No Joke, No Lie
For the past month or so, rumors have persisted that a well-known character would reveal that he was gay. My first thought was that I took note of the word ‘he’ and was immediately disappointed that we wouldn’t see any Wonder Woman on Starfire action. Then the comic book shop opened an unofficial pool as to which guy was gay. My money was on Nightwing (Dick Grayson, a.k.a. the first Robin), but I was later glad that there was no real cash involved.
The headline broke across the internet recently as “Green Lantern is gay!” Once again I was thrown into confusing thoughts. My first reaction was, “How can Hal Jordan be gay? He is the George Clooney of comic book characters.” Hal Jordan is the man that most people associate with the name “Green Lantern”, so my reaction was understandable. For those who only casually understand comic book characters, Hal Jordan is the panty dropper from the movie last year. Fan girls will be happy to know he is still straight. It is the original Green Lantern, Alan Scott, who is being reintroduced as gay. 
DC Comics is starting their next wave of rebooted number one comics, and are reimagining a number of characters. In the second issue of “Earth 2”, Alan Scott is born again as a younger gayer Green Lantern.
I have a couple issues with this, but not for the reasons you might think. First was how most of the internet announced this news. Saying “Green Lantern is gay” is misleading for reasons I’ve already stated. It feels like a bait and switch by internet sites to get people to pay attention. My other issue is that they are completely changing the Alan Scott character until he isn’t the Alan Scott character anymore. The pre-reboot Alan Scott was an elderly man who got married and had a couple of kids. In fact, making Alan Scott young upsets me more than making him gay. Is that weird? Still, this guy isn’t Alan Scott. This character is a new guy with the name Alan Scott so it can attract some attention.
I’m really only writing this feature because it’s news worthy. Personally I couldn’t care less if Alan Scott was gay. I only know the character in passing, and, even if I was a fan, it wouldn’t bother me. The only thing that might offend me is people who make a big deal out of it, both for and against the issue. My brain just keep giving me reasons why to be indifferent about the subject. One, Alan Scott is a fictional character. Scott isn’t really gay or straight because he isn’t real. Two, coming out of the closest might have been a big deal in the late nineties, but sensible people stop caring if other people they really didn’t know were gay about a decade ago. The news is noteworthy, but honestly doesn’t bring about a reaction larger than a tweet.
Avengers vs. X-men #4 (of 12)
In three weeks?!
That was my reaction when I reached the end of this issue of the mega-event “Avengers vs. X-men”. The AvX issues have been running on a bi-weekly schedule like clockwork, but the powers-that-be are making us wait another three weeks before we see what happens next. My first reaction was to think they are falling behind on their production, but then I realized the next issue would come out the week of Memorial Day. Shipments get pushed back and it screws up the whole week for comic nerds everywhere. I understand the logic for the delay, but it still sucks we have to wait three weeks before we find out how many butts the Phoenix force is going to plough through.
The actual content of the comic was another nice addition to this storyline. Most of the story remains in a holding pattern as everyone looks for Hope. The dialogue remains clever so it isn’t a bore, but don’t expect any real surprises here. Everything is just setting the stage for the next stage of cataclysmic events and the various tie-ins that are spread across the Marvel universe. While I’ve been entertained with the main line, the tie-ins have been a let down by feeling more like interruptions rather than important pieces of the story. We’re not even half way through this event and every superhero has already punched somebody they once considered an ally. I’m just waiting until someone important dies. But I hope they don’t bring him back in the next issue.
I’m looking at you Thor.
Read more about comics, including a Fantastic Four Point One story!
Fantastic Four #605.1
I don’t normally like the point one issues. It’s mostly a scam to sell an extra issue, but some of them are actually worth it. If the point one is written by the same guy doing the ongoing, then it might be a fair bet that issue should be picked up. That appears to be the case with the Fantastic Four’s take on the point ones. Jonathan Hickman writes a clever side story to the FF universe that honestly could be its own series. Hickman seems to have a trend with writing one issue stories that are deep enough for several issues, but I suppose that just shows how good he is. This particular story takes place in an alternate world where the Nazis rule the world, and Reed Richards is their chief scientist. It is a deep and chilling story that fits perfectly into Hickman universe and writing style. Not necessary to keep in touch with the overall story, but worthy of getting just because it’s a great story. Honestly the only thing I can complain about is that it’s not longer. An entire series could be done on the alternate Reeds, but a single side story is all we get. At least what we get is so damn good.
Also, in a shameless plug to myself, check out Bruce Osborne on Facebook. I post/link all my stuff there, including chapters on a book I’m working on. Feel free to hit the ‘Like’ button as if you’re an addict.
I also write publish works of fiction on my Bruce Osborne Blog. Feel free to read, follow, or even hate my stuff. I don’t care if people like it, only that they read it.
There are too many movies for me to review in full, so I created a twitter account to give brief opinions on the many movies I view. If you wish to read my smart ass remarks, follow M.O.V.I.E. Reviewer @MutantOpossum.
 Golden Age Green La… $8.00
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 LOKI’s army , T… $20.00
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 Avengers – Iron Ma… $2.75
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 Avengers Cupcake St… $18.00
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 Avengers vs X-Men E… $12.00
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 Wolverine the x-men… $7.99
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 X-men clock $20.00
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 The Fantastic Four … $19.00
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