X-Men First Class made a pretty strong case for consensual sexual tension between James McAvoy's Professor Xavier and Michael Fassenber's Magneto, but this deleted clip from EW's Inside movies blog let's you get into Angel's (among other fangirls') head by revealing Lt. Hicox in all his transvestite glory. The clip is pretty sparse, in that you don't get to see much besides what's captured in the screen grab, but the slash fiction crowd will be glad to have some bonus material to work with.
There's a lot to look forward to in 2011, so to take a page from Amber Unmasked, I've compiled my ideal 12-month Comics Men Calendar. Nothing fancy here, just a collection of pictures of 12 fine men, (sorry ladies, but I'd be a bad choice for picking out comics women). Most months are vaguely connected to the work coming out from these creators and actors, but some are just thrown in for... let's call it 'beauty appreciation' purposes. 2011 is coming with promises of 'Fear Itself' and movie adaptations in varying forms, so let's make it a good one.
Looking for something beautiful, well-written and slightly ominous in ambience to give to that very special someone? Look no further than Jim McCann's and Janet Lee's Return of the Dapper Men. It was reviewed in advance here by Rubber Justice and is an all-ages book that confounds the casual approach an adult might adopt by challenging them with a complex world, fluid illustrations and especially with faces that manage to be simply drawn but convey sophisticated emotion. As with the finest of fairy tales, the story itself is clever, fascinating and very well told and the narrative is flawlessly swaddled in a kind of cotton-candy fog of ominous confusion and indifference to the pressing concerns of its protagonists. Every turn of the page surprises me and makes me wonder at how lucky we are, as consumers of graphic fiction, to get to experience works like this. A book like this requires creators as talented and accomplished as McCann and Lee and they really do make it soar. The art unfolds with a breathtaking success that requires someone as creative and unfettered by convention as Janet Lee. The two of them, together, make real magic happen.
I've been reading my copy slowly, a few pages at the time, at night when my partner and I go to bed. Rubber Justice advised me to read it with a warm body close at hand and he is absolutely right. It makes one want to burrow under the covers, to feel loved, to dream deep.
Inappropriate bonus point: Jim McCann is totally hot.
Stemming out of my New York Comic-Con visit, I walked away the happy owner of Jim McCann's new all-ages book, Return of the Dapper Men. Maybe I'm still a little loopy from my chance to obediently fetch him all the water-bottles his heart desired, but I only have praise for the book. While most "all-ages" books take that classification as code for vapid kid's stories, this is a timeless book that can genuinely work for anyone. You can't touch the sleek artwork, and one can't hope to understand all this book has to offer in a single reading. What Jim and Janet produced here is a book for the ages.
Sorry for the lack of updates recently, folks. Life's been super-hectic. Though I would like to bring attention to the string of recent suicides among gay teens, one of which occurred here at my university. I'd like to urge anyone who feels they need help to please seek it out. We, as a community, will listen to you. Someone you know (and even some you don't) will help you. It Gets Better.
Not a nice segue at all, but this month, feast your eyes on our own bad boy, Noah.
Name: Noah O'Toole Age: 31 Where you're from: Des Moines, IA Are you L, G, B, or T (or just friendly): GAY!!! Relationship Status: single What's on your pull list: all the DC girls! Wonder Woman, Power Girl, Birds of Prey, Zatanna, Gotham City Sirens Favorite story: when Wonder Woman fought Superman when he was under Maxwell Lord's control Superpower you'd most want to have: pheromones like Poison Ivy that make all the boys do my bidding!!! More about you: I've read comics from all genres and companies in the past, but now I'm pretty much a die hard DC Comics fanboy (Wonder Woman is my all time favorite... don't get me started on this JMS/Jim Lee fiasco). I'm partial to their femme fatales as I also collect and draw pin-up girls. I love video games (Playstation 3 and PSP all the way) and have 14+ tattoos. I'm like the badboy of gay comic fans!
Alls I'm sayin' is, Where's my Wonder Woman movie?
Wanna be featured as a PK Reader? You'll want this link here
This month's reader helps to put Loki's horns in context.
I've been reading PK for a few years now and really appreciate the work that you folks do! I'm always excited to read your New Comic Book Wednesday posts and Klarion's review of X-Factor #200 inspired me to work through my ridiculous childhood loyalties and pick up a Marvel book for once!
Name: Brandon B
Age: 31
Where you're from: Texas, originally ... but I've settled in Western Massachusetts
Are you L, G, B, or T (or just friendly): Queer
Relationship Status: Seeing Someone
What's on your pull list: Secret Six, Birds of Prey, Wonder Woman, Batman & Robin, Supergirl, everything Superman, Detective Comics (but only until The Question second feature wraps up), JLA, JSA, Power Girl, everything Green Lantern, Brave & the Bold, anything with Batwoman, anything with the Young Avengers, The New Mutants TBPs, various X-Men TBPs, and anything related to Love and Rockets
Favorite story: It's hard to pick just one, so I'll pick three. The Rucka/Williams run with Batwoman in Detective Comics was incredible. The art blew my mind and Rucka really wowed me with Kate's origin story. I also have a special place in my heart for Gail Simone's totally creepy and twisted Secret Six "Depths" story ... I've had that panel of Artemis saying "I've got some bastards to kill" as my wallpaper ever since. And, finally, say what you will, but the George Perez run on Wonder Woman was my first true comic book love. I thought Perez brilliantly (and subtly) exposed the modern dynamics of sexism through the eyes of a naive but courageous young Diana. And, in Diana, I found a hero I could relate to and grow with.
Superpower you'd most want to have: Tactile telekinesis (including flight)!
More about you: I work as a college educator/administrator and occasionally get to geek-out with students over comics. I'm particularly interested in the ways in which comic books have helped to expanded our national discourse on issues of identity, power, and social justice. After doing a few workshops about this with students, I set up a website to start more discussion on the topic (www.SocialJusticeinSpandex.com). I'm also really into ancient queer history and queer mythology ... did you know that Odin was into ritualistic homo sex and Loki was a nelly gender-swapper? If Marvel went there, I'd add Thor to my pull list in a heartbeat.
If you would like to be featured as one of PK's loyal fans, check out this post to join the love fest.
Name: Mark.F Age:20 Where you're from: England Are you L, G, B, or T (or just friendly): Bisexual Relationship Status: Single What's on your pull list: Amazing Spiderman, Four Eyes, Ultimate Spiderman, The Avengers, Astonishing X-Men, Invincible Iron Man, Buying the Authority, The Sandman and Lucifer trades... oh and Scott Pilgrim Favorite story: The Planetary storyline Superpower you'd most want to have: Telekinesis More about you: I am a university student doing sociology and for my third year project i will be doing LGBT representations in comicbooks. Not all uber geeky though i am a gym nut and do love Tae Kwondo. Saying that i am eyeing up spiderman designs for my fourth tattoo so i am a pretty hopeless case by this point :P. And in terms of Manga it has to be Tri-Gun all the way. That or FLCL.
P.S. Yes that is me and Eddie Izzard in that photo it was awesome!
A little late, as someone's been partying too hard this weekend, but we honor you nonetheless, reader TO!
Name: TO Age: 29 Where you're from: Boston, MA Are you L, G, B, or T (or just friendly): G Relationship Status: Single (always looking, though) What's on your pull list: Uncanny X-Men, X-Factor, Avengers, Young Avengers, Runaways Favorite story: Age Of Apocalypse, House Of M, Phoenix - Endsong Superpower you'd most want to have: Invisibility More about you: I'm studying to become a high school English teacher, and I've used comics in past assignments and lesson plans. Carol Danvers and Clint Barton are my heroes because they understand one important thing: powers do not make a superhero. I also love Emma Frost because she's bitchy.
Shame I didn't have any teachers quite as awesome as you. I'd even take the Marvel version of Sense & Sensibility if it meant never again having to hear a professor drone on about Austen's genius.
Name: Cole M. Age: 25 Where You're From: Toledo, OH, USA L, G, B, T, or just friendly: Gay Relationship Status: Single
What's On Your Pull List: I am that most tragic of folks, the boy without a comic shop. If I had one, New Avengers, Secret Avengers, Black Widow, War Machine Superpower You'd Most Want To Have: Flight. I know, I know, I'm boring, but I would die for that kind of absolute freedom. More About Me: My favorite western superhero of all time is a toss up between Captain America and Doctor Strange, and my favorite manga hero is probably... The Guyver. If it isn't already clearly apparent, I'm a bit of a Marvel fanboy. When talking with my comic book reading friends I'm always a step behind because I usually do my reading through GNs, but I also think that gives me the opportunity to resist "ragequitting" on a series because of a bad issue or two. Also, despite its lack of... well... basically everything good comics-wise, I'm a child of the 90's and unabashedly love all that Professor Hulk/Infinity War/Onslaught sillyness that it granted us.
Welcome to the club, Cole! Gotta say, my favorite manga man is Hellsing's Father Anderson; There's just something about technology-enhanced crusaders that makes me gawk in amazement.
If you'd like to be featured in PK Reader, refer to our recruitment post.
PK reader was a monthly feature back in '08 run by contributor OracleChele akin to Gay Gamer of the Week. The thing is, we still want to get to know you and what you read in order to give you the most relevant reviews and newspieces. If you're looking to be honored for a whole month, shoot me an email through rubber_justice@gaygamer.net with the following info
Name: (first and last initial)
Age:
Where you're from:
Are you L, G, B, or T (or just friendly):
Relationship Status:
What's on your pull list:
Favorite story:
Superpower you'd most want to have:
More about you: (e.g. Your favorite superhero in other media, tell us about your manga affinity, who's winning the World Cup, etc.)
And send in a picture (.jpg, please) of yourself that includes your face. Bonus points if you're dressed as Wiccan. Submissions are always open, but please be aware that by being featured, your information will come to rest in our archives after you've had your fifteen minutes, so avoid sending us anything you'd consider sensitive.
This is it, the iPad's here. Heidi McDonald probably said it best when she wrote "Sh*t just got real." April's iPad explosion, whether you liked it or not, will divide the history of digital comics into eras before or after a dedicated online reader and distributor. The biggest contender for this game-breaking change is the Marvel Comics app, from where users can purchase and read a selection of titles both for free and for purchase. And judging from the Boing Boing's review showing just how smooth the reader interface is, clunky .pdf readers are yesterday's news.
Apps have been updating aplenty to accommodate for the iPad, but IDW threw their proverbial hat in the ring Saturday with a similar distribution service and reader. Titles like Star Trek and Transformers are all available to be rendered in iPad goodness.
This is only the beginning of many changes to the industry; Though Marvel mostly keeps its new releases with direct distributors for now, this could certainly be a chance for smaller distributors to flower. And what of the incentive to purchase e-ink over paper? Mitch Breitweiser has repeatedly pushed for functionality that maximizes the iPad's capabilities.
Now just give me the option to turn the colors on and off, and built in character and creator bios and we'll be set.
This isn't mere "bonus content" for readers to make the switch, if Marvel were to apply a feature that enables switching between inked and non-inked pages, or to turn off lettering (or possibly to see only the lettering), this would literally redefine the comics reading experience. It'll be curious to see if DC follows with its prudent policy towards the digital adaptation. Meanwhile, Marvel's release of 500 issues shows how aptly they've made the transition into the comics age of new heroics.
You guys may recall I was a bit cranky about Northstar and his lack of lovin' about a year and a half ago. In fact, at the time, I issued a challenge to Marvel to get him a kiss by June 2009 or I would declare him not really gay.
I have not forgotten about this.
However, when the X-men moved to San Francisco this year, we were teased with the existence of what looked to be Northstar's boyfriend (and manager), so I delayed judgment until we could see more.
Since then, Northstar hasn't had a lot of major appearances, as there have been about a thousand major crossover events in the Marvel universe in the last six months, and each one tends to disrupt the normal storyline for most books, including the many X-books. So I waited.
Our patience seems to have been rewarded! Artist Tim Fish revealed on his blog that his upcoming story in Nation X #2 (which comes out in Jan.) is a story about Northstar, and will feature Kyle, his boyfriend in an 8-page story. I'm not sure if an actual kiss is in it, but it's implied that there is some lovin' going on. Check out some sketches of Northstar, Kyle, and Aurora below, and we'll keep you up to date when we get closer to Jan.
Review: Wonder Woman #1 - #5
OK, so a couple of unkind reviews from me of late. Does that mean I hate the whole New 52? No, not at all. Does it mean that I only enjoy the new characters? Definitely not. Case in point: Wonder Woman is one of my favorite books of the relaunch. I think it's very good, with strong writing, an excellent ambience and fantastic art. Read on for why this reboot is the first time I've ever subscribed to Wonder Woman!...
