Welcome to Gay Previews, a monthly list that highlights the work of LGBT and gay friendly creators. Listings are primarily taken from each month’s PREVIEWS. Just refer to the page number in your PREVIEWS copy for more information about each comic. Other sources such as a publisher’s website may be used. In these cases, a link is provided.

If you are a LGBT creator whose work has been accidentally overlooked or is not included in PREVIEWS solicitations, please contact me at glajoe at gayleague dot com to be included.

Inspired by Andy Mangels whose idea this is originally and who dutifully compiled numerous lists before this one.

Names listed in bold face are LGBT or gay friendly creators.

ABSTRACT STUDIOS

ECHO #15 $3.50 Page 180
Terry Moore
Dillon loves Annie, but the murdered Annie now lives inside Julie, and Julie thinks the whole thing is bizarre. As if life wasn’t complicated enough, Julie and Dillon must stop HeNRI from activating its ill-fated Super Collider. But, with Special Agent Ivy Raven and half the army on their trail, getting anywhere near the secret facility will be almost impossible.

AMAZE INK/ SLAVE LABOR

GARGOYLES: BAD GUYS TPB Page 182 $17.95
Greg Weisman and Karine Charlebois
Take a quintet of felons, the five toughest villains of the Gargoyles universe, and force them to work on the side of the angels. It may be hard to believe, but these Bad Guys are the best hope humanity has! Gargoyles series creator Greg Weisman is the writer, with art by fan favorite Karine Charlebois and tones by fan favorite Stephanie Lostimolo. Collecting the four-issue mini-series, plus the unpublished final two issues, this volume completes the story! [Note: Gargoyle Lexington is widely speculated to be gay.]

DARK HORSE

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #27 $2.99 Page 40
Jane Espenson and Georges Jeanty
Slayers are out. Vampires are in. Mysterious big bad Twilight has just become a bigger bad – he can zero in on Team Buffy and her army of Slayers by tracking their use of magic. But Buffy and her allies have taken their submarine – yes, Buffy picked up one of those . . . they’re a necessary piece of equip – straight to the only person she knows with an inside track on suppressing magic: the werewolf Oz. In the yak-filled mountains of Tibet, Oz has found his peace and formed a new life. The butter tea flows freely at the reunion, where – among other fun reunion-y things – Buffy learns that suppressing her demon side could be the biggest risk of all …

CONAN #13 $2.99 Page 22
Tim Truman, Tomas Giorello, José Villarrubia
In “Black Altar,” the relentless final chapter in the “Black Colossus” adaptation, Natohk’s desert hordes surge up the narrow Shamla Pass, and Conan’s ragged army desperately attempts to hold their high ground. Outnumbered and facing an army fueled by a zealous, reborn Stygian wizard, simply surviving may be the greatest victory Conan can hope for. Any triumph will ring hollow, though, if Conan can’t protect Khoraja’s current sovereign, the beautiful Princess Yasmela – whom Natohk has vowed to capture! Tim Truman, Tomas Giorello, and Jose Villarrubia bring the gripping, blood-filled Battle of Shamla Pass to life! Smartly written and flawlessly rendered, don’t miss the epic finale to a Robert E. Howard classic.

KULL: THE SHADOW KINGDOM TPB Page 24 $18.95
Arvid Nelson, Will Conrad, and José Villarrubia
More comfortable with a sword than a scepter, the enigmatic Kull has recently crowned himself king and seeks to unite the once proud and powerful land of Valusia. As representatives from all corners of his kingdom seek his counsel, the warrior-king accepts a strange invitation from the Pictish emissary. Kull will need to discard ancient prejudices if he’s to save the newly united Valusian empire from a clandestine enemy that once threatened to enslave and exterminate mankind! Aided by Brule – a hotheaded Pict confidant – Kull uncovers layers of deception and treachery in the ancient halls of the Tower of Splendor and faces the growing threat of the devious Serpent Cult! Join us as we discover Valusia’s darkest secrets and witness the first days of its mightiest king.

DC

BATMAN #689 $2.99 Page 71
Judd Winick and Mark Bagley
“Long Shadows” continues. Batman forges ahead in his battle to retrieve the escapees from Arkham Asylum, while Two-Face begins a ground war of his own. Elsewhere, Penguin wants to become Gotham City’s new king of crime, but to do so he has to make a deal with the devil.

BATMAN: STREETS OF GOTHAM #3 $3.99 Page 72
Paul Dini, Marc Andreyko, Dustin Nguyen, and Georges Jeanty
Bruce Wayne is dead…long live Bruce Wayne! Gotham’s favorite son has miraculously returned, promising to lead his city into a new golden age. But while Wayne devotes his limitless fortune to rebuilding Gotham City, he fights violent opposition from Batman, Robin and a host of DC Universe heroes! And in the Manhunter co-feature, now that Manhunter has found the previous DA’s killer – or, rather, the killer has found her – what is she going to do about it? Bringing the killer in for a trial may not result in the justice Kate’s been dreaming of. But is she ready to kill for justice so soon after a fresh start in Gotham?

DETECTIVE #856 $3.99 Page 71
Greg Rucka, J H Williams, and Cully Hamner
“Elegy” part 3 of 4. Batwoman unites with an unlikely ally to momentarily defeat the fairytale villain known as Alice. But when Kate is forced to attend a high society event, she soon learns that her worlds are colliding as Alice’s plans for Gotham’s elite put Kate’s father directly in harm’s way. Plus, in the next part of The Question co-feature, writer Greg Rucka and artist Cully Hamner bring Renee’s search for a missing girl to new depths when The Question is trapped inside a sinking car. Will her life and her leads end up at the bottom of the river?

JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE #2 $2.99 Page 84
James Robinson and Mauro Casioli
The team continues its proactive hunt for justice as the trail leads to an army of Super-Villains. But the big bad may be deadlier than all of the new team combined… Continuing the anticipated 6-part miniseries event from James Robinson  and rising star artist Mauro Cascioli.[This Starman is Mikaal Tomas whom Robinson revealed to have a male love interest in his STARMAN. Batwoman is also scheduled to take part in this story.]

ROBIN/ BATGIRL: FRESH BLOOD TP $12.99 Page 79
Bill Willingham, Andersen Gabrych, Damion Scott, and Ale Garza
Re-offered to coincide with the new Batgiril #1, this volume collects Robin #132, 133 and Batgirl #58 and 59.

SECRET SIX #12 $2.99 Page 88
Gail Simone and Nicola Scott
A crisis of conscience splits the Secret Six right down the middle and puts them on opposite sides of a horrific war involving Amazons led by a deluded Artemis! But that’s just the opening bout for the main event: Jeannette vs. Wonder Woman!

TITANS: LOCKDOWN TP $14.99 Page 95
Judd Winick, Howard Porter, Julian Lopez, and J. Calafiore
There’s a traitor in the Titans’ midst! Now, the Titans headquarters is under lockdown until the team can discover who betrayed them. Will they have the strength to take down one of their own? And will they want to? Collecting TITANS #7-11! Advance-solicited; on sale September 9.

WONDER WOMAN #35 $2.99 Page 90
Gail Simone and Aaron Lopresti
“Birds of Paradise” part 2 of 2. A gaggle of super-powered cage fighters find themselves in the worst possible place to be – on the bad side of Wonder Woman and Black Canary! Also, find out the final resolution between Diana and Nemesis along with much, much more!

WONDER WOMAN: THE CIRCLE TP $14.99 Page 95
Gail Simone, Terry & Rachel Dodson, Bernard Chang, and Ron Randall
What is the deadly secret of the mysterious Circle? Wonder Woman will find out in this new trade paperback collecting issues #14-19 of the Amazon Warrior’s hit series. Also in this volume, the reformed Secret Society of Super-Villains invades Paradise Island, led by Captain Nazi! Advance-solicited; on sale September 23.

JOHNNY DC

SCOOBY DOO #47 $2.50 Page 98
Terrance Griep, Sholly Fisch, Vincent Deporter, Robert Pope, and Scott McRae
Can Scooby and the gang solve the mystery of the Great Barrier Creep before they fall victim to Dreamtime’s all-powerful Rainbow Serpent? Plus, the return of the Ghastleys!

VERTIGO

THE ALCOHOLIC SC $14.99 Page 111
Jonathan Ames and Dean Haspiel
Jonathan A. is a boozed-up, coked-out, sexually confused, hopelessly romantic and, of course, entirely fictional novelist who bears only a coincidental resemblance to real-life writer Jonathan Ames, critically acclaimed author of Wake Up, Sir!, The Extra Man and What’s Not to Love? For the fictional Jonathan, writing and drinking come easy. The hard parts of life are love and hope. From a touching relationship between Jonathan and his aging great aunt, to an inebriated evening with an amorous, octogenarian dwarf, Ames’s first original graphic novel, with gritty, poignant art by Dean Haspiel (THE QUITTER), tells a story about how our lives fall to pieces and the enduring human struggle to put things back together again. Advance solicited; on sale September 16. [Note: The main character has a same-sex encounter.]

MADAME XANADU #14 #2.99 Page 117
Matt Wagner and Michael Kaluta
Trapped in a secret that straddles two different centuries, time is running out for the beautiful mystic. And out of this land of nightmares steps a surprise player in the mystery theater! [Wagner has revealed a part of Xanadu's life during the Spanish Inquisition in which she loved a woman named Marisol. This issue is part of that story arc.]

SANDMAN: THE DREAM HUNTERS HC $24.99 Page 116
P. Craig Russell adaptation of a Neil Gaiman story
In honor of the 20th anniversary of THE SANDMAN, this new hardcover collects the 4-issue comics adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s original prose novella by the same name, with spectacular artwork by Gaiman’s frequent collaborator P. Craig Russell (SANDMAN, FABLES: THE LAST CASTLE). A humble young monk and a magical, shape-changing fox find themselves romantically drawn together. As their love blooms, the fox learns of a devilish plot by a group of demons and a Japanese emperor to steal the monk’s life. With the aid of Morpheus, the fox must use all of her cunning and creative thinking to foil this evil scheme and save the man that she loves. Advance-solicited; on sale October 28.

YOUNG LIARS #18 $2.99 Page 121
David Lapham
As the events in Browning count down to their inevitable conclusion, Loreli must come to terms with the fact that she is not the only love in Danny’s life. The plans to stop the alien invasion expand (if there even are aliens), Sadie Dawkins records a hit record, and Big C returns to set Danny straight and possibly destroy the known universe. Last issue.[One of the supporting case members, Donatella, (sometimes referred to as Don Diego), presents as a woman.]

WILDSTORM

THE AUTHORITY #13 $2.99 Page 99
Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Christos Gage, Simon Coleby and Chris Sprouse
Kaizen Gamorra has become a scourge of World’s End, possessing the bulk of the working technology on the planet. He hungers for more, however, and is willing to destroy any in his path to acquire it. He’s set his sights on the Carrier – and The Authority have a fight on their hands they might not be able to win!

EX MACHINA #44 $2.99 Page 100
Brian K. Vaughn and Tony Harris
Risking everything, Mayor Hundred descends into the sewers of New York City to finally learn why he was given the strange powers that helped him become the super-heroic Great Machine! [In issue #6 Mayor Hundred proposes to marry the Deputy Mayor’s brother who is a NYFD fireman and happens to be gay. The following issue deals with opinions from the mayor’s staff and the possible implications of the Mayor performing a same-sex marriage. The topic became a part of the “Smoke, Smoke” storyline. Mayor Hundred’s mother recently asked him if he is gay. Vaughn left the question unanswered. There is also a lesbian supporting character.]

GEN:13 #31 $2.99 Page 99
Scott Beatty and Mike Robertson
With Gen14 on one side and the Fearsmiths on the other, Gen13 is stuck in the middle of a fight for their lives! Who will live? Who will die? The answers may surprise you as the kids finally reach the end of the road on their long journey across the post-apocalyptic landscape of World’s End! [As in previous volumes, Sarah Rainmaker is lesbian.]

D.E.

THE BOYS #33 $2.99 Page 230
Garth Ennis and Carlos Ezquerra
With the rest of The Boys out of the picture, the surviving members of Payback find themselves at an advantage of four to one- unfortunately for them, the one is Butcher. As the carnage unfolds, Vought struggle with ongoing internal divisions, Hughie calls in reinforcements, and Annie finds herself up against the Seven’s biggest guns- but an unexpected ally may yet save her honor…

THE BOYS: THE NAME OF THE GAME Limited Edition HC Page 231 $24.95
Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson
Dynamite Entertainment is proud to welcome Gath Ennis and Darick Robertson’s The Boys as they present a special anniversary hardcover collected edition of the comic book series everyone is talking about This special edition hardcover is limited to initial orders only! Collecting the first 6 issues of the controversial new series from PREACHER writer Garth Ennis and artist Darick Robertson (TRANSMETROPOLITAN)! Don’t miss this dark, twisted look at SUPERPOWERS, super-people, and the men and women who make sure the world’s “heroes” never go too far. Also features an introuction from writer, actor and producer Simon Pegg, the creator and star of Shaun of the Dead, Spaced, and over 50 pages of never-before-printed bonus materials!

THE BOYS: HEROGASM #4 $2.99 Page 230
Garth Ennis and  John McCrea
The first-ever Boys spin-off mini-series features the pairing of Ennis with Hitman artist John McCrea and covers by Boys artist and co-creator Darick Robertson! The fun and games go on hold as The Boys’ true mission is revealed, and secrets are spilled regarding the worst day in recent American history. As Vought-American’s true agenda is revealed, the corporation makes plans to take things to the next level- and the Homelander hints at a certain scheme of his own…

DIGITAL MANGA DISTRIBUTION

THE ARISTOCRAT & DESERT PRINCE $8.95 Page 242
Haruhi Tono and Ai Hasukawa
“As my bride, would you be able to live in this desert?” In the luxurious Middle Eastern kingdom of Kassina, Takeyuki, “The Desert Hawk,” kidnapped by bandits for his beauty, in turn kidnaps Said, the young man with the blue eyes. With eyes that no one’s heart can escape from and a voice that sends chills down spines, it must have been him Said spoke so rudely to on the plane to Kassina,. Has Takeyuki been chasing him ever since? Takeyuki’s will to win can’t be shaken, and try as he might, how can Said escape from him?! A dazzling desert love story! [Note: This item is being re-offered.]

A STRANGE & MYSTIFYING STORY Vol 2 $12.95 Page Page 242
Tsuta Suzuki
He saved Akio Yamane from his incurable sickness, but the outcast, Setsu, has protected this cursed bloodline for countless generations. What will happen when something akin to love begins to blossom between them, in the face of incompatibility between humans and therianthropes (animal people)? The past of the gentle therianthrope, Setsu, is also explored in the back-up story, “Ishi Kenbunroku” in this, the second volume of the super popular series! [Note: This manga is re-offered at this time.]

BRILLIANT BLUE Vol 2 $12.95 Page 241
Saemi Yorita
When Shozo, slightly tipsy and in good spirits, kissed him, Nanami felt like flying. Their feelings for each other are clear and they soon become lovers. But this is the countryside, where prying eyes and ears are everywhere. In the blink of an eye, secret love can be exposed, and living with the misunderstandings can lead to unthinkable situations… Also includes a back-up story featuring newcomer Nao, this volume completes the series.

EXOTIC & DELICIOUS FATE $12.95 Page 240
Ryoku Tsunoda
When Miyashiro, the head of a well-established Japanese restaurant, is seduced by Haruhi, a chef-in-training visiting from a sister restaurant, the next day and every day after invites continuous sexual advances! Even as he struggles to resist Haruhi’s proposals, what will happen as Miyashiro becomes moved by Haruhi’s unwavering attempts?!

STEAL MOON Vol 2 $12.95 Page 241
Makoto Tateno
Once, Nozomi and Coyote had a bitter hatred for each other. But when Coyote risks his life to save Nozomi, Coyote’s true feelings are made clear to Nozomi, and now Nozomi decides to forgive everything from their past and takes steps to love Coyote. That’s when the surveillance system, ISIS, starts going berserk and tries to prevent the two of them from acting on their feelings.

UNSOPHISTICATED & RUDE  $12.95 Page 239
Momoko Tenzen
Hiroto, a student at an all-boys’ school, listens as his childhood friend, Satoshi, confesses that he is falling in love with Nao, an upperclassman in their school club. But Hiroto is perplexed that the object of Satoshi’s affections is Nao. The same Nao with whom Hiroto spent an evening. Hiroto thinks things will be okay with Satoshi and Nao, but seeing them together will be hard for him. What are these feelings he has? Will these complex feelings he has for Nao only grow…?!

801 MEDIA

ZE Vol 3 $15.95 Page 245
Yuki Shimizu
Note: The following description is taken from 801media website.
When a kotodama-sama dies, his or her kami-sama – a healer made of living paper – typically chooses to die as well, returning to a blank state as “hakushi.” But when Himi’s master passes away, a deep sense of obligation forces him to choose another path. Instead, Himi becomes kami-sama for his master’s estranged son, Genma. Genma is everything Himi’s former kotodama-sama was not – rough, arrogant, brutish – and furthermore, Genma enjoys using Himi for his own selfish pleasure. Is this more torment than Himi can endure? Or will he come to realize that different people show their true feelings in different ways?

Yuki Shimizu delves deeper into the Mitou family in this latest volume of her hit series!

FANTAGRAPHICS

LOVE & ROCKETS: NEW STORIES Vol 2 $14.99 Page 247
Gilbert & Jaime Hernandez
This volume gets off to a flying start with “Hypnotwist,” Gilbert’s epic story of a beautiful, leggy redhead’s surreal journey into a night filled with mysterious shady characters, dreamlike violence, and sparkling retro spike heels. Then, in the concluding 50-page chapter of Jaime’s outrageous, acclaimed, superhero mash-up “Ti-Girls Adventures,” our protagonist, rookie do-gooder Boot Angel, learns more hard lessons about becoming a superheroine. Eventually, just about the entire cast gets together for a reunion that unexpectedly takes place in Maggie’s tiny bedroom apartment. Finally, Beto gets top heavy with “Sad Girl,” and introduces Killer! the sweetest teen starlet of the solar system!

IDW

DETECTIVES INC. HC $24.99 Page 258
Don McGregor, Marshall Rogers, and Gene Colan
Detectives Inc. is the groundbreaking story of two New York private detectives, Ted Denning and Bob Rainier. It is as provocative and relevant today as when it was first released nearly 30 years ago. Detectives Inc. was one of the first graphic novels to deal realistically with homosexuality, bisexuality, abortion, race relations, and domestic violence. Featuring stunning art by comic greats Marshall Rogers and Gene Colan.

IMAGE

PROOF #23 $3.50 Page 157
Alex Grecian and Riley Rossmo
“Julia,” Conclusion – The Julia arc concludes with a cold-blooded murder. Queen Victoria would have censored this issue.
[Supporting character Wayne Russet is gay.]

KITTY MEDIA

DRAWN TO HIM $11.99 Page 267
Your guess is as good or better than mine what this manga may be about. Kitty Media’s website once again fails to provide any information, listing, or clue. I suspect it’s a yaoi manga based on the title, but don’t take that as a reason to spend $12.

MARVEL

DARK REIGN: YOUNG AVENGERS #4 $3.99 Page 30
Paul Cornell and Mark Brooks
The New New New Young Avengers have found that they can’t live with what the Young Avengers are asking of them. And so they approach Norman Osborn once more, and get their deal with the devil. So now the question is: do the Young Avengers want to be part of *their* team? And how much more pressure will it take before someone throws the first punch?

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #17 $2.99 Page 66
Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, and Wes Craig
War of Kings tie-in. In order to save the universe, Adam Warlock takes desperate action and seeks the help of allies you won’t believe! This must-read issue will have profound effects not only for the Guardians of Galaxy, but for the very Marvel cosmos itself! [Phyla (Quasar) and Moondragon were lovers before Moondragon’s apparent death. Moondragon has since returned to the land of the living.]

MARVEL DIVAS #2 $3.99 Page 53
Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Tonci Zonjic
After last issue’s shocking revelation, Angelica “Firestar” Jones seeks out medical advice…from none other than Dr. Stephen Strange. (Paving the way for yet another diva to enter the fray: The nocturnal Night Nurse!) Meanwhile, Monica “Photon” Rambeau and Patsy “Hellcat” Walker are drawn back into the lives of their ex-boyfriends of the damned: Brother Voodoo and Daimon Hellstrom, respectively. And Felicia “Black Cat” Hardy contemplates a return to her life of crime…the claws are out as this mini-series continues!

MIGHTY AVENGERS #28 $2.99 Page 57
Dan Slott and Khoi Pham
“Witch -Hunt” Guest-starring the Young Avengers! When the adults are away, it’s the perfect time for Vison and Stature to sneak a few friends into the Avengers new headquarters and throw a party. No, not that kind of party. It’s a hunting party– and the target they’re after is…the Scarlet Witch! Also: Quicksilver and US Agent face off against a longtime Avengers villain and their new team. All this and the start of a strange cosmic odyssey for Hank Pym.

Models Inc #1 $3.99 Page 58
Paul Tobin and Vicenc Villagrasa
Fashion Week is always a hectic time for models, and this year is no exception. Between escaped wolves, robbery attempts, and overly friendly police officers, Toni Turner, Patsy Walker, Jill Jerold, Chili Storm and Millicent (Millie the Model) Collins are testing the limits of their endurance. But when a brilliant young set designer is found murdered with three bullet holes in his back, and Millie proves to be the prime suspect, the models are forced to play detective in order to save one of their own! Special back-up story with fashion guru Tim Gunn! When disaster strikes during a fashion show, no one can work a suit like Tim Gunn, especially when the suit is Iron Man’s!

NEW AVENGERS” THE REUNION HC $19.99 Page 92
Jim McCann and David Lopez
In the wake of Secret Invasion, Mockingbird is alive and has returned to Earth after being held captive by the Skrulls. Ronin, her estranged husband, volunteers to help her adjust to her new life as a member of the New Avengers, but some old wounds run too deep. And what deadly secret did she bring back with her that could tear them, and the world, apart once more? It’s high-octane action and intrigue as the Mr. & Mrs. Smith of the Marvel Universe take on one of the biggest threats in the world…and each other! Collecting New Avengers: The Reunion #1-4 and material from Dark Reign: New Nation.

NEW MUTANTS #3 $3.99 Page 71
Zeb Wells and Diogenes Neves
“Return of Legion” – The pulse-pounding first story-arc comes to a climactic close as Legion takes on the whole team. Can Cannonball, Sunspot, Magma and Dani Moonstar defeat a villain with dozens of super-powered multiple personalities? And all the while Karma and Magik are stuck inside Legion’s mind.

RUNAWAYS #13 $3.99 Page 63
Kathryn Immonen and Sara Pichelli
It’s the end of the Runaways’ California dreamin’ as they attempt to make their escape from Klara’s chlorophyll lockup…only to be denied by heavily armed outside forces who are about to foreclose on the property in a big way! Chase finally tells the truth about a violent event in his past. And when the kids have no choice but to turn to Hunter Stein to find a way out of this mess, he reveals a Malibu Beach House secret they never would have guessed. But it’s not easy sailing because Chase is about to make a unilateral decision that looks a lot like…murder?![In issue #7 (volume 2) Karolina revealed that she is a lesbian and had a crush on Nico. At the end of #8 Karolina has gone into space with a shape (and gender) shifting Super Skrull because of a pre-arranged marriage agreement made by her parents which she hopes will bring an end to a war. Karolina and Xavin, the Skrull, returned in to Earth and have decided to stay.]

RUNAWAYS: PRIDE & JOY TPB $14.99 Page 113
Brian K. Vaughn and Adrian Alphona
At some point in their lives, all young people believe their parents are evil…but what if they really are? Meet Alex, Karolina, Gert, Chase, Molly and Nico – whose lives are about to take an unexpected turn. When these six young friends discover their parents are all secretly super-powered villains, the shocked teens find strength in one another. Together, they run away from home and straight into the adventure of their lives – vowing to turn the tables on their evil legacy. Collecting RUNAWAYS #1-6.

THE STAND: AMERICAN NIGHTMARES #5 $3.99 Page 9
Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Mike Perkins
It’s the Fourth of July, the first holiday post-plague, but none of the survivors are celebrating. While Nick Andros hovers between life and death–and between the influence of Randall Flagg and Mother Abigail–Larry Underwood makes a shocking discovery in his tent… And Stu Redmond’s path intersects with Harold and Frannie’s, but immediately a conflict (that will have enormous ramifications for all our players) immediately erupts among the three. The second mini-series adapting Stephen King’s horror epic ends here, True Believers, setting stage for Volume Three: “Soul SUrvivors”./

ULTIMATE X-MEN Vol 9 HC $34.99 Page 86
Robert Kirkman, Aron Coleite, Salvador Larroca, Harvey Tolibao, Mark Brooks, and Clay Mann
It’s dark times for the X-Men as the evolutionary emperor known as Apocalypse arrives! Will even the X-Men be enough to battle a being who has plotted our death and destruction for ages?! Meanwhile, two more monstrous threats – who look eerily like Stryfe and Onslaught – rear their ugly heads to ensure the young mutants’ downfall! Then, after the devastating battle against Apocalypse, the X-Men encounter a new adversary that seems unstoppable. To fight it, the young mutants must ask themselves: How far are they willing to go, and what are they willing to take to raise their game? The answer will test their bonds and shake the team to its very core. Collecting ULTIMATE X-MEN #89-97.[Ultimate Northstar and Colossus were both gay and a couple.]

UNCANNY X-MEN #514 $3.99 Page 26
Matt Fraction and Terry Dodson
Utopia rages on! Norman Osborn’s victory in San Francisco is cemented when the Dark X-Men succeed where the X-Men can’t. All the while the Dark Avengers are forced to watch from the sidelines. But how long will Bullseye and Ares sit idle? [Northstar has returned to the X-Men as of #508.]

UNCANNY X-MEN: SISTERHOOD TPB $14.99 Page 107
Matt Fraction, Greg Land, and Yanick Paquette
The X-Men get up to the delicate art of living as the Sisterhood plan their imminent demise. The Science Team gets to work, trying very hard not to kill one another first. Simon Trask gains traction in the California state legislature, muscling PROPOSITION X to an emergency ballot vote. If it passes, mutants past and present, powered and otherwise, won’t be allowed to breed…all this and a friend returns as a foe and ready for murder. Oh, things are getting ugly. Collecting Uncanny X-Men  #508-512

X-FACTOR #47 $2.99 Page 72
Peter David and Valentine Delandro
Time is beginning to bleed. Sentinels are starting to pop up in the darnedest places, the Summers Rebellion is spilling over into modern day, Rictor and Shatterstar have a lot to sort out, and X-Factor finally finds itself face to face with Cortex. [In issue #14, Rictor comes out as bisexual to Jamie. Madrox also has a gay dupe who occasionally appears. Rictor and Shatterstar kiss in issue #44.]

X-Men: FIRST CLASS FINALS TPB $14.99 Page 104
Jeff Parker, Roger Cruz, and Colleen Coover
Youth is fleeting, powers are growing, and the first class of Charles Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters is about to move on to a bigger, scarier world. What does the future hold- and how will it all end? Collecting X-Men: First Class Finals #1-4 and Giant-Size X-Men #1.

ONI PRESS

WET MOON: WHERE ALL STARS FAIL TO BURN Vol 5
Ross Campbell
There’s lots going on in the tiny town of Wet Moon and the weirdness isn’t going to die down soon. With Cleo and her circle’s attention focused on the big softball game, the dark emotional clouds gathering in the distance have gone unnoticed. Will anybody be ready for the brutal conflict that’s on the horizon? [Note: Volumes 1 - 4 may also be ordered at this time.]

TOKYO POP

VASSALORD Vol 3 $10.99 Page 283
Nanae Chrono
[Note: Series synopsis taken from Tokyopop website. No information on volume 3 is available at this time.]
Charley, a cyborg vampire who does the Vatican’s dirty work, is the thrall of the local vampire playboy Johnny Rayflo. As the two fight crime–and each other–hilarity, violence and sacrilege ensue!…Rayflo gets mixed up with a devious incubus who nearly tears him to shreds. Meanwhile, Charles heads to Italy to uncover the secret behind the mysterious drug known as VASSALORD. There, he infiltrates a mafia prison, where he finds a most disturbing scene. Will Charles get out with his body–and mind–intact?

At least according to the running gag in the hilarious Monty Python sketch. The three actors dressed in snazzy red robes are easy to laugh at with Palin bumbling confusion over how many chief weapons it has, mocking diabolical laughter, and fake torture devices (the dishrack, the soft cushions, and the comfy chair). I certainly didn’t expect the Spanish Inquisition to appear in a comic, even a Vertigo one, but there they were partway through the first chapter arc in Madame Xanadu written by Matt Wagner.

Isabella and Ferdinand

Tragically, the historical Inquisitors have nothing in common with the comedic cut-ups except the red robes. The office of the Spanish Inquisistion was created by the monarchs Isabella and Ferdinad, the same couple who financed Columbus’ voyage to the New World. As Columbus sailed, the monarchs cleansed the last Spanish region of Moors, ending centuries of Arab rule. A post 9-11 mindset only reinforces a subtle Judeo-Christian attitude that ending Arab rule would be a positive accomplishment,

This was not the reality for Spanish Jews who were forced to convert to Catholicism or be exiled or for another minority group of particular relevance to us today: sodomites (gay men) and tribads (lesbians). While in many respects this was the dawn of a Golden Age for Spain, it was also the start of a reign of oppression and terror at the hands of the ecclesiastical Inquistion whose sole purpose was to enforce and maintain Catholic orthodoxy. Today we decry the extremism of Iranian ayatollahs or the Taliban all the while thinking we’re superior in that such horrors could never happen in the West because we’ve still an implicit religious conceit. The truth is horrific, rarely acknowledged horrors were done by the Catholic Church to people accused of heresy and sodomy for which, to my knowledge, it has never apologized.

The flashback in Wagner’s story informs us the date is 1493. Tomas de Torquemada, emblazoned in his red robe, stands over two males Jews stripped to loincloths. They’re accused of defying the Alhambra Decree (enacted March 31, 1492) which stated any Jew who wished to stay within the Spanish domain must convert to Catholicism or be exiled. This order is also known as the Edict of Expulsion as it created a mass exodus of Jews bound for Northern Africa and parts of the Ottoman Empire in eastern Europe where they intermingled with already established Jewish communities. The decree also stripped Jews who left of any gold or silver. Those who converted,as well as the converted Muslims, were the objects of suspicion and bigotry as a new desire for conformity and purity intensified. Outsiders of German, French, or English nationalities were suspect of promoting Lutheranism while Italians and Muslims of sodomy.

One of Wagner’s Jews confesses while the other remains defiant, an act which condemns both men to death by burning at the stake. The condemned’s cart winds its way out of town, going past Madame Xanadu and Marisol, a female companion who explains the men’s dire circumstances. “Novia”, a Spanish word spoken by Marisol caught my attention here. The definition being romantic partner or girlfriend. A close up on their hands as part (Marisol to make a delivery and Xanadu to gather “special ingredients) only emphasized my suspicion that these two women are more than friends.

Arriving at the church, Marisol is instructed to deliver the vestments she’s sewn directly to the head priest, Torquemada. While the quality of the liturgical garments exceed Torquemada’s expectations, Marisol comes under suspicion of witchcraft because of her red hair and needle pricks on her thumb. Only Marisol’s assertion that the priest in nearby Tomares hears her confessions eases the Inquisitor’s apprehension. Marisol relates the unsettling incident to Xanadu’s upon returning to the humble cottage they’ve shared for six years. During Marisol’s absence, Xanadu has brewed a batch of her life extending elixir from the ingredients found in her foraging, and she offers a cup to Marisol. Apparently it also acts as an aphrodisiac as Marisol attests the drink makes her “downright wanton”. Their amorous kiss on the last page confirmed my hope that these two are indeed romantically involved.

Art by Michael Kaluta

Their closely guarded secret will likely lead to their undoing though because two spying children have observed the women embracing. Tragedy befalling LGBT characters in stories is all too often tiresome. However, I’m quite interested to read how Wagner brings Xanadu and Marisol’s lives into conflict with the Spanish Inquisition over the next four issues of this story arc. To my knowledge this will be the first time a comic has dealt with the consequences to gays and lesbians during the Inquisitions. Such consequences were often dire and fatal, as the Siete Partidas (Seven Part Code) enacted circa 1265 by Alfonso X made sodomites the scapegoat for natural disasters and prescribed punishments for these acts which surely were the result of God’s anger with these crimes against nature. Did you think this was Jerry Falwell’s original idea? It is the seventh Partida that deals specifically with sodomy, rape, incest, witchcraft, procuring, heresy, blasphemy, and suicide. According to Wikipedia, punishments included:

Death or loss of a limb
Life of labor
Life imprisonment
Permanent exile with confiscation of property
Permanent exile without confiscation of property
Infamy or loss of office
Public flagellation, wounding, or naked exhibition while covered with honey to attract flies

The last three punishments were reserved for lesser crimes. Louis Compton, in his “Homosexuality and Civilization” illustrates the gruesomeness with a recount of German Hieronymus Munzer’s account of seeing six naked corpses “hanging upside down with their genitals about their necks” in the small town of Almeria in 1495. An edict issued by Ferdinand and Isabella in 1497 mandated that anyone convicted of “pecado nefando” “shall be burned in flames of fire.” The same fate could await anyone who attempted to commit sodomy. A provision that conveniently allowed the royal treasury to confiscate the property of the convicted proves greed is one of the seven deadly sins, just not for the hoarder.

Several years ago there was an outcry from some gay quarters accusing Marvel of torturing, killing or maiming a number of its LGBT characters such as Freedom RIng, Frenchie DuChamp, Wiccan, and either Moondragon or Quasar in various stories. While I found the objections relatable, I also understood Joe Quesada’s assertion that bad things can happen to good characters, even LGBT characters. It will certainly be a tragedy if public humiliation, torture, and death awaits Marisol (as we know Xanadu is alive in the 21st century), but it will be relevant and warranted for its fictional portrayal and bringing to light of such grim and historical events.

This June 28th marks the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. Much progress has been made in four decades, but there is much more to be accomplished. However, the history of persecution against the LGBT community began long before Stonewall, before the foundings of the Mattachine Society, Daughters of Bilitis, and ONE, before the flourishes briefly expressed during the somewhat laissez-faire attitude of the Harlem Renaissance, and still before the days when Verlaine and Rimbaud were in love and Oscar Wilde was imprisoned over an affair with Lord Alfred Douglas. While you’re contemplating your plans for Gay Pride you might consider reading up on LGBT history. The not light summer reading, both Homosexuality and Civilization and Gay Life and Culture – A World History edited by Robert Aldrich are good starting points.