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'Batgirl' #19 Features First Openly Transgender Character In Mainstream Superhero Comics
Comics Alliance ^
| Apr 10th 2013
| Matt D. Wilson
Posted on 04/10/2013 3:50:12 PM PDT by Bratch
The sibling conflict teased on the cover of
Batgirl #19 may be the hook that pulls readers in, but it will be another reveal in the issue that will occupy a spot in comics history, as one of the book's characters will reveal she is transgender, the first time a character has done so in a mainstream superhero comic.
Wired reports that writer Gail Simone was inspired to create a transgender character by a conversation with Batwoman co-creator Greg Rucka at Wondercon a few years ago. Simone asked why there seem to be fewer gay male comics characters than lesbian heroes (such as Batwoman). Rucka replied it would be a huge sign of progress for a gay male character to appear on a comic cover. It'd be even bigger if the character was transgender.
Find out just who will be revealing her transgender status in the book, as well as have a look at the full cover to Batgirl #19, after the jump.
Alysia Yeoh, the young woman dating Barbara Gordon's psychopathic brother James Jr., reveals she's transgender in a conversation in which Barbara opens up and discusses her former status as a paraplegic.
Simone said DC Comics Co-Publisher Dan DiDio didn't take much convincing to give the character the go-ahead in a lunch meeting. "He just paused for a moment, asked how this would affect Barbara's story, and immediately approved it," Simone said. The writer said she plans to add another transgender character to a different comic she's writing, though she couldn't say which one.
Yeoh is also bisexual, Simone said.
Simone acknowledged that characters in independent and mature-readers titles have been transgender, and some superhero comics characters have changed their gender characteristics through magical and science-fictional means.
"Those characters exist [and] that's great, but I wanted to have trans characters who aren't fantasy-based," she said.
For the full interview and full pages from the issue, head over to
Wired.
Batgirl #19 is available in comic shops and on ComiXology today.
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: culture; dccomics; lgbt
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To: tet68
I think Hal Jordan is the Green Lantern most people think of, and he’s not gay. Just the rebooted “new 52” version of the really old-timey Green Lantrn is gay.
21
posted on
04/10/2013 4:38:14 PM PDT
by
Nomad577
Comment #22 Removed by Moderator
To: Olog-hai
The first GL too (Alan Scott). That's sad DC has really lost my business I always liked Marvel more anyway.
23
posted on
04/10/2013 4:50:19 PM PDT
by
erod
(I'm a Chicagoan till Chicago ends...)
To: SECURE AMERICA
I prefer the more descriptive term mutilant.
24
posted on
04/10/2013 4:51:25 PM PDT
by
Fred Hayek
(The Democratic Party is now the operational arm of the CPUSA)
To: erod
Holy smokes. That’s the first time I’ve actually seen the new “homo” Alan Scott.
Makes me want to vomit.
25
posted on
04/10/2013 4:59:23 PM PDT
by
greene66
To: EEGator
all I know is that every one of these transgendered or male to female figures seem to have bigger boobs than most regular women.....
26
posted on
04/10/2013 5:04:26 PM PDT
by
cherry
To: Bratch
I remember when they were called "funny books"
They used to be quality material...humor, drama, fantasy. From childhood they took me all kinds of places. Generally, they became more sophisticated in the 70s, recognized the adult audience in the 80s, became too commercialized in the 90s. The 2000s lost me...the wonder was removed, the gore ramped up, everything became so crass and negative and the overt liberal agenda became paramount.
There is a wealth of good stuff in back issues. I would refuse today's comics if they were offered for free.
27
posted on
04/10/2013 5:04:49 PM PDT
by
LostInBayport
(When there are more people riding in the cart than there are pulling it, the cart stops moving...)
To: erod
Marvel’s got their share of gheys.
In the original continuity, the straight Alan Scott married a split-personality woman called Rose Canton (her other personality was “Thorn”, a supervillainess); they had two kids together, who ended up superheroes themselves (Jade and Obsidian).
28
posted on
04/10/2013 5:07:39 PM PDT
by
Olog-hai
To: erod
Haven't read a comic book in 50 years. Looks like I won't be starting again either.
29
posted on
04/10/2013 5:12:47 PM PDT
by
MtBaldy
(If Obama is the answer, it must have been a really stupid question)
To: cherry
Yeah, they all seem to be sporting 38 DD.
A little bigger than average. :)
Maybe they shoot videos in Van Nuys, CA when they aren’t fighting crime.
30
posted on
04/10/2013 5:14:23 PM PDT
by
EEGator
To: dfwgator
Lynda Carter was a hottie back in the day.
31
posted on
04/10/2013 5:15:10 PM PDT
by
EEGator
To: Bratch
Batwoman -- who I didn't know actually "existed" until now -- is supposed to be a lesbian.
I was surprised about Green Lantern. I'd have thought Green Arrow -- alias Oliver Queen -- was the one.
32
posted on
04/10/2013 5:16:00 PM PDT
by
x
To: who knows what evil?
The actor that played Magneto wanted a gay sex scene with Professor X in one of the movies. Fortunately, the film makers wanted to make a profit.
33
posted on
04/10/2013 5:19:13 PM PDT
by
Rides_A_Red_Horse
(Why do you need a fire extinguisher when you can call the fire department?)
To: x
I'd have thought Green Arrow -- alias Oliver Queen -- was the one.
A lefty, and the most unconvincing disguise ever (silver age), but he was ALWAYS very close to Black Canary, whom I could not picture being Ollie's beard.
34
posted on
04/10/2013 5:22:30 PM PDT
by
Dr. Sivana
(HRC:"Sometimes she looks like a primary schoolgirl and sometimes a pensioner going shopping,"-NKorea)
Author James Robinson lives in San Francisco...DC is headquartered in Manhattan...they are trying to portray the perverted world they see outside THEIR windows, and project that view upon the rest of the country.
35
posted on
04/10/2013 5:24:32 PM PDT
by
who knows what evil?
(G-d saved more animals than people on the ark...www.siameserescue.org.)
To: EEGator
My Junior year high school government teacher was appeared to be her separated-at-birth double.
36
posted on
04/10/2013 5:38:24 PM PDT
by
Axenolith
(Government blows, and that which governs least, blows least...)
To: Axenolith
I bet you didn’t learn a thing in her class...well, of the subject material. :)
37
posted on
04/10/2013 5:42:04 PM PDT
by
EEGator
To: EEGator
Actually, I think hot teachers help.
My Spanish teacher in HS was smoking hot. I got all As.
38
posted on
04/10/2013 6:05:24 PM PDT
by
bicyclerepair
(0bama is a POS, with all due respect to excrement.)
To: Bratch
So a man who looks like a woman, dresses in a weird, caped outfit admits it? Sounds like a clear cut case of mental illness. Search him for guns.
39
posted on
04/10/2013 7:09:49 PM PDT
by
1010RD
(First, Do No Harm)
To: Bratch
Why?
...
We don’t deserve God’s protection anymore.
40
posted on
04/10/2013 9:55:30 PM PDT
by
Freedom_Is_Not_Free
(Free goodies for all -- Freedom for none.)
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