This is still a part of the “Advice” series. Last time we touched on how to get the attention of the elusive female reader, and we addressed how to write and draw women. This time, I am going to approach the sensitive topic of “Homosexual Characters In Super Hero Comic Books”.

The gays are everywhere these days. Even the comic book industry and fandom. So, that is an audience to tap. The problem is, writing for Marvel and DC entails approaching Gay Characters in slightly different fashions.

Writing Gay Characters For Marvel:
1.Avoid making it obvious. Don’t let them have significant others. Unless the significant other is an alien shape shifter. This way, if angry conservative or specifically religious leaders complain, you have an out. It’s not really a “gay” relationship-one of them is an alien! See? Bullet Dodged.

2.If you decide to throw caution to the wind, ignoring # 1, and have your lead hero be gay, keep a few things in mind. Their significant other should be tragic. Give them AIDs or something. You are better off to simply never show the hero with a significant other. In fact, maybe avoid giving them any actual outlets that might show they are gay. Like dates. Your gay super hero should have a name that really tells you he is gay. And maybe make sound a little kinky (but safe for publishing). After a few issues, you are going to want to kill him or her off. Make it really horrible and gruesome. The gay audience identifies with such major tragedy. You know what drama queens they can be!

3.If you “out” an established character? Make it abrupt and flashy. Don’t have a scene where said costumed do gooder quitely comes out to a team mate in their secret base. Have them come out to a villain, in the middle of a big fight!

4.The easiest approach is to have a supporting cast member be gay. That way, you can show a diverse cast, yet not have to deal with any uncomfortable subjects regularly, plus if you have a dramtic “gay related” issue you want to address-you have a character ready and waiting.

5.Play your gay character for laughs.  Everybody finds a campy gay character endearing.  It also makes them seem less threatening.

Writing Gay Characters For DC:
1.DC is more open than Marvel. If you are working for Vertigo. But face it, we are talking about comics people actually read. For your Super Heroes, you have a wide range of Options. Hot Lesbian and lesbian. If you move into the Wildstorm Universe, then you are allowed to have male on male Super people action. But in the DC universe(where comics are for kids and remember, comics are not for sex education), you’re male super heroes are firmly hetero. If anyone questions it? Make sure you write a story where they have sex with a girl. At least once, then you can put those rumors to rest.

2. If you really don’t want to restrict yourself to Hot Lesbians or General Lesbians, you can always go the route of approach is to have a supporting cast member be gay. That way, you can show a diverse cast, yet not have to deal with any uncomfortable subjects on a regular basis, plus if you have a dramatic “gay related” issue you want to address-you have a character ready and waiting. You can deal with that AIDs story in a timely way. And plus, it’s comic books, you can either wait for someone to retcon the AIDs away, or you can use magic to cure them. Or maybe you want to tell a story about gay bashing-you alerady have a gay cast member to get beat up! Or how about gay marriage? Sure, you could simply treat them as another member of the cast, but when you have the opportunity to use them to make a statment-why would you make any other choice?!

Of course, every now and then, adhering to these simple rules will garner some criticisms. If people complain about this kind of treatment, just accuse them of being homophobic. Now you ask, what if the person complaining is gay? Isn’t that a problem? No, the solution is deceptively easy! Simply accuse them of being a self loathing gay person!

Listen, if you want to write intelligent, thoughtful portrayals of gay people? Be my guest and be an “indie” creator(or at least write for Vertigo). Don’t come crying to me when all you are left with is being recognized for your work and given awards by GLAAD.

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