DC Comics Leads the GLAAD Media Award Nominations for Outstanding Comic Book

Comics News
DC Comics Leads the GLAAD Media Award Nominations for Outstanding Comic Book
By J. Skyler
January 16, 2013 - 20:26

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is the leading watchdog group advocating for the fair, accurate and inclusive portrayal of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender characters and themes in mainstream media. The GLAAD Media Awards is an annual event which honors outstanding achievements in the depictions of LGBT people, as well as other coverage of issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity. This year, DC Entertainment receives two nominations: one for Batwoman, co-written by W. Haden Blackman and W. H. Williams III and Earth 2, written by James Robinson. This is the second consecutive nomination for Batwoman (which won the award last year) and the first nomination for Earth 2, which debuted last year.

The nomination for Batwoman comes as no surprise. Since her reintroduction into DC Comics continuity in 2006, she has become the most high-profile lesbian character in the comic book industry today; quite possibly the most well-known LGBT superhero period. Luckily, under pen of talents such Greg Rucka ("Batwoman: Elegy"), Blackman & Williams (Batwoman: Hydrology, Batwoman: To Drown the World) she has evolved into a character of considerable depth, a far cry from the original version of the character which debuted in 1956 to instill heteronormativity into the Batman franchise. The modern Batwoman's publication history has dealt with a number of important issues, such as the coming out process, Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) and alcohol abuse with the LGBT community.

Like Batwoman, the Alan Scott Green Lantern has been reinvented as a gay man for the sake of diversity in comic books. The alteration of Scott's sexual orientation in DC's New 52 initiative has been met with less controversy and less enthusiasm since he is only one of several characters in the Green Lantern franchise, and as a part of the alternate reality of Earth 2, has no bearing on DC Comics primary continuity. For better or worse, utilizing long-standing brand names such as Batman and Green Lantern to introduce LGBT characters has proven a successful formula for the publisher, as other characters such as the bisexual Voodoo, who was the feature of the monthly title of the same name, received cancellation for lack-luster sales and the openly gay Bunker of Teen Titans has received very little attention by comparison (although so have other original creations for the series). Socio-political and commercial influences aside, Robinson, Blackman and Williams have all done stellar work on their respective titles.

Other nominees for Outstanding Comic Book include Marvel Comic's Astonishing X-Men by Marjorie Liu, Dark Horse Comics Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Andrew Chambliss, Scott Allie, Jane Espenson, Drew Z. Greenberg and Archie Comic's Kevin Keller by Dan Parent. Astonishing X-Men garnered notoriety last year for featuring the wedding of Northstar (who holds the distinction of being the world's first openly gay superhero) and his boyfriend, Kyle Jinadu. Buffy the Vampire Slayer also underwent a major continuity change, introducing the first gay male slayer into the series; previously, only women could be destined to become Slayers. Among LGBT readers, Batwoman remains the comic book industry's leading title, so chances are it will take the award for a second year in a row, but there is no ruling out the other four publications.