The term ‘LGBTQ+ comic book characters‘ is one that many comic enthusiasts and listicle lovers never thought they would see grace the pages of their favorite franchises. From Marvel to DC, Dark Horse to Image, IDW to Valiant, and any growing indie label in between, the comic book industry is one that has actually been remarkably ahead of the times.
Those times began on a dismal summer night in Greenwich Village (Manhattan, New York), it was supposed to be like any other police raid. Men were yanked out of the building for no other reason than having a drink with another man. Yet, on June 28, 1969, some men and women were fed up with the unwarranted harassment and the Stonewall Uprising began.
It was time to stop being ashamed of their identity; it was time to be proud!
While most of America was still dealing with their personal biases and discomfort about two same-sexed people in a romantic relationship a decade later, Marvel Comics took “PRIDE Month” to heart and decided to show fans what pride could look like in a comic strip.
That was the birth of Northstar.
His name was Jean-Paul Beaubier. The fictional character was envisioned by two legends in the game, Chris Claremont and John Byrne, in 1979.
Marvel Comics introduced him in The Uncanny X-Men #120 as one of the heralded members of the Canadian superhero faction, Alpha Flight.
His origin story is later down the list, but suffice it to say, Northstar’s influence in the creation of LGBTQ+ comic book characters was paramount. No longer would certain gay or lesbian youth look inside a comic book and not see a person to whom they couldn’t relate.
One other thing: Notice Northstar doesn’t have a mask. Being proud means never being ashamed.
These are the top 20 LGBTQ+ comic book characters of all time.
20. Extrano
Everything Marvel Comics did right with Northstar, DC Comics wet the bed with Extrano. This was DC Comics’ first-ever gay superhero and it was embarrassing. Gregorio De La Vega was “Strange” (English for “Extrano”) in every sense of the word because he was the embodiment of stereotypes. He was flamboyant (a Peruvian magician), full of color, and probably a hoot at a drag show. Although he never exited the closet in 1988, it did unify the gay community–everyone hated this guy. Probably even a bevy of LGBTQ+ comic book characters.
19. Coagula
First witnessed in Doom Patrol #70, comic fans met Kate Godwin–the first-ever superhero who helped defended Earth against the powers of darkness and was a trans individual at the same time. See, Kate was born Clark. That tidbit alone is why Coagula is important among all LGBTQ+ comic book characters.
And despite the personal journey within, it became Coagula’s passion to ensure the world did without evil. Created by trans author Rachel Pollack, Kate’s ability to change states of matter has done just that with the idea of what makes one “super.”
18. Shatterstar
This is Gaveedra Seven, whose body was mutated like a Super Soldier serum was coursing through his veins. If you have read the X-Force comics (yes, he made a cameo in Deadpool 2), you know this alien lifeform from ‘Mojoworld’ has always been gay, but confirmed in X-Force #43.
Yet, he wasn’t happy being a part of Deadpool’s mod squad–until he met Rictor. They have been written together ever since and have been a quality couple among LGBTQ+ comic book characters on any label.
17. America Chavez
If you saw Ms. Marvel, you know. The badges on her jacket. The references for the community. Yes, America Sanchez is a lesbian, and as long she portal her butt across time, who cares. She is a formidable foe too. With superhuman speed, strength, and agility, Ms. Marvel takes her powers through any portal, even the star-shaped bedazzled ones. Today, she is a role model for young Americans struggling with their identity, which makes her actions in the MCU pivotal for us all.
16. Renee Montoya
If you know Birds of Prey, you know this Gotham City detective enjoys a full investigative journey, even if that means internal discovery. In the comic line Gotham Central #6, Renee Montoya and her girlfriend were featured. She would later become the love interest for arguably the most influential among LGBTQ+ comic book characters and the female version of ‘The Question.’ Vic Sage handpicked her as successor and comic fans were better off for it.
15. Deadpool
Wait, what?! Deadpool is a horndog, if you watched the movies. That’s so true, but in the comics, the merc with a mouth used it to tell everyone what he’s about regarding his identity–pansexual. Why not Bi? The guy has a thing for unicorns.
In 2013, Writer Gerry Duggan noted that Wade Wilson is attracted “to anything with a pulse.” Is he considered among LGBTQ+ comic book characters? No. Should he be? Possibly. Then again, that libido of his should explain all the friction between him and Colossus. Who knows?
14. Alan Scott
Although not the most lauded of the Green Lanterns, Alan Scott was the first back in 1940. A decade later, DC focused on Hal Jordan but Scott’s story is a common one. He was married, had two kids, but something wasn’t right with his identity.
Following the Lantern Corps planet-shaking restructuring with James Robinson’s Earth-Two and Joshua Williamson’s Infinite Frontier, Alan Scott comes out to his kids, Obsidian and Jade. A controversial move for comic fans some 60 years later, but an important one for LGBTQ+ fans everywhere.
13. Daken
We were first introduced to Wolverine’s baby boy in Wolverine Origins #10, but we also learned that this spawned version of Logan is asexual. To Daken, love is a tool to get what he wants–male or female. Love isn’t an emotion; it’s a feeling he leverages for pain. One of his mutant powers is creating pheromones to allure both genders for his bidding. Daken is a sexy Pied Piper, which is not quite a chip off the old block, but he is just as effective.
12. John Constantine
When you are storming the gates of hell, no one really cares which way your affinity goes, but John Constantine is, in fact, one of the best-known LGBTQ+ comic book characters out there. The guy has fought–and beaten–Ol’ Slewfoot himself, which can be attractive to the ladies…and, as DC and Vertigo Comics have shown, the fellas too. Standing up for the community gets you a definite ranking on this list, Johnny Boy.
11. Catwoman
Selina Kyle is one of the most popular tweeners in comic book history. She is also one of the highest-profile LGBTQ+ comic book characters in history as well. In Catwoman #39, Selina personally said it, but fans everywhere knew it already. That’s why her initial love interest in Matt Reeves’ film wasn’t Batman, but Annika Kosolov. So, consider it more of a confirmation than a revelation, but the girl is bisexual in canon, and she’s adored for it.
10. Iceman
Bobby Drake’s identity is one that always surprises comic book fans because when this polar-capped mutant showed up with the X-Men in 1963, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby didn’t address it. Finally, in 2015, in an altercation with Jean Grey in the 40th edition of All New X-Men, Iceman froze the rumors and flew out of the closet with his Omega-level powers for all to see.
9. Hulking
Heading off the most notable gay couples in comics is Teddy Altman. His debut in 2005’s Marvel Comics Young Avengers #1 was monumental. A shape-shifting teenager who was half-Kree, half-Skrull, and all-powerful. However, it wasn’t crime fighting that caught his eye the most; that was Wiccan, his teammate. The two debuted together, started dating, and have been cemented in comic lore as one.
8. Wiccan
The only reason Wiccan gets the seed over Hulking is his backstory. Billy Kaplan has a peculiar upbringing, one you may have seen recently on WandaVision if you have Disney+. His mom and dad are Scarlet Witch and Vision who kinda had him reincarnated to enjoy life, following whopping up on Mephisto. His path was directly to Hulking where they served on the Young Avengers and the New Avengers.
7. Midnighter
When you think of great war generals, names like Alexander, Caesar, Patton, and MacArthur come up in conversation. Midnighter may out-duel them all. He was that much of a force on the battlefield. But Steve Orlando and Fernando Blanco also made him openly gay and the best suitor for Apollo. This Batman personification is awesome, which is what mattered most to DC. Who they are wasn’t nearly as important as what–superheroes, and dang good at it as well.
6. Apollo
When DC Comics stormed into the LGBTQ+ community, Apollo showed up flexing. With psionic powers and being able to manipulate the scorching strength of the sun, he was on fire. And he was one of the first-ever LGBTQ+ comic book characters who was open about his identity. His close relationship with Midnighter in The Authority grew into love, setting another first in comics.
5. Poison Ivy
Among the iconic Batman Rogues Gallery is Dr. Pamela Isley, otherwise known as Poison Ivy. At first, in 1966, her love interest was Batman. But as she was creating an ominous persona for the Cape and the Cowl, she hater met Harley Quinn, and all that Batman mush stuff changed dramatically. The floral femme fatale is one of the strongest LGBTQ+ comic book characters because of her mind, cunning, guile, and effectiveness to get what she wants.
4. Northstar
Yes, he is the OG and standard-bearer of LGBTQ+ comic book characters, but only a couple of others have had slightly more influence. His origin involved discovering an orphaned baby girl who was later found to have AIDS. This was when the US scare was at its zenith in the late ’80s. It took him a minute, but when Northstar said those three words above in Alpha Flight #106, he became the hero community nerds all needed.
3. Mystique
If you track LGBTQ+ comic book characters, this one creates some bubblegut. On one hand, Mystique is a force for the X-Men. Who ever thought someone with blue skin could be sexy, outside of Papa Smurf (he’s a dirty old man, you know)? Yet, Uncanny X-Men #265 is often overlooked as a triumph because that’s when she came out with her feeling for Destiny. That relationship is one of the longest same-sex relationships in comic history.
2. Harley Quinn
We all know Dr. Harleen Quinzel was Joker’s psychiatrist until she got brainwashed and fell for him (literally, into a vat of acid). However, in Bruce Timm’s acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series, Harley Quinn had her sights set on Poison Ivy becoming one of–if not, the–power couple among LGBTQ+ comic book characters of all time. A genius psycho and an eco-terrorist. What’s not to love?
1. Batwoman
Her name is Kate Kane. Given her prominence among LGTBQ+ comic book characters, popularity across all comic franchises, and a $90 million movie added to a bonfire to make s’mores, Batwoman is the GOAT in the community.
At first, she was supposed to Batman’s girl, but that was 1956. Homosexuality created much ballyhoo among comic book fans, namely those who believed it was Batman and Robin who were gay lovers. So Batwoman’s identity stayed in her batcave until the 52 Limited Series in 2006.
Now acceptable among the comic book faithful, Batwoman was reintroduced as Kate Kane, who was victimized by “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in the U.S. Army, which meant she was a lesbian since we were re-engaged with her. A hero in the community. A show on CW. And a compliment to any team she is on. This is a hero for PRIDE month, among all 11 others.
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