Ten Best Gay and Bisexual Science Fiction Characters

2. John Constantine (Hellblazer; comics)

Those of you scratching your heads and wondering why Keanu Reeves wasn’t snogging any boys in Constantine, the 2005 film adaptation of thelong-running Hellblazer comic book series, should pick up a copy to see the character in his original form. Whether or not you saw this demon-riddled film as a sign of the apocalypse, you should know that apart from the name, the film has little in common with the two decades-old comic character who is very English, very blond – and very bisexual. Constantine also avoids the use of weapons and direct fighting, and wouldn’t give up smoking for anything on hell or earth.

Born in an era of two-dimensional spandexed heroes, Constantine is one of the many truly original creations of legendary English comics writer Alan Moore, whose most famous original works also include V for Vendetta, Watchmen, and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Remarkably, all of these original titles include GLBT characters, something few if any mainstream comic writers can boast.

Moore writes his GLBT characters in the same way he does his heterosexual ones – as antiheroes with violent histories. The Constantine we know and love is a deeply complicated character, a cynical mystic who thrives on danger and manipulates the people around him into horrifically violent situations in the interests of his humanist principles.

Best of all, Constantine has had both girlfriends and boyfriends. Being a fairly screwed up and dangerous individual, his relationships aren’t exactly the model of normalcy. Through dialogue he references having had relationships with both men and women, though most of the ones we’ve seen have been with women.

One memorable male relationship occurred during the course of a story arc in which Constantine became sexually involved with a masochistic male magnate. Constantine used the relationship to manipulate his lover to a specific end, which was consistent with his approach to other characters in his life. The character’s fascinating and unique nature aside, it’s notable that Constantine has starred as the bisexual protagonist of his own comic series that’s been continuously published since 1988.

Character Rating: 10/10

Significance Rating: 8/10

Originality Rating : 9/10

1. Captain Jack Harkness (Torchwood, BBC America)

Okay, it’s probably not a huge surprise having Captain Jack (John Barrowman) ranked number one on this list. But there’s a reason why the boys are gaga over Captain Jack. He is the only explicitly gay or bisexual lead of an international hit TV series (airing on BBC Three in the UK and on BBC America in the US) and the only show in America with an out actor as the lead. The fact that the character is a dashing hero capable of saving the world and wooing the guy is just the icing on the cake.