Green Lantern may be seen in a new light
‘Heroic role model’ revealed as gay in new ‘Earth 2’ origin story
Alan Scott, the original Green Lantern, is being reintroduced into DC Comics in a big way: as the main superhero of the parallel-world Earth 2, and as a gay man.
The second issue of Earth 2 (in comic shops and online Wednesday) begins the new origin of the character, who first appeared in a 1940 issue of All-American Comics. He’ll become an important figure in the creation of a group of heroes to replace the seemingly deceased Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman of his world.
“He’s going to be the leader of the team, this dynamic hero, the bravest man on the planet. Why not just make him gay as well?” says Earth 2 writer James Robinson.
The thought had occurred to Robinson after DC’s relaunch of its superhero line last fall removed Alan Scott’s gay son, Obsidian, from the picture. Robinson made the suggestion about Alan to DC co-publisher Dan DiDio, and “there wasn’t a mo- ment’s hesitation,” the writer says.
Batwoman is an openly lesbian superhero in the DC Universe, and twice in the past three years, the company has won the outstanding-comic award from GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) for stories featuring the character. But having a gay Green Lantern, one of DC’S most visible heroes, is a big step. (Alan Scott is different from Hal Jordan, the star of DC’S main Green Lantern series and the hero Ryan Reynolds played in the Green Lantern movie.)
“He’s someone you would want to watch over your children,” Robinson says. “Presenting that kind of a heroic role model hopefully will be a good thing and help to show gays in a positive light.”
The writer understands that in some circles, a mainstream gay superhero is not all that welcome.
DiDio had made a comment at a recent comic-book convention indicating that a DC character would be gay, and last week, Marvel Comics announced an upcoming
X-Men gay wedding. In response, the activist group One Million Moms prompted readers on its website to send both companies “an e-mail urging them to change and cancel all plans of homosexual superhero characters immediately” and to “ask them to do the right thing.”
Robinson says one’s sexuality, even a superhero’s, isn’t something that should be feared or castigated. “Most people’s prejudice stems from their ignorance and isolation. It’s usually due to them not going out into the world and experiencing it.
“I hope that showing a positive character like Green Lantern helps in some small, small way to bring down the walls and barriers.”