LGBT Character Of The Week: Northstar
Well, it's about time, isn't it? I've been saving this one. Now here we are, smack dab in the middle of Gay Pride month. This week we talk about what may be the most high-profile gay character in comics. Northstar.
While not the first 'out' character in comics, (that honor is given to characters in Watchmen), Jean-Paul was created before them and John Byrne, writer of Alpha Flight at the time intended to write him as gay before that. He just couldn't say it...
"Of course, the temper of the times, the Powers That Were and, naturally, the Comics Code would not let me come right out and state that Jean-Paul was homosexual, but I managed to 'get the word out' even with those barriers." (Byrne)Marvel editor-in-chief Jim Shooter had decreed that there were to be no gay characters in the Marvel universe and prevented writers from having their characters be gay. Byrne was able to imply that Northstar was gay, but could not state it explicitly.
On top of that, later on there was even an attempted retcon of sorts. When Bill Mantlo succeeded Byrne as Alpha Flight writer, he began a storyline in which Northstar became infected with a strange illness. Mantlo intended to reveal that the illness was AIDS and then kill off the character in Alpha Flight #50. However, Marvel's editors intervened and Mantlo was forced to change the ending: instead of dying of AIDS, Northstar was revealed to be a magical being whose illness was the result of prolonged separation from his homeland. Peter David later described this incident as "He wasn't gay. He was just a fairy," This silliness was itself later retconned however, and now Northstar is only a fairy in the gay sense of the word.
Northstar finally came out in 1992 in issue #106 of Alpha Flight, to some controversy, and has remained out and proud ever since, even in alternate reality versions (Ultimate Northstar). Lately he was mentor to a younger gay X-man, Anole, helping him come to terms with his sexuality.
Sgt. Sausagepants
Posted to Comics, Hot Stuff, Superheroes on 17 June 2008
· Comments (2)
Other stuff like this: LGBT Character of the Week, Marvel, Northstar
The "Northstar is gay" subtext is one of the reasons I love re-re-re-reading my Asgardian Wars TPB.
It's unfortunate that Northstar hasn't been given more to do in the Marvel universe. Alpha Flight #128, 129, and 130 were my first glimpse at Northstar and I still remember thinking he was drawn incredibly well and was put into a great storyline (damn them for cancelling Alpha Flight though!). It was unfortunate that his 90's miniseries wasn't that good as I remember having high hopes. The last couple of years Marvel has slipped Northstar into a couple of storylines only to take him away as soon as the reader gets interested. It would be nice if they gave Colossus and Northstar (even if it is the Ultimate universe) a comic of their own.
It would also be nice if Teddy and Billy could meet Northstar. Maybe they could go on a double date with Colossus and Northstar once Secret Invasion is over!