Tag: LGBTQ super heroes

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Marvel Comics Announces Gay Captain America In Time For Pride Month

Out teenager Aaron Fischer as Captain America
Out teenager Aaron Fischer as Captain America
Marvel Comics has announced plans to introduce a gay Captain America this summer as part of a limited-series honoring the 80th anniversary of the star-spangled super-hero. The 5-part series will be titled The United States of Captain America and will feature the original Cap along with Bucky Barnes, Sam Wilson and John Walker – who have all taken on the Captain America persona in the past. According to a press release, the foursome will travel the country in search of Captain America’s shield which has been stolen. Along the way, they’ll encounter local heroes, all from different walks of life, who become Captains America for their communities. In the first issue, which will debut June 2 in honor of Pride Month, readers are introduced to teenager Aaron Fischer, the Captain America of the Railways, who is gay. He is described as “a fearless teen who stepped up to protect fellow runaways and the unhoused.”
Concept design for Aaron Fischer, Captain America of the Railways
Concept design for Aaron Fischer, Captain America of the Railways
“Aaron is inspired by heroes of the queer community: activists, leaders, and everyday folks pushing for a better life,” says Joshua Trujillo, who wrote the issue. “He stands for the oppressed, and the forgotten. I hope his debut story resonates with readers, and helps inspire the next generation of heroes.” Artist Jan Bazaldua was given the job to bring the young Aaron to life on the page. “I want to thank Editor Alanna Smith and Joshua Trujillo very much for asking me to create Aaron,” Bazaldua said in a statement. “I really enjoyed designing him, and as a transgender person, I am happy to be able to present an openly gay person who admires Captain America and fights against evil to help those who are almost invisible to society.” “While I was drawing him, I thought, well, Cap fights against super-powerful beings and saves the world almost always, but Aaron helps those who walk alone in the street with problems that they face every day,” added Bazaldua. “I hope people like the end result!” (h/t ComicBook.com)

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Ryan Reynolds Hopes To See More Pansexual Deadpool In Upcoming Sequels

Deadpool (image via 20th Century Fox)

 Speaking at San Diego’s Comic Con over the weekend, movie star Ryan Reynolds says he would like to see Deadpool’s infamous pansexuality explored in future films in the superhero franchise.

“I certainly think that this universe needs to represent and reflect the world in very real ways,” Ryan told fans during a Deadpool 2 panel this past weekend. “The great thing about Deadpool is that we’re allowed to do things that other superhero movies don’t necessarily do.”

Without being specific, Reynolds expressed his personal hope that Deadpool’s sexuality will be explored more fully in upcoming sequels.

“It’s something that I’d love to see more of, certainly through Wade, certainly through this universe,” said the 41-year-old Canadian actor.

In addition to the trademark pansexual quips made by the character Deadpool, Deadpool 2 did give us the first superhero LGBT relationship.

Female super sidekicks Yukio and Teenage Negasonic Warhead were featured as a romantic couple in the action flick.

In 2015, director Tim Miller, who helmed the first Deadpool flick, was adamant that the popular anti-hero would be pansexual.

“Pansexual. I want that quoted. Pansexual Deadpool,” he said in an interview with The Guardian at the time.

Pansexual refers to a person who sees no barriers when it comes to sexual partners regardless of their gender or gender identity.

In the comic books, Deadpool is definitely written to be pansexual. And there have been plenty of zippy one-liners alluding to wide-ranging sexual topics, but so far Deadpool’s only physical attraction has been to his girlfriend played by Morena Baccarin in the two Deadpool films.

While superhero movies have lagged in developing LGBTQ characters, there has been a lot more progress when it comes to superheroes on TV, especially in the DC universe.

It was just announced that transgender actress/activist Nicole Maines has been confirmed to play the first trans superhero “Dreamer” in the Supergirl TV series.

And producer Greg Berlanti recently shared he’s developing a new series for The CW for openly lesbian superhero, “Batwoman.”

DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow featured two gay superheroes on a parallel world, “Citizen Cold” and “The Ray,” in a recent crossover event played by out actors Wentworth Miller and Russell Tovey.