I do think this book, Midnighter, is aimed at adults. It's level of violence is very graphic: showing the hero smashing enemies faces in, kicking people's heads off, guts and blood everywhere, etc. It's violent, and rightly so: he is a killing machine. There's no way that could be recommended reading for young people. This, in my opinion, is a comic for adults (18+), and I would hope that sexuality comes more into play in the near future. It is, after all, only at issue #8.

Anyhow, I do have faith in Giffen. He wrote some fantastic stories in the past, and I am a HUGE fan of his work with the DC title "Legion of Super-Heroes". That series in particular had love stories tangled with violence and death, so it would seem a good match.

Here's hoping for a brighter future for our dark hero! :)

I'm no comic book fan but I am a huge fan of fine, intelligent writing and I read this piece with great interest and pleasure.

Ironically, a couple of years ago a friend gifted me with the entire Rawhide Kid series, nicely bagged and preserved. While I appreciated the gesture, I have to admit that I've never even opened the bags. Now I think I might put on my latex gloves and give them a look.

Thanks for a very informative and thought-provocative article. I think I might go buy a comic.

First of all, I totally agree with you guys about Chuck Dixon. I've been reading comics since I was six and am now creating a series of my own. Anyway, I met Chuck Dixon in Chicago at the Wizard World Convention in 1999. He gave a panel on his "10 Commandments of Comic Book Writing." Basically, all of his advice followed an unoriginal and uninspiring formula. I had enjoyed some of his ROBIN comics and a few other things. But since that day, I haven't been a fan. Chuck is always ahead of schedule with his work, but it's mediocre. He's no Alan Moore and never will be.

Anyway, on to the Authority... Midnighter and Apollo are Wildstorm's (not DC, as the writer of the article suggests, though Wildstorm is owned by DC) Batman and Superman. The Authority is the JLA on steroids. The comic book series, and mini-series that stem from it, is about a group of superheroes who fight "real" crime on their own terms. The Authority is more powerful than the United States government and often brings world leaders to their knees. The Authority goes after the real villains of the world. This is a hardcore team that believes in killing, unlike the JLA!

As far as the so-called "homophobic" language by the villains...Well they are VILLAINS, you know. Midnighter and Apollo are extremely affectionate in the stories. They make out all the time, and Midnighter makes it clear that no one can mess with Apollo and expect to live! If that's not affection for a super hero, then I don't know what is. The picture of Apollo and Midnighter kissing in this article is from a recent issue of the Midnighter series. That image is on the very first splash page of the comic! How can the writer of this article seriously claim that Midnighter and Apollo aren't gay enough? They're just as gay as the characters on Queer as Folk. They're unashamed, open, and unapologetic. They also kick some serious ass.

If the language of the villains seems twisted and disturbing, that's because it's supposed to! The Authority stories are meant to be disturbing and push the envelope. It's intended to be extreme. I've read almost every story involving the Midnighter and Apollo, and I remember how natural and consistent their affection and devotion for each other has beem portrayed. Their beloved Jenny Sparks was reincarnated. Guess who raised her after that? Daddy Apollo and Daddy Midnighter. That's right, Apollo and Midnighter are parents together. As Midnighter beautifully put it, the two of them are "day and night." Look at the symbols on their chests. Midnighter has the moon and Apollo bears the sun. If all of these important details don't do their relationship and portrayal of their sexuality justice, then there's just no pleasing the writer of this article.

I almost forgot, but Apollo and Midnighter became the first gay superheroes to get married, and that happened before any of the characters on Queer as Folk even tied the not.

So to those of you wondering how everyone knows that they're gay: 1) The Authority have somewhat of celebrity status, kind of like the Fantastic Four and the JLA; and 2) They got married for all of the world to see. The panel where the grooms kiss is breathtaking and funny at the same time. There's one guy in the corner who kind of freaks out in disgust, but everyone else in the crowd looks happy for the newlyweds. It's great!

In "52", I think DC handled Bat-Woman's sexuality pretty well. And DC has proven to respect it's gay characters in the past. Thanks for an interesting read. I may pick up Midnighter and check it out. Their have been few gay comic characters I could relate to, Sunfire from Marvel's Exiles being the exception... Go for it DC ! Lets see what you can do babes !

OK, so Giffen's first issue shows Midnighter looking into his life before he became Midnighter. It turns out the Bendix overlaid whoever he had been with the "Midnighter" personality. Does anyone think that Midnighter is going to stop being gay when he regains he other life? If figures that Giffen can't handle a gay guy while top-notch writers like Warren Ellis and Ed Brubaker handle it all with ease.

Please read my post about villains being out to be gay in comic books for more info.