This week, Andrew Garfield caused comics fans to literally (LITERALLY) explode when he asked a simple question to EW: What if Spidey was gay?
The actual full quote: “And I was like, ‘What if MJ is a dude?’ Why can’t we discover that Peter is exploring his sexuality? It’s hardly even groundbreaking!…So why can’t he be gay? Why can’t he be into boys?”
Good question, Andrew Garfield. Why can’t Peter Parker be gay? Well, I’ll tell you why.
Because after this article hit EW.com, the comments immediately started crying out against the idea. Because you “don’t change an established character like that,” or something. Because it’s promoting AN AGENDA to make Spider-man gay. Which agenda? I’m guessing the one that insists that gay people are a lot like straight people and don’t deserve the shit they get socially and legally and when it comes to the media.
It’s also because when Marvel ran an innocent image of Hulking and Wiccan from Children’s Crusade, showing the openly gay teens about to share an intimate moment, the Facebook comments blew up claiming Marvel was, once again, promoting an agenda. Or worse, corrupting youth by showing them gay superheroes and encouraging them to emulate them. Or something. Bonus points to all of the people claiming they were only going to buy DC comics in the future because DC wasn’t “shoving gays down their throats.” Here’s a tip for those people: start your new-found devotion to DC by reading Batwoman.
In short, Andrew Garfield, the answer is simple: there is no good reason that Spider-man CAN’T be gay.
Because all of these arguments are bullshit. “Purity” of the character? So, characters who were created in a different generation should never evolve and grow with the times? You want Superman to act and talk and look exactly how he did in Action #1?
No, you don’t. You probably love Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns which took a new look at the character. Or Extremis which changed the status quo for Tony Stark. And if you don’t want a gay Spider-man but are okay with the ending of Man of Steel, I hate you. Your call for “purity” of the character is bullshit.
As for “agendas,” what you mean by that is “doing things for the sake of selling comics.” Because this is a recent thing designed to destroy comics for straight men who love comics, because it’s only because of the feminists and the gays that this could happen. It’s not like Dick Grayson was introduced as Robin in order to sell comics. Or Jean Grey returning from the dead. Again.
Get over yourselves. Here is a fact: COMICS ARE A COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE. THEY ARE A BUSINESS. THE POINT OF THE COMICS INDUSTRY IS TO SELL COMICS. I mean, this doesn’t necessarily apply to indie comics, but we’re not talking about that. We’re talking about DC and Marvel and they want to fucking sell you things to make money off of you. This is not punk rock, this is not about keeping the message in the subculture, this is fucking comics. And here’s a fact you have to deal with as well: gay people buy comics. So do women. And they deserve to see themselves represented not just as minor characters or sidekicks.
So, what if Spider-man was gay? What if, straight male comics fans, you identified with a gay character? What if you could understand him and relate to him just the same as a gay or bi or bicurious character as you can when he’s written as straight?
What if identifying with a gay character means you might be gay?
What if you start thinking that you’re a little further along the Kinsey scale than you previously thought?
What if you realize you’re not totally turned off by the idea of kissing another guy, though maybe you’re not gonna go out looking for a chance to do so?
What if you’re asked to challenge your culturally and socially ingrained sense of masculinity and sexuality and it means you have to re-examine yourself and a lot of beliefs or stereotypes you didn’t even know affected you?
Now, lemme ask you again: Why can’t Spider-man be gay?
Ashly is an IHO Geek staff writer who wants you to keep things civil in the comments but isn’t necessarily holding her breath. She can also be found on Twitter (where she is more than willing to use the “block” function) @newageamazon
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Top 10 Comics of 2017
So, now the holidays have ended and odds are you’re back at work and/or school, with the shine possibly wearing off your new year.
But look to the good things, fellow geeks! Because a new year means 12 whole months of fresh comics!
And while my year will include, at least for the moment, investment in existing series (mainly Batgirl, Hawkeye and Angel & Faith), 2013 is also forcing me to make room for some new titles we’re slated to see this year.
Which titles, you ask? Well, let me tell you what I’m anticipating this year!
ADVENTURE TIME WITH FIONNA AND CAKE
You DID pick up the first issue of this, right? It came out this week, you still have time!
So, Adventure Time did this episode where they swapped all the genders of the characters (if it sounds like a fanfiction-y thing, well, spoiler alert, it was in the end revealed to all be part of a fanfiction story the Ice King had written about Finn and Jake). This episode ended up being a fan favorite and spawned several hundred thousand Fionna cosplayers.
Okay, that number is just a rough estimate.
Anyway, Fionna and her cat, Cake, now have their own six issue limited series, following on the heels of last year’s Adventure Time mini, Marceline and the Scream Queens. Bonus: both of these minis have concentrated on girls in the leading rolls and both titles are written and drawn by women. Props to AT for not just paying lip service to girl power.
YOUNG AVENGERS
First of all, it is just awesome to see the Young Avengers getting their own title once again. 
Especially one with such an epic line-up. Great to see familiar faces returning and pumped about the new comers. And come on, the incentive cover for issue #1 drawn by Bryan Lee O’Malley is enough to make me imagine a second story in each issue, drawn by O’Malley and just being about the Young Avengers going out clubbing.
Second of all, let’s address the part where the creative team behind the new YA series is Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie. Why is this important? Read on.
PHONOGRAM VOLUME 3: THE IMMATERIAL GIRL
Originally slated for 2012, Gillen and McKelvie announced late last year that the title was actually being pushed into 2013. That had better hold true. Because the new volume is supposed to focus on Emily Aster and her dual personalities, one of which she had “banished.”
The whole idea of “pop music as a form of magic” thing is both a) very Grant Morrison and b) a really interesting premise for a series. Granted, my knowledge of the bands mentioned throughout Phonogram Volumes 1 and 2 is limited, but I’m ready to enjoy the story and maybe have my mind blown and my musical horizons expanded.
THE TRUE LIVES OF THE FABULOUS KILLJOYS
Speaking of my taste in music: yeah, I originally started reading Gerard Way’s Umbrella Academy because I like My Chemical Romance. Also, he’s pretty easy on the eyes. Judge me if you must, I am beyond the concept of guilty pleasures at this point.
Way’s proven himself as an effective writer with TUA, though, so I don’t feel I’m wrong in looking forward to this series, which will see him partner with artist Becky Cloonan and friend Shaun Simon to tell a story that was also partially integrated into MCR’s most recent studio album Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys. The Killjoys themselves are desert dwelling resistance members in a post-apocalyptic California who…well, okay, no spoilers here, but if you’ve seen the video for the single “Sing,” you know that going into this comic will be interesting.
Though this has been years in the making, at New York Comic-Con, the creative team promised that our first look at the Killjoys in comic form will be on Free Comic Book Day 2013, with the series looking to start in June.
So, what are YOU guys looking forward to this year? Share your thoughts, feel no shame!
–Ashly is an IHO Geek contributor and her Killjoy name was “Miss America” long before she learned of the Young Avenger of the same name. Find her on Twitter @newageamazon
REVIEW | The Batman Who Laughs – #1
REVIEW | Doomsday Clock #4
Review | The Lost Path by Amélie Fléchais
Emerald City Conversation with Jen Wang
REVIEW | Doomsday Clock #2
