Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Wednesday Comics: Batwoman's Wedding Woes
Another internet storm has erupted over DC Comics again regarding homosexuality.
If you remember, Orson Scott Card was unceremoniously dumped from writing a run on Adventures of Superman. Why? He is a faithful Mormon who supports the belief that marriage is defined as a union between one man and one woman.
But after receiving their pound of flesh, intolerant internet bullies are still not satisfied. Now, the new controversy is over the character Batwoman. The creative team on the book wanted to write a story where the character, who is a lesbian, marry her lover. DC editorial told them no. And now accusations of homophobia are swirling like crazy.
I cannot recommend enough "In Sickness and in Costume," an article by Graeme MacMillan at The Hollywood Reporter. I actually feel a bit jealous, since MacMillan has stolen a lot of my thunder by making several points I would have made including:
-DC has already had the first gay wedding in comics, so it seems strange that all of the sudden, DC became homophobes.
-Most of the DC Superheroes are unmarried.
-At the New 52 Reboot, DC "unmarried" a number of couples including Superman and the Flash.
There isn't much more I can add to his article except a complaint about the lack of support for marriage in general in comics.
I remember after Superman got married, Mark Waid said that if he ever wrote the Last Son of Krypton's book the first thing he would do is undo his wedding to Lois Lane. He thought that the character became boring.
But I completely disagree. I found Superman more compelling because of his relationship with his vulnerable wife. See how Brad Meltzer used that idea to amazing effect in Identity Crisis. Waid himself married off Wally West to Linda Park and it made the character mature and amazing.
Comic writers wanting only to write single characters seems very lazy. It also seems that these writers have a poor understanding of the adventure that is marriage. I've been married for over 12 years and I've found that my life is much more fun and interesting since I tied the knot!
(just so you all know, my wife keeps tabs on what I write on this blog)
But seriously, check out MacMillan's article and decide for yourself.
What do I think of what should happen with Batwoman?
I really don't care. I don't read that book.
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