Report: Green Lantern to be reintroduced as gay

Green Lantern, one of the most recognizable comic book superheroes, is being introduced as a gay person – and not all mothers are happy about it. A report on USA Today said DC Comics is reintroducing Alan Scott, the Green Lantern of parallel-world "Earth 2," as a gay. The report said the second issue of DC's Earth 2 series reboots the character, who first appeared in a 1940 issue of All-American Comics, as a "young media mogul and important figure in the creation of a group of heroes to replace the seemingly deceased Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman of his world." USA Today noted another DC superhero, Batwoman, is openly lesbian. Twice in the last three years, the company has won the "Outstanding Comic" award from GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) for stories featuring the character, it said. "He (Green Lantern)'s going to be the leader of the team, this dynamic hero, he'll do anything to save people, the bravest man on the planet. Why not just make him gay as well?" USA Today quoted Earth 2 writer James Robinson as saying. Robinson said the thought occurred to him after DC's relaunch of its entire superhero line last fall, which removed Alan Scott's gay son Obsidian. He said that when he made the suggestion about Alan Scott to DC co-publisher Dan DiDio, "there wasn't a moment's hesitation." Big step Having a gay Green Lantern, is a big step, USA Today said. "What I really want to do with this character is make the fact that he's gay to be a part of who he is and not to be the one identifying aspect of him... and have his humor and his bravery be as much or more a part of him as his sexuality," Robinson said. Robinson also said Hal Jordan, the Green Lantern most readers know, may meet one day. But for now, he said they are completely different characters, both in personality and powers. "When they're firing their rings at the same time, you'll be able to tell which energy is which," he says. "That's a very important thing so that it sets them apart." Artist's orders USA Today said artist Nicola Scott had clear orders to make Alan Scott a big, strapping, handsome man that everyone would instinctively follow and love. "Alan strikes me as an incredibly open, honest and warm man, a natural leader and absolutely the right choice to be guardian of the Earth. His sexuality is incidental. Every time I draw him I love him even more," the artist said. "He's someone you would want to watch over your children. Presenting that kind of a heroic role model hopefully will be a good thing and help to show gays in a positive light for people who might be a little more small-minded," Robinson said. USA Today said DiDio had made an offhand comment a couple of weeks ago at a London comic-book convention that a DC character would be gay. Last week, Marvel Comics announced an upcoming X-Men gay wedding. One million moms However, the group "One Million Moms" prompted readers on its website to send both companies "an email urging them to change and cancel all plans of homosexual superhero characters immediately" and to "ask them to do the right thing." Still, Robinson argued one's sexuality, even a superhero's, isn't something that should be feared or castigated. "Most people's prejudice stems from their ignorance and isolation, be it racial or someone's sexuality. It's usually due to them not going out into the world and experiencing it," he said. "I hope that showing a positive character like Green Lantern, Alan Scott helps in some small, small way to bring down the walls and barriers," he added. Anti-gay A separate article on CNET said the One Million Moms tried to warn its Facebook followers that the Green Lantern had Lanturned. "However, before the page could be monitored closely, it was full of pro-gay commentary, including such delightful gems as this from poster Meg Navitsky: 'Looks like I'm gonna go buy some Green Lantern memorabilia from JC Penney,'" it reported. — LBG, GMA News