“I am not a lover, I am not a father. I am not a friend. I am what I was bred to be. And therein lies the problem[1]”

With the arrival of Midnighter, has the era of the LBGT superhero finally arrived? If so why?

Comic books popularized in the United States during the 1930s. This was due to World War 2 as being used as propaganda[2]. This would be the idea of Captain America which was developed in the in the start of 1940 when World War 2 was going on and then started selling ten years after World War 2 ended. Another example would be the reason of superman and he developed in the comic book in the late 1930s as propaganda as to World War2 starting to happen. These superheroes were to represent America on a whole of being stronger and inferior to other countries. Comic books have used as a front for an ideology of society put there by elites. This essay will be investigating the belief they have been trying to push a picture onto the world of how it should be. For example, Martin Luther King[3] and Malcolm X[4] inspired X-men[5] comic book series; this was due to representing the mutants as "coloured people" as mutants in X-men are outcasts just as "coloured people" were at that time in history ”I wanted them to be diverse. The whole underlying principal of the X-Men was to try to be an anti-bigotry story to show there’s good in every person[6].” This was a quote from Stan Lee the creator of Marvel and the X-men he was trying to represent a world of diversity and show that every person can have a good side. This gave the idea that comic books are trying to push a message that being different is a good thing and the readers should embrace differences. This leads to the next point as to comic books have been trying to push LGBT[7] messages to their audience and how it represented with Midnighter, the homosexual superhero created in 1998.

Midnighter has his own comic book series, which has become popular from the start of 2015, which have created him as the icon of LGBT superheroes setting the scene for more LGBT superheroes to emerge in society such as Scott Alan (Green Lantern) and accepted among fans. With this happening, it has pushed comic book companies like DC and Marvel to embrace these heroes and push them onto society. This would also represent that in comic books it has been rare to see a LGBT superhero because of society not being open to them due to an ideology among them. However, because of gay marriage legalized in 2015 [8]and an increase in Transgender being accepted. Such as Caitlyn Jenner's “My whole life has been getting ready for this,” [9] This quote would be from Caitlyn Jenner who was 65 years old at the time and going through the recent sex change, readers have acknowledged this and it has become a thing and has accepted it by society and comic fans alike. This is a use of Blumer and Katz theory[10] of Uses, Gratification as when this story came out it was to all the mainstream users of technology, and there was not a lot of fuss. This led to also a majority of people wanting to be up to date, which was a group that had it on Surveillance and this link to the end, which was personal relation. This led group of people to let their feelings out as to wanting to be a different gender and to come out as being homosexual. This was a step for people who were inspired with what Caitlyn Jenner done and Ellen DeGeneres who is a lesbian and is one of the biggest talk shows in America, overall giving a sense that people can still live a normal life if they are a different sexuality.

In modern day Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender have gone a long way, however we have crimes still happening for example: ‘In Detroit, on the morning of 5th October, an African American gay man known simply as Melvin, 30, was found shot dead on a street in the Palmer Park area. At the time of his death, Melvin was wearing women’s clothing.’[11] This incident represents society are not all ready for the change of LGBT and gives the representation that the arrival of Midnighter is that we need heroes in our lives that fight for the rights that people can be different gender and love the same sex. This article quote from the Guardian was not the only one as for other example LGBT youth and transgender women of colour face all too common. “Family rejection and vastly disproportionate rates of violence, homelessness and discrimination in employment, housing, and education,” This statement is continued in the article. It represents that the arrival of Midnighter has not done a massive change as Local officials told the Guardian no arrests been made in either case and it was too early to confirm if hate was a factor. In Philadelphia, police confirmed they were investigating whether gender identity played a role in the murder. This would be example of queer theory giving the representation of negative impact to what happen to people who are homosexual or transsexual, the theory states the idea of of identity politics being involved as to the people who were killed are referred for being homosexual and transgender not as a straight person would be noted down for[12].

The negative impact of LGBT right now in society is not large in every country but there are still other positive views that it is good for example, the Andrew Garfield who played Spiderman 2012-2014[13] would love the idea for there to be a pansexual Spiderman and no one having comments[14]. The view of Andrew Garfield is that any superhero to have a movie and not questioned about their sexuality and what affects a movie. Earlier that year, a set visit report on ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’ published in Entertainment Weekly. This quoted Garfield as saying, "Why can’t we discover that Peter is exploring his sexuality?" even pointing out the "charismatic and talented" Michael B. Jordan could join in for some "interracial bisexuality." To the applause of many at Comic-Con, Garfield addressed the question by saying, “Spider-Man stands for everybody: black, white, Asian, gay, straight, lesbian, bisexual.” This has been the appeal of superheroes since the early generation of geeks dropped dimes for the latest issue of Action comics, but when it comes to the movie iterations, many minorities left out. Garfield, while valid in his statements, even backtracked a bit, saying, “It wouldn’t make sense if, in the next movie, I was suddenly with a black guy.”

While major strides are being made in the 'Arrow[15]' universe the hit CW series featured a lesbian character through Katrina Law's Nyssa Al Ghul. In while 'The Flash[16]' spinoff series will feature two gay characters in the first season alone, on top of openly gay actor Wentworth Miller portraying DC villain Captain Cold, there is still no identifiable LGBT character taking the reins for a major role, or even a major recurring or supporting role. When the opportunity for this came with NBC's 'Constantine[17],' producers of the series stated at a recent Television Critics Association panel that they had "no immediate plans" to address the Hellblazer's bisexuality, despite John Constantine's [18] depiction as such in the original comics. Executive producer Daniel Cerone even acknowledged the character's background, though seemingly suggested his sexual orientation did not matter in regards to Constantine as an individual[19]. This was from an interview in comic con in San Diego where they have interviews with the actors of the superhero movies. The fans ask questions to the actors, a man asked the question, and he wanted to know if the actor felt any pressure in making his stance on LGBT equality known, referring to previous comments made by the actor.

From this comment made it highlighted that all the new LGBT characters are coming up onto the comic book television series Arrow and Flash[20]. Mr. Terrific (Echo Kellum) is the new superhero added whom the first black gay superhero shown on television. This is a big step because we are getting the first in society of an LGBT cast as in the past Arrow Television series they had a lesbian superhero. For example, there was a report the actor playing Mr. Terrific, “We’re often asked when we’re going to add another LGBT character to the show and our version of Mr Terrific happens to be gay for anyone that cares about that kind of stuff,” Guggenheim revealed in a statement. Mr. Terrific also will not be the only character on the show in the LGBT community. The show already features openly bisexual Sara Lance/Canary (Caity Lotz) and the two are now reportedly TV’s only LGBT superheroes[21].

This links to the investigation of how Midnighter and the arrival of LGBT has changed the era for superheroes in comic books and portrayed them on television in modern day. This gives the power that audience are being understanding about this and will want the narrative of a character. As the world becomes increasingly accepting of LGBT communities and individuals, so too have comic book universes expanded their representation of previously overlooked identities with different writers taking control of even some of the most iconic superheroes[22]. This is creating showing all the characters over time have changed sexuality for example Iceman, Constantine and Batwoman with her Transgender girlfriend. This is why the arrival of Midnighter has done this because his comic book series started in 1998 and it has become popular in 2014 over 15 years a message to all of the audience which took time as it represents that it took time for society to adapt.

Midnighter comics are the same feeling that audiences get when they read a normal comic book and they react as what any comic book would have in narrative. I caught comments, which represented audience who are interested in Midnighter and gave their view on what they thought. “The comic character you've been waiting for who was created almost 20 years ago, and has always been gay and that can murder. In addition, warren Ellis probably most famous for the Stormwatch runs the Authority, Planetary. Most people do not seem to know he had a hell blazer run. But I'm a nerd “ This is about how Midnighter started in the 90's and now is big as it took time with society wasn't okay with it. It is hard for people to make these comic books because of the money and because of fans going against this but it does show that they're okay with and that they love this comic book series.
'WTF?! Nonononono, Midnighter what are you doing, how DARE you split up with Apollo! Goddammit DC, the fuck are you doing?' It shows the drama of how a fan can be into this Comic book as it took around 20 years to become big. It shows that people interested by narrative and structure of comic books. Midnighter does this, as he is a dark character and is alternative stereotype of a Homosexual man making it still feel normal but it is not a problem as it is just a superhero still[23]. These comments are supposing to represent what Midnighter means to them as they show the emotion of a homosexual superhero and it gives the feeling that society is adapting. There lot of LGBT superhero heroes[24], each hero has gone through different stages and have been paused because of society not being ready or it has not interested the audience. This is an example of what superheroes that are LGBT but are not really well known.

From gathered evidence, there has been a compared investigation as from essay from Superheroes, Superpowers, and Sexuality[25]. Superheroes have a strong influence in our society, and as such we should look at the messages that they represent. To this end, have examined the sexuality and gender roles that superheroes suggest through their appearance, the way it is about, the way that they talk, the distribution of superpowers, and their relationships. In the essay they have the research which they surveyed 63 Willamette University and Sky View Junior High students about their favourite superheroes and their reasons for liking that particular hero to begin my analysis, and branched from there to texts written by the companies who own the superheroes and other anthropologists who have examined the role of heroes in our society.' This is about the investigation of society and how they think about superheroes in Willamette University by when the writer did the investigation, she wanted to get results and her results. Her results was because of the clothes that superhero wears or the character that has played the role of the superhero so for example: “Sometimes the reason stated wasn’t even of the character itself, but of the actor which played the hero, such as Christian Bale, Batman in “Batman Begins[26]” or Antonio Banderas, Zorro in “The Mask of Zorro[27].” This goes with my critical investigation that with the arrival of Midnighter the era of superheroes do not matter by sexuality that society have adapted to the change. We have example where actors would say it is fine for there to be a pan sexual Spiderman and for them, where society are excepting to have LGBT superheroes in television series. The only difference we are looking for now is for LGBT superheroes to be in big budget movies and society to have the same reaction to any superhero movie.

At the start, they did push LGBT by giving innuendos such as the biggest Batman comic book made called the Killing Joke[28] made in 1988. The hint was that Batman is only a hero because of the Joker and the Joker is a villain because of the Batman. This represents because Batman has never killed the Joker and has said that he wanted help him over many times but the Joker has killed to many people. This compares to Midnighter as the relationship[29] he has with Apollo as to the relationship now but in the killing joke. This presented in a different way for example this would be the way they talk at the end of the comic book saying that they have to do this and that it has to end . The killing joke is the connection which shows them together and gives the representation of man and man having so much respect and love between each other but shown in a different friendship kind of way. This was 1988 so they could not show the connection they have. From my research, I also learnt that Batman needs Joker and that Joker needs Batman. This makes Batman and The Joker are sworn enemies, the opposite nemeses have been at each other’s throats across various media since they first encountered each other in Batman #1 in April of 1940. Their rivalry is destined to continue for many years to come, if not indefinitely. “As I picked up a copy of the new Batman: The Killing Joke 20th anniversary hardcover, I flicked open the first page and sliced my finger on its edge”[30]. The historical text that has been looked too does suggest queer theory this would be by the Queer theory[31] developed as a way of combating negative representations of gay sexuality in the Media. It combats the idea that people be divided, categorised, indeed marginalised, due to their sexual orientation or practice and that a person’s identity should not be limited to their sexual preference. For example, in the Killing Joke comic book it would explain the ideas that Barman has this big mission to stop only the Joker no other villain and the Joker wants to have Batman’s attention. This would be the idea of the characters not showing it but can have the attributes and give the subtle hints to it. This is because the theory beats the negative stereotype as to celebrities who like Alan Carr and Graham Norton who shows a dominant representation. However, the different would be Batman and Joker as they give the alternative use of it and they would represent by killing and by the masculinity of their characters.

In conclusion, Midnighter is the sexiest comic book male character even though for his sexuality. “He’s rugged, he’s macho, and his entire wardrobe consists of black leather. “Remember Midnighter was happily married and did not have a spike on his chin, someone needs to slap the walls of the DC universe to bring this sexy back[32].” Midnighter has presented himself in many comics and has had many comics to prove it as for his new one with other new heroes from DC[33]. Overall Midnighter is the hero that has changed the era and so are other heroes in the industry that have gave society the chance to adapt over time and it will get better where we can have equal amount of superheroes presented on screen being LGBT. Overall, from more evidence gathered of LGBT in society has represented that there is a difference from the entertainment view as to television shows like True Blood “True Blood, vampires have had to fight for recognition and citizenship in much the same way as gay males and lesbians have.[34]” This television series shows how society is and it presents the fight that is still going on for full equality around the world. Midnighter represents this as a source of hope for all LGBT superheroes as to having his big solo series and meeting big superhero names like Batman and Nightwing.

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