Pink Ink: Queer Comic Characters to Know

There once was a time in which you would not find a character in a comic book who publicly identified as LGBTQ.

A lot of that can be attributed to social norms of the times. Much of the cultural shifts we see in American and pop culture that encourage diverse representation of actual, real populations and demographics have promoted the usage of LGBTQ culture and stories within comic book media.

For this issue, I geeked out and researched some of the most prominent and obscure LGBTQ characters who exist within DC Comics and Marvel mythologies.

Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy
Bisexual Non-Monogamous
DC Comics
Harley Quinn and The Joker’s break-up ended a notoriously toxic and abusive relationship. The writers of the DC Universe used the split to explore a romantic pairing between Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy. Harley and Ivy’s romance arc explores the importance of mental health and self-improvement. Ivy supports Harley as she escapes Joker’s abuse, and Harley helps Ivy explore her sense of humanity.

In DC Comics: Bombshell #45, the pair share their first kiss in a DC publication, but 2017 was the early depiction of Harley and Ivy’s romance, when in Harley Quinn #25, the two ladies share their first kiss in official DC continuity. They are in a non-monogamous partnership.

Aqualad
Gay or Bisexual?
DC Comics
We do not know the specifics of Aqualad’s romance and sexuality, but in the Season Three Young Justice episode, “Quiet Conversations,” Kaldur’ahm, aka Kaldur, kisses another male character. This scene confirmed rumors of Kaldur being gay, or at least bisexual. At this point in his story, he has been seen in relationships with female characters.

For a while, this iteration of Aqualad, who has now taken the mantle of Aquaman, only existed in the Young Justice spin-off, but his appearance in DC Comics’ 2010 publication Brightest Day #4, part of the Rebirth canon, confirmed canon existence of another queer, DC Universe character.

Iceman
Gay
Marvel Comics
The charming and handsome Bobby Drake, aka Iceman, is an Omega-level mutant who can manipulate ice. This character’s sexuality arc is long and, literally, transcends time and space. Younger Iceman who helps an Older Iceman come to terms with his sexuality. Iceman was outed by Jean Grey in All-New X-Men #40 (2015) with her psychic abilities. But, honestly, did we need psychic ability to confirm Bobby being gay?

First, remember the mutant coming-out scene in X-Men 2 with Bobby and his parents? Obviously an allegory for LGBTQ coming out. Then, remember, Bobby dated a character named Cloud, whom he ultimately ended things with because Cloud spent time appearing both as a female and male. Bobby felt uncomfortable being with Male Cloud. It is speculated that Iceman’s desire to cover up his sexuality led to him ending his relationship with Cloud.

Loki
Genderfluid & Bisexual
Marvel Comics
Loki is the cunning and manipulative antagonist who is the sworn enemy to Thor since 1962. Despite being a villain, Loki remains a fan-favorite in the Marvel Universe. Loki was officially confirmed bisexual and genderfluid in 2014 by writer Al Ewing during Marvel’s Original Sin story arc.

This shape-shifting spellcaster spends long periods as male and others as female. Loki’s pronouns are used appropriately, matching the gender Loki is currently appearing as. Loki’s queerness paired with his villainous role have been analyzed as an example of American media’s history of codifying villains as queer.

Northstar
Gay
Marvel Comics
Northstar, (real name Jean-Paul Beaubier) holds three honors, four if you consider sex with Hercules as an honor. The first is Northstar being one of the first openly gay superheroes in an American comic. Next, Northstar’s coming out Alpha Flight #106 (1992) made him the first openly gay character to come out in an official Marvel publication. Finally, Northstar’s 2012 marriage to Kyle Jinadu in Astonishing X-Men #51 marked the early depiction of a same-gender wedding in a mainstream comic. That issue notoriously became the focus for the right-wing group, One Million Moms.

Hulkling and Wiccan
Gay
Marvel Comics
Hulkling, a superstrong alien, and Wiccan, with powers comparable to the Scarlet Witch, came out of their closets long before they became a thing. Hulkling and Wiccan became official in Young Avengers Presents #3, when the boys officially labeled themselves boyfriends. There have been depictions of the pair enjoying everyday queer life—a characterization that includes a scene with Wiccan attending a drag brunch with genderfluid Loki. Hulkling and Wiccan are depicted by queer meme culture as the ultimate, gay power comic couple. The strength in their relationship led to the couple getting married.

Karolina Dean & Nico Minoru
Lesbian, Bisexual
Marvel Comics
Karolina Dean harnesses solar and light energy, and her codename is Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds. She came out with her sexuality early in The Runaways series when she admitted attraction to the witch Nico Minoru. Initially, Nico was unable to accept her own bisexuality. The two went into a long “will they end up together” storyline that currently has them in a firm partnership as of the 2018 relaunch of The Runaways series.

Coagula
Transgender
DC Comics

Coagula (real name is Kate Godwin) is a former Doom Patrol member. This character was established in 1993. She can solidify liquids and dissolve solids. Coagula gained her abilities while working as a sex worker, through sex with a radioactive, intersex person. After researching, I feel that DC Comics needs to work on their trans representation, as many things about Coagula feel cringy and stereotyped. DC Comics might be trying to sweep their lack of representation of a trans woman under the rug, as comics created during Rachel Pollack’s run have never gone through reprint.

Wonder Woman
Sexually Fluid/Queer
DC Comics

Growing up, Wonder Woman seemed to naturally be coded as queer, so it was to my delight to find confirmation of Diana Prince’s queerness from Greg Rucka, author of DC Comic’s current Wonder Woman: Year One series. With the knowledge that Wonder Woman has an extensive, romantic history with various men, the revelation of her queerness makes Wonder Woman bisexual or, at the very least, pansexual. Rucka has explained that “an Amazon doesn’t look at another Amazon and say, ‘You’re gay.’ They don’t. The concept doesn’t exist.”

Batwoman
Lesbian
DC Comics

Kate Kane, aka Batwoman, is not the only lesbian DC character, and definitely is not the only queer character, to appear in a Batman comic. Still, Batwoman has by far the highest-profile, queer character in the DC Universe. The contemporary iteration of Batwoman is written as being of Jewish descent and a lesbian. The cousin of Bruce Wayne, Batwoman first appeared in the summer of 2006 and has her queerness directly written into her character biography. The character is dismissed from a U.S. Military Academy after encountering accusations of homosexual activity.

Images courtesy of press kits