Posts Tagged ‘couple’

Tara Algren & Bethany Flynn

Saturday, January 1st, 2011

Art by Bart Sears

Contributed by Ronald Byrd

Tara and Bethany, a interracial lesbian couple who are both writers for the Midnight Sun tabloid, are turned into vampires by the recently resurrected Dracula. Oddly, when Dracula clashes with the vampire hunter Blade and vampiric challenger Aaron Thorne, the two women do not join the fray and, in fact, apparently slip away unnoticed. It is not known what became of them.

Tara and Bethany possess superhuman strength, the ability to change shape into bats or mist, invulnerability to most forms of physical attack, and other such abilities common to the vampires of the Marvel Universe.

The women are shown to be lesbians in Blade the Vampire Hunter #2

© and ® Marvel Comics. All rights reserved.

The Bonds of Love

Tuesday, September 28th, 2010

Review by Fred Towers

J.M. Snyder
Amber Quill Press

Vic Braunson has a special kind of problem ~ his lover, Matt DiLorenzo, somehow imbues him with enhanced superpowers every time they have sex. It’s something Vic has learned to live with in the years they’ve been together, and something he won’t let stand in the way of their relationship. Matt hates the powers, however, particularly when they put Vic in danger, but what can they do?

When Vic stops an armed robbery at a local convenience store, his picture appears in the morning paper. Later that day, Matt receives a phone call at work from Jordan Dubrowski, a guy he knew in high school. Jordan was his first, in every way ~ it was through him that Matt discovered his ability to transfer superpowers to his lovers. Jordan had a taste of those powers, and after reading about Vic’s role in the hold up, he’s decided he wants those powers back. But Matt is in love … and Vic won’t let him go without a fight. Still, Jordan will stop at nothing to get what he thinks rightly belongs to him…

This novel is a gay erotica superhero story with plenty of action in the bedroom as well as in the streets. Vic saves the day, but when his picture ends up in the paper, the real intrigue begins. He has to save his relationship from being torn apart by Matt’s ex-lover.

For action adventure readers, there is plenty of intrigue and action to get their hearts pumping. They can live vicariously through the superhero adventure. This action adventure superhero novel takes the superhero novel to the next level. It doesn’t close the door on the relationship behind the hero.

The erotica reader will enjoy the sex scenes between Matt and Vic, but they will get more than their crotch throbbing. They’ll be on the edge of their seats wanting more. Snyder writes strong characters, plots and moves from the bedroom to the streets with ease. I believe all readers who enjoy erotica, action, and more will enjoy this gay novel. I highly recommend it, especially to the gay superhero geeks like me.

This review was originally published by Fred Towers at his blog, fredtowers.blogspot.com, and is published here courtesy of the author.

Visit the Vic and Matt website and Amber Quill Press.

Purchase this book from Amazon or search for other sellers with the ISBN: 978-1-60272-202-6

The Positions of Love: Book 1

Saturday, September 18th, 2010

Review by Fred Towers

J.M. Snyder
Amber Quill Press

When Matt diLorenzo gives his lover, Vic Braunson, a copy of the Kama Sutra for Gay Men as a Christmas gift, they find it doubles as a handy reference guide to Vic’s super powers. All they have to do is test out the positions to see which one gives him what ability …

Matt and Vic have been living together almost a year now, and this is their first Christmas. Not a big fan of the holiday, Vic is unsure what to buy his lover. Matt gives him two guidelines to go by ~ the gift must be under $50, and must be something sexual, because Vic has some time off during the holidays and Matt plans to spend that time together.

I may be a little biased because I’m a superhero freak, and I crave more gay superhero fiction. There just isn’t enough. This installment of Matt and Vic is more erotic than superhero. At this point, they are exploring what lovemaking positions gives him what powers, instead of how his powers can help other people. I can’t wait for future installments to see how that side of the story develops.

I did get Matt and Vic confused at times, but the writing was so crisp I didn’t worry about it. I just continued reading, figuring that it’d work itself out. The characters are distinctly different in the descriptions, so I don’t know why I’d get bumped in who was who. Despite this minor confusion, I fell in love with the characters.

The author does seem to love the word “bulbous” when describing the cock’s head. It was used at least twice to describe it in two different sex scenes. Since I wasn’t sure what the word meant, it jumped out at me.

One phrase that I fell in love with was “A cutting wind pulled at his robe like a hungry lover.” The language in this story is smooth and captivating.

I highly recommend this book to all erotica lovers, romance lovers, and superhero freaks. I can’t wait to see how his superpowers manifest themselves in future installments, such as what happens when the top and bottom flip in bed.

This review was originally published by Fred Towers at his blog, fredtowers.blogspot.com, and is published here courtesy of the author.

Visit the Vic and Matt website and Amber Quill Press.

Purchase this book in print or for the Kindle from Amazon or search for other sellers with the ISBN 978-1-60272-173-9

Boy Meets Hero

Friday, September 17th, 2010

Review by Fred Towers

Chayne Avery & Russell Garcia
Bruno Gmunder

I absolutely loved this graphic novel. The illustrations really popped. The colors in the illustrations were magnigicient. The story was well thought out and had several twists. Even though this graphic novel wasn’t as sexual as Dick Master by Roy Klang, but I liked it that way. I think the lack of explicit sex in this graphic novel will make it more appealing to heterosexial superhero fans than Dick Master. I really liked the profiles of the characters at the end describing their abilities and their biography. I recommend this to readers who love gay romance fiction, gay superhero stories, and graphic novel readers of all sexual orientations and ages above 13. The superheroes and supervillians have great powers.

This review was originally published by Fred Towers at his blog, fredtowers.blogspot.com, and is published here courtesy of the author.

Purchase this book from Amazon or search for other sellers for its ISBN 978-3-86187-891-9

Kennedy

Friday, September 10th, 2010

Contributed by Mike McDermott

Kennedy was one of the first Potential Slayers that was gathered into Sunnydale by Giles when the servants of the First Evil started killing the Potentials before they could become Slayers.  Kennedy was one of the few Potentials who had already received extensive training from her Watcher before coming to Sunnydale, so she quickly rose into a position of authority, acting as a drill instructor for the newer trainees.

Coming from a wealthy family, Kennedy can be rather spoiled and is used to getting her own way.  Combined with her forceful personality, this has sometimes made her a bit obnoxious, and she was one of the most outspoken voices questioning Buffy’s decisions and challenging her authority during the war against the First Evil.

Kennedy was immediately attracted to Willow, but Willow was initially resistant to Kennedy’s advances since she was still grieving the recent death of her lover Tara.  However the two women did eventually become a couple, once Willow was able to set aside her guilt over moving on with her life.

Kennedy became a full-fledged Vampire Slayer when Willow cast a spell to “activate” all Slayers worldwide.  Since then

Kennedy has been in a leadership role in the “Slayer army”, supervising the training of the newer recruits.  Recently she was assigned to evaluate Satsu’s performance as a new squad leader.

Under unrevealed circumstances Kennedy was killed, butit was a “mystical death” and only lasted for a month.  Still feeling guilty over what happened to Tara, Willow tried to keep Kennedy away from Buffy for several months in order to protect her, but eventually Kennedy ended up reintegrated into the core of the Scooby Gang, and continues to be a valued member of Buffy’s team.

Kennedy first appeared in the Buffy TV series in the “Bring On The Night” episode from season 7. In comics her first appearance is Buffy Season 8 issue #10.

© and ® 20th Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved.

Jack Cooper

Monday, July 12th, 2010

Jack with dark hairJack Cooper is a valuable employee, ostensibly the PR head of the HeNRI Institute, a private weapons R & D firm which was developing a battle suit based on technology using liquid metal. Public relations carries other connotations for HeNRI though and there’s much more to Jack under his thin veneer efficiency. Cooper is first seen consulting with HeNRI’s Dr. Foster in the wake of the Institute’s beta suit’s explosion during a secret military test. Tasked by Foster, Cooper enlists the the expertise of National Security Branch agent Ivy Raven to track down and bring in Julie Martin, the woman who witnessed the Moon Lake explosion. Together they begin the investigation, starting with a gruesome and mysterious crime scene. Cooper fails to maintain complete control of the situation during an interaction with Park Ranger Dillon Murphy in which he has to relate the death of Annie, Murphy’s scientist girlfriend who was killed while wearing the beta suit.

An undercurrent of tension and distrust arises when Ivy discovers during a phone update with Jack that he’s been hiding information about the Mook Lake blast from her. Suspicion continues for Ivy with more interaction with Jack as he continues to try and fail at staying on top of things as Ivy gets closer to and then locates Martin. Pressure increases on Jack after images of the Moon Lake crater surface in the national news media and he loses control over Ivy when she fails to yield to his ultimatum, thus ensuring her involvment as a free agent sympathetic to Julie.

More of Jack’s despicable nature is revealed when he visits HeNRI scientist Hong Liu in a critical care burn unit and tries to extort Liu’s computer password for pain treatment in order to get plans for a proton gun to take down Julie Martin. Later Jack coerces another HeNRI scientist to lie to the police about an incident in which he narrowly escaped an assailant who targeted him so the company isn’t drawn into the matter. Thinking a lead has brought them to Julie, Jack orders a black ops agent to strike and kill.

Issue #20 pulls back the curtain on Jack’s private life. He arrives home to find several packed bags by the front door. Todd, a friend, sits in the living room, mentioning that Ethan is waiting by the pool. We learn from their conversation that they’ve been together a number of years, and Ethan has decided to end their relationship because they’ve grown apart. Jack alludes to big problems at work. This turn of events clearly pushes Jack and as Ethan starts to leave he realizes his lover knows too much. Out of control, hurt, and angered, Jack takes a drastic step for, in his mind, national security. He clearly shows remorse, but he doesn’t let emotions get involved while ordering a cover up of his gruesome actions. That’s as much as I’ll spoil this truly shocking development.

Cooper’s last appearance is in #27 when Moore writes a fitting yet still grisly end for the character. Details will be posted later to avoid spoilers for anyone who hasn’t yet read the story.

Jack Cooper first appears in Echo #2 and is confirmed gay in #20.

© 2010 Terry Moore. All rights reserved.

Nata & Jisa

Tuesday, July 6th, 2010

By Ronald Byrd

Renata da Lima (Nata) is a young Brazilian mutant whose parents force her to leave home out of fear that she will be killed by anti-mutant bigots if she remains. Finding a job as a bouncer at a Rio de Janeiro nightclub, Nata befriends a girl named Jisa, who has been thrown out by her parents because of her involvement with gang member Laolo. When Jisa becomes pregnant, Laolo assumes that she will get an abortion; unwilling to do so, Jisa leaves him. Nata takes Jisa under her wing and supports her during her pregnancy, and it is implied that the two girls become lovers. When last seen, Nata was single-handedly fighting Laolo and his gang on her way home from work, and it may be presumed that she triumphed and returned to Jisa.

Nata has super-dense skin and bones as hard as steel, granting her enhanced strength, stamina, and resistance to injury. She is also a highly skilled hand-to-hand combatant. Jisa has no superhuman powers.

Nata and Jisa appeared in Muties #4 (2002).

© and ® Marvel Comics. All rights reserved.

Closet Space

Saturday, July 3rd, 2010

By Ronald Byrd

Art by Leonard Kirk

Closet Space is (real name Dominique Melancon) one of the Space Girls, a French band who use their music to promote female empowerment, what they call their “Chick-a-Boom” philosophy. As part of their stage personas, each member exemplifies a different trait; Deep Space is “smart,” Empty Space is “airheaded,” Open Space is “amorous,” and the leather-clad Closet Space is “tough.”

During an American tour, shortly after the unseen Dead Space quits, the Space Girls perform outside the town of Leesburg, where they persuade local hero Supergirl to join them. The concert is interrupted when the Female Furies of Apokolips arrive, searching for the refugee Twilight, and the Space Girls become involved when Twilight recognizes Deep Space as the reincarnation of her sister. In the aftermath, Twilight escapes with Deep Space, leaving the Space Girls to recover from the encounter.

Closet Space mentions that she has a girlfriend named Jane, indicating that she is a lesbian, which puts her name and persona into a somewhat stereotypical perspective.

Closet Space first appears in Supergirl #27 (the volume by Peter David) and is confirmed lesbian in #28.

© and ® DC Comics.All rights reserved.

Tony Mantegna

Monday, June 28th, 2010

Tony Mantegna is one of six strangers brought together by a mysterious, hooded figure that is known only as Mockingbird. Each of these people has experienced a loss or setback of some type. Mantegna had won a Pulitzer for an exposé he wrote on corruption in a mine workers union. While researching, he was caught in a suspicious, accidental dynamite blast that resulted in a loss of hearing. Mockingbird wants this new Secret Six (the original group from the late 60s comic have retired) to be his mission operatives. In exchange, he offers each of them some device that compensates or eliminates their losses. Tony receives a sophisticated (certainly outmoded by contemporary standards) headset. The Secret Six had only a couple of missions before the story ended and Action changed its format back to a monthly 32-paged comic from the weekly anthology experiment.

The story of Mantegna’s mine workers union piece is recounted in Action #624. Harry Shandler, a union foreman, was alleged to divert union money into his personal bank account. Mantegna contacted Shandler, and an interview was arranged for his magazine employer. A new photographer, Tom Pearson, was sent along with him. Quoting the story: “But I was working with a new photographer, Tom Pearson—helluva nice guy, but there were…certain tensions. And I guess I just wasn’t on my game.” The two were given access to explore a mineshaft alone. They stumbled across a live charge, and Tom pushed Tony away from it just as it exploded. They were rescued. The story gives no indication of Tom’s injuries, but Tony later awoke in hospital and discovered his sense of hearing had been lost. The closing scene of this chapter is set in a Los Angeles cemetery. Tony is talking aloud at a grave. He talks about leaving town for good and moving to San Francisco.

“…You know…the way we always talked about doing some day. I’m sorry we didn’t get around to it while you were still here. I won’t be able to visit as often. But I’ll still bring flowers. And I’ll never stop loving you, you know that.”

Tony places the potted flowers on the grave. An older woman approaches him from behind to ask if he knows where a particular section of the cemetery is located. Tony can’t hear her though because he’s not wearing the electronic device Mockingbird gave to him. A caretaker informs her that he can’t hear her (“He’s stone cold deaf.”). She asks the caretaker if he knows him and he replies, “Not really. I just see him a lot. He comes out here once a month on this date, every month…to put flowers on his lover’s grave.” The final panel is a close up of the head stone with the name “Thomas John Pearson” engraved on it.
Art by Frank Springer
The Secret Six and Mockingbird referred to here have no connection to the villainous Secret Six seen most recently in current DC comics.

Mantegna first appeared in Action #601 and confirmed gay in Action #624 (Dated 11/1988). Created by Martin Pasko and Dan Spiegle.

© and ® DC Comics. All rights reserved.

Thanks to Angie for bringing this character to my attention!

Meg Pitt

Sunday, June 20th, 2010

Art by Mark Laming

Meg Pitt is a minor character seen in the “White Lightning” story arc in issues #10 – 13 of American Century which is set in and around the town of Newton in Chester County, North Carolina. The main plot of the arc deals with Wallace Pitt forcinghis fellow moonshine making friends into joining his own organization, making him the sole (illegal) distributor in half the state.

Meg Pitt is Wallace’s salty-mouthed, blonde sister and they have a strained relationship because she’s a lesbian. Meg gets by just fine without her brother’s approval as the owner of Pitt Filling Station and Garage. She’s also one half of a race car team, acting as mechanic while her niece Lorelei drives. Meg’s so sure of herself that she bets the title to their race car when another driver named Trent comes around the track just to annoy them. Presumably the women win.

Meg is in love with a dark-haired woman named Trica. They live together in quarters attached to the filling station. What Tricia does for employment isn’t mentioned. It’s never made clear if the women are subject to rumor among the townspeople.

Wallace learns that his son has been killed in the Korean War and is devastated. News travels fast in small towns and Meg soon learns of her nephew’s death. Wallace makes up with Meg off panel and consequently has a change of attitude toward her brother, siding with him in an argument between father and daughter. She still has car racing in her blood and with Wallace at her side she cheers Lorelei on. Something fails with the car’s engine and Lorelei is tragically killed. Meg is last seen without Tricia giving some men hell at her niece’s funeral.

© and ® Howard Chaykin Inc and DC Comics. All rights reserved.