DC Announces New Queer Anthology
DC has announced a new line-up of queer-inclusive content starting in June and continuing into 2021. The comic giant’s parent company Warner Media made the announcement by highlighting the first of these releases, DC Pride #1, which drops June 8.
DC Pride will be an 80-page anthology featuring LGBTQ characters from the DC Universe, and it will feature fan-favorite characters such as Batwoman, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Constantine, and more. The cover proudly proclaims that the issue is “Celebrating a parade of LGBTQIA+ characters & creators!”
The anthology will feature profiles of LGBTQ characters in the DCTV universe and the actors who portray them. This includes a new comic written by Nicole Maines, a trans woman who portrays the character Nia Nal/Dreamer in the television show Supergirl. Her depiction of a trans superhero was groundbreaking, and now, she is giving the character their comic debut as a part of DC Pride #1.
DC also announced that throughout June, they will feature nine, Pride-themed, variant covers, including those for popular series such as Batman, Teen Titan, Harley Quinn, and Wondergirl.
As part of their Pride releases, the comics publisher will release Suicide Squad: Bad Blood, a GLAAD-award-nominated series, on April 27; the queer gothic romance Poison Ivy: Thorns will be released June 1; and an eight issues series named Crush and Lobo will run from June 2021 to January 2022.
We have seen a recent push from DC to include characters that more accurately represent the world in 2021. They have introduced two nonbinary characters in the last year, Kid Quick and Aerie, and have portrayed queer relationships in the DCTV universe. GLAAD nominated several DC published comics for their media awards in 2021, including Lois Lane by Greg Rucka and Mike Perkins, Far Sector by N.K. Jemisin, and Jamal Campbell and You Brought Me The Ocean by Alex Sánchez and Julie Maroh.
The adult, animated comedy series Harley Quinn also received a lot of attention from the LGBTQ community last year, receiving a GLAAD media award nomination. The show starts out as a raunchy, violent, and hilarious romp completely fitting of its titular character, and along the way, it turns into one of the most touching, queer romances ever depicted.
The increase in representation, especially in a sector of culture that now commands so much popular attention, is overdue, but welcome nonetheless. Now, let’s all hope Marvel steps up their game.
Images Courtesy of DC
