Demythifying Equity Seeking Groups Representation Among Icons At DC Comics and Marvel!
Equity Seeking Groups
This appears to the latest term or phrase attempting to encompass and define all those people that identify as having barriers to equal access to opportunity in society due to discrimination and/or disadvantage. This typically covers people of color, people with disabilities , LGBTQ2+ and others I may be missing (apologies).
Also, please note that LGBTQ2+ is typically also referred to as LGBTTTQQIAA includes the following groups of people.
- Lesbian
- Gay
- Bisexual
- Transgender
- Transsexual
- Two-Spirit
- Queer
- Questioning
- Intersex
- Asexual
- Ally
The plus that ends it includes the following, but there could be others.
- Pansexual
- Agender
- Gender Queer
- Bigender
- Gender Variant
- Pangender
I identify as an ally someone who is straight, married with a child and someone who is cisgender. I am not well versed in all the terms, but I understand this to mean that I identify with my birth sex or biological gender.
Yes, these inclusive terms seem like a lot to learn considering people of my generation did not learn them, or anything even remotely close to them, but I just think it is important to be inclusive, to support our neighbors, truly see them and accept them.
Pulse Equality
In recent decades the move to have comic books, particularly from the Big Two of Marvel and DC Comics, to be more representative of society at large has accelerated.
I’m of enough to remember the seismic shift of Marvel’s X-Men affiliated Alpha Flight team book having one of its leads come out as gay; March 1992’s Alpha Flight #106. He, and his husband, were featured in the recently cancelled X-Factor series.
Not that weren’t tacitly gay character before that; DC Comics introduced Extrano’s alter ego in the pages of January 1988’s Millennium #2, but he was a gay stereotype, well more like a caricature, when he assumed his super-hero identity in the Millennium #8 finale.
The character returned in the DC Rebirth era in Midnighter and Apollo #1 (December 2016) and was dramatically less stereotypical; he also was a founding member of the Justice Foundation.
Later he seemingly the lead for the JLQ (Justice League Queer) and some takes his nom du guerre as a badge of honor as opposed to something to redeemed; extrano is the Spanish word for strange after all.
Many vocal comic book fans, who appear to be a dwindling group, have bemoaned modern day efforts to diversify super-hero universes from the Big Two. The claim that the companies should stay away from the icons and created new characters who are non-white, LGBTQ2+, people with disabilities, etc. However, readers tend to gravitate to the Big Two for their legacy characters and those that derivative from them. While Naomi is a current DC Comics effort at new and diverse, it is difficult to tell how its first season of comics sold, but it is getting a boost before season 2 with a new CW series which has eBay fired up over its first season back issues.
In the end, while the times are changing, we need to embrace them. Not all of these efforts may be well executed, that is the same as other non diverse forward stories, but to hate on a character or story only because it includes a prominent gay character or a prominent person of color is intolerant, bigoted and racist. It is not someone being a purist or respecting the origins of the legacy super-heroes they claim to love.
You can’t have it both ways; you can’t say don’t change our storied super-heroes to make them more diverse and then still be upset when other new legacy derivative characters are introduced that share their mantle or join their family are diverse at inception or, later on, realize they are part of the LGBTQ2+ community. In the latter case, such a journey actual mirrors the experiences and journey of discovery of many LGBTQ2+ community.
Below are a few notable examples of Marvel and DC Comics characters that have gotten social media abuzz by representing more of society in the pages of comics.
I’ll be focusing on the Trinity Families for DC Comics, namely Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman for this exploration. I know that the John Stewart Green Lantern was a trailblazer having become the Emerald Guardian in his first appearance in Green Lantern (Volume 2) #87 in January 1972; it is part of the iconic Green Lantern / Green Arrow: Hard Traveling Heroes collection.
His myth grew the 1980s Green Lantern run beginning in Green Lantern #182 in November 1984; a run that has been collected.
He also gained a measure of notoriety as the Green Lantern in several seasons of the Justice League animated series beginning in 2005 I believe.
There is also the first DC Comics series to be headline by a Black Man in Black Lighting a series that launched in April 1977.
He’s also headlined subsequent series and was a founding member of Batman and the Outsiders in August 1983; they too have been collected.
Black Lighting also gained wider attention headlining his own CW series from 2018-2021 lasting four seasons.
So, lots of examples of diverse representation in DC lore, but I am focusing on the company’s elite pop culture icons with this piece.
Bisexual Superman
First appearance: Convergence: Superman #2 (July 2015)
Coming out: Superman: Son of Kal-El #5 (November 2021)
DC Comics has received some controversy for revealing that Superman’s son Jon Kent is bi-sexual and now in a relationship with young journalist Jay Nakamura. Kent’s bi-sexual self was revealed in 2021’s Superman: Son Of Kal-El #9.
Interestingly, a year earlier he was in a relationship of sorts with the Legion of Super-Heroes Saturn Girl revealed in LOSH #9.
In addition, last month, Jon Kent came out to his best friend, Batman’s son, current Robin, and 1/2 of the Super Sons, Damian Wayne in Superman and Robin Special #1; he was accepted with open arms.
I think the real controversy is how DC Comics has aged Jon Kent in his seven years of existence. He went from baby to eleven or twelve years old to teenager in that time; the last time with a time travel McGuffin.
Black Superman I
First appearance: Animal Man #23 (May 1990)
This “Sunshine Superman” aka Chas Doug first appeared during the Crisis on Infinite Earths as part of a Dreamworld appearing in Animal Man #23 and #24. He was a member of the Love Syndicate of Dreamworld.
During the 2014-15 Multiversity series / event, it was established this Superman and his Love Syndicate reside on Earth 47.
Black Superman I
First appearance: The Adventures of Superman #500 (June 1993)
John Henry Irons debuted as part of the death and return of Superman arc 30 years ago; he was one of four others claiming to be Superman after he died.
After Superman returned from the dead, he as continued as Steel at DC Comics evening spawning a 1997 film starring Shaq in addition to other appearance across DC TV animated and live action including the current CW series Superman and Lois.
Black Superman III
First appearance: Tangent Comics: The Superman #1 (September 1998)
Harvey Dent is the Superman on his world and he later becomes a villain in the Superman’s Reign event of 2008 ten years after his debut. This was a short-lived and not well fleshed out, or used for that matter, Superman.
Tangent Comics characters appear to reside on Earth 9.
Black Superman IV
First appearance: Final Crisis #7 (March 2009)
DC Comics also has an Black Superman, President of the United States Calvin Ellis, from an alternate Earth in the multiverse namely Earth 23, and leader of Justice League Incarnate. I didn’t refer to him as African American as his origins on the planet Krypton not Africa.
He played a role in 2009’s Final Crisis then in New 52 in the pages of 2012’s Action Comics and his alter ego was revealed in Action Comics #9.
He also headlined the Multiversity in its 2014’s limited series that led to him as leader of the multiversal Justice League aka Justice League Incarnate.
He’s now integral to the three act Infinite Frontier storyline that began with 2021’s Infinite Frontier limited series followed by 2021-2022’s Justice League Incarnate limited series.
The third and final act, via presumably a limited series, in the Infinite Frontier storyline has yet to be announced but is expected to e written by Joshua Williamson and debut in 2022.
This Superman is said to reside on Earth 23.
Black Superman V
First appearance: Earth 2 #19 (March 2014)
Prior to that, an Earth 2 series during the New 52 era was headlined by a Justice Society of America team with its own black Superman in Val-Zod. His version of Earth 2 may exist somewhere in DC Comics’ Omniverse of the Infinite Frontier era.
I really enjoyed this this 2012 Earth 2 series that opened with the death of that world’s Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman; a new Superman, who was black, debuted later in the run and he was Val-Zod part of the villainous family of iconic Superman foe General Zod.
This Superman’s Earth 2 doesn’t appear to be part of the known Omniverse, but things may change.
Black Batman
First appearance: Batman #313 (July 1979)
Assumed mantle: Dark Nights: Death Metal #7 (March 2021)
Tim Fox debited in 1979 and did not have a significant role as he was just there to expand the world and family of Batman confidante and Bruce Wayne company executive Lucius Fox.
Tim Fox returned in 2021’s Future State, the futures (plural) set series of limited series, as its Next Batman; a Black Batman.
However, he returns in the present and later in 2021 was part of the Next Batman: Second Son mini-series where he is rechristened Jace Fox from Tim.
Jace Fox has now unmasked so the world may not know who he is, but they now know he’s a black man as he headlines his own ongoing series I Am Batman.
In February 8, 2022’s issue I Am Batman #6 he moves to New York City from Gotham City and becomes NYC’s Batman.
Black Robin
First appearance: Batman Vol 2 #21 (August 2013)
Duke Thomas debuted during the New 52 era of DC Comics. Be became a Robin and was a lead of a series called We Are Robin.
Since then he has left the Robin mantle and fights crime as one of Gotham’s few daytime heroes called the Signal.
Bisexual Robin
First appearance: Batman #436 (August 1989)
Coming out: Batman: Urban Legends #6 (August 2021)
DC Comics introduced Tim Drake in 1989 and later in 1991 he headlined his own mini-series as Robin. It was a big deal back in the day as not many, if any, sidekicks would headline their own limited series.
After two more mini-series, he graduated to his own ongoing series that began in 1993 that ran for 16 years ending in April 2009 with Robin #183; the series also had a #0 issue, a #1,000,000 issue and seven annuals.
In recent months, DC Comics has also received some controversy for revealing that Batman third Robin, Tim Drake, is bi-sexual and perusing a relationship with a long-time school friend Bernard Dowd as revealed in the pages of Batman: Urban Legends #6.
He also came out to Batman in Batman: Urban Legends #10 who accepted him for who he was and he may have already known about this before Tim realized it.
Part of the concern by some fans is Tim’s series of girlfriends that is well chronicled by CBR.
- Ariana Dzerchenko
- Jubilation Lee aka Jubilee (from DC vs. Marvel)
- Stephanie Brown aka Spoiler (his best known girlfriend)
- Greta Hayes aka Secret
- Cassie Sandsmark aka Wonder Girl
- Darla Aquista aka Warlock’s Daughter
- Zoanne Wilkins
- Tam Fox (sister of the Jace Fox Batman and daughter of Lucius Fox)
- Lynx II (secret identity remains secret)
- Madison Payne aka Firestorm (during Future’s End)
- Barbara Gordon aka Batgirl (Batman: Arkham Knight video game)
While fans may use that as an excuse, the fact that for 32 years Tim Drake was portrayed as straight, to hate on the revelation that Tim Drake is now bisexual, the experience of many in the LGBTQ2+ mirrors his. Several relationships with the opposite sex, but none that last. Tim Drake now seems to go by Red Robin, as Batman’s son Damian Wayne is Robin, but it is an important message to have a ward of Batman’s, accepted by him, part of the LGBTQ2+ community.
Also, surely with several former Robins, and one current boy wonder, that one of them can be more representative of, despite it being 2022, an equity seeking group.
Bisexual Wonder Woman / Wonder Girl
First appearance: Dark Nights: Death Metal #7 (March, 2021)
Also part of DC Future State was its Wonder Woman a Brazilian Woman named Yara Flor.
When that event ended, a younger Yara Flor debuted in DC Rebirth headlining her own ongoing 2021 Wonder Girl series that recently ended.
However, Yara Flor has a two-part series that is part of the Trial of the Amazons event including the next two Wonder Women too.
Black Wonder Woman
First appearance: Wonder Woman #204 (January 1973)
Modern day return: Dark Nights: Death Metal #7 (March, 2021)
Nubia debuted in the 1970’s also as a bit of a stereotype, right down to the animal print, but for the times seemingly like progress in her three issue appearances from Wonder Woman #204 to #206.
She appeared very sporadically in the intervening 48 years, but in 2021 she returned to prominence during Infinite Frontier as the Queen of the Amazons, headlining her own six issue limited series Nubia and the Amazons.
She will also be featured in the Trial of the Amazons event featuring the the tree Amazon tribes:
- Amazons of Themyscirans – Diana’s original amazons
- Amazons of Bana-Mighdall – Nubia’s originating amazons
- Amazons of Esquecida – Yara Flor’s amazons
Curious to see what happens next with the Wonder Women of DC Comics.
Bisexual Wonder Woman
First appearance: (December 1941)
Interestingly, while not mentioned in main continuity, the original Wonder Woman, Diana Prince, is bisexual as her people amazon people are lesbians, but she has also had relationships with men including the iconic Steve Trevor.
This has been confirmed in the past by her writers and in at least one case received main stream media coverage.
Black & Gay Aquaman
First appearance: Brightest Day #4 (August 2010)
Assumed mantle: Aquaman: The Becoming #1 (September 2021)
Jackson Hyde debuted in the pages of the Brightest Day event series and would eventually become Aqualad and even sporting the cover treatment for Brightest Day #10.
Interestingly, a few months later in Young Justice TV series episode “Independence Day” (November 2010) viewers were introduced to another Black Aqualad in the form of Kaldur’ahm.
Over the years, DC Comics began merging the two representations in its comics; both are now:
- Gay
- Blonde
- Son of Aquaman villain Black Manta
- Called Aquaman
In 2017, in the Young Justice TV series Kaldur’ahm became Aquaman upon his retirement. In 2021-22 series Aquaman: The Becoming, his comic book counterpart becomes Aquaman.
In the comics he will headline a new Aquamen ongoing series with the original Aquaman that kicked off February 15, 2022.
DC LGBTQ2+ Representation
For a listing of, at press time numbering 359, DC Comics LGBTQ2+ characters check out the DC Fandom page. There are other prominent characters in DC that are part of the community, but are not derived from a legacy character or assumed their mantle.
I was unable to find a site listing DC’s diverse characters; if you know of one that seems comprehensive shoot me a link please.
I’ll be focusing on Marvel’s three core team franchises, Avengers, X-Men and Fantastic Four as well as the Spider-Man family. I know there may be other diverse characters among Marvel’s hallowed halls, even from a pop culture nature, but this seemed the best way to tackling Marvel. I know that Black Panther has had a presence in Marvel since his debut in Fantastic Four #52 (April 1966) and has anchored several series.
In addition to several contemporary collections and omnibi, King T’Challa’s early adventures have also been collected in an omnibus.
The character also headlined the commercially mega-successful Black Panther film in 2018 with a sequel in the works with some changes to the due to the unfortunate ad surprise death of actor Chadwick Boseman.
Another prominent black hero is Luke Cage who debuted in Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1 (June 1972).
It was rebranded as Luke Cage, Power Man #17 (November 1993).
It was rebranded yet again to Power Man and Iron Fist #50 (January 1978) and ended with Power Man and Iron First #125 (June 1985).
The character of Luke Cage came to prominence on Marvel’s Netflix slate of TV series.
- First appearing in Marvel’s Jessica Jones that ran for 3 seasons and 39 episodes between 2015 and 2019.
- He then headlined his own series Marvel’s Luke Cage for 2 seasons, 26 episodes, between 2016 and 2018.
- Cage was also featured in Marvel’s Defenders that ran 8 episodes over one season in 2017; the Defenders team series included leads from other Netflix Marvel series including:
- Daredevil (3 seasons, 39 episodes, 2015-18)
- Iron Fist (2 seasons, 23 episodes, 2017-18)
- While not featuring Luke Cage, to close out the Netflix Marvel series, just so that this is a complete listing, there was also a Punisher series that lasted 2 seasons, 26 episodes, 2017-19.
These characters, including Luke Cage, may still have life considering Daredevil’s alter ego Matt Murdock appears in the Marvel / Sony Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021 as did Daredevil nemesis Kingpin in season one of Marvel’s Hawkeye on Disney Plus; both were played by their Netflix Marvel series actors.
I recognize there are lots of examples of diverse representation in Marvel lore, but I am focusing on the company’s core pop culture icons here.
Black Iron Man
First appearance: Iron Man #118 (October 1978)
Assumed mantle: Iron Man #170 (May 1983)
Black Bucky
First appearance: Captain America #323 (November 1986)
Assumed mantle of Captain America’s partner: Captain America #334 (October 1987)
Became Battlestar in Captain America #341 (May 1988).
Black Nick Fury I
First appearance: Ultimate Marvel Team-Up #5 (August 2001)
Black Nick Fury II
First appearance: Battle Scars #1 (November 2011)
Assumed mantle: Battle Scars #6 (April 2012)
Young Avengers
- Black Captain America (Patriot)
- Gay Hulk (Hulkling)
- Gay Doctor Strange (Wiccan)
First appearance: Young Avengers #1 (February 2005)
While Iron Lad has a complicated backstory, and rounds out the OG founding Young Avengers team, his three other teammates make 75% of the team diverse and representative of society.
Hulking and Wiccan were portrayed as flirtatious with one another from the start, but it was subtle; as such they were presented as gay from their debut.
The Patriot concealed his ethnicity at the beginning covering his whole face; this is similar to DC’s recent Next Batman who covered his face to hide his ethnicity until recently. Both men now proudly reveal their heritage when in costume.
Hulkling and Wiccan recently got married in Empyre Aftermath: Avengers #1 (September 2020)
Black Spider-Man
First appearance: Ultimate Fallout #4 (August 2011)
Black Captain America
First appearance: Captain America #117 (September 1969)
Assumed mantle: Captain America (Volume 7) #25 (October 2014)
Gay Ice Man
First appearance: The X-Men #1 (September 1963)
Coming out: All-New X-Men #40 (April 2015)
Marvel LGBTQ2+ Representation
For a listing of, at press time numbering 259, Marvel Comics LGBTQ2+ characters check out the Marvel Fandom page.
I was also unable to find a website chronicling Marvel’s diverse characters; if you are aware of a comprehensive one please let me know.
Resting Pulse
If I missed any prominent legacy or derivative heroes or heroines from Marvel or DC that I should have included, please, let me know and tell me why they should be included.
