Marvel Comics to unveil gay gunslinger

Monday, December 9, 2002 Posted: 2:57 PM EST (1957 GMT)

The new Rawhide Kid

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Marvel Comics plans to break new ground in the comic book industry by introducing the first openly gay title character in a comic book.

The character will appear in a revival of the 1950s title, "The Rawhide Kid." Marvel expects a February debut.

The new series pairs the original artist, John Severin, now 86, with Ron Zimmerman, a writer for the "Howard Stern Show."

The Rawhide Kid has been a Marvel character since the 1950s both as a main and a secondary character. However, it was not until Zimmerman approached Marvel with his idea of a homosexual Rawhide Kid that sexuality was mentioned in the discussion of the character.

Although shy with girls, the original Rawhide Kid was not intended to be gay. The new version uses double entendres and euphemisms to reveal his homosexuality without saying anything explicitly. Based on a blurb on Marvel's Web site, the tone may be campy.

In a bubble in the first edition of the series, Rawhide Kid comments about the Lone Ranger: "I think that mask and the powder blue outfit are fantastic. I can certainly see why the Indian follows him around."
Brian Reinert, Marvel's public relations officer, said that Marvel has always been "interested in tapping into stories that are relevant today." He expects the reactions to this comic to vary.

Although many readers will accept the new sexuality of the Marvel hero, Reinert expects possible negative responses from people who don't accept homosexuality and readers who do not want to see a change in their beloved character.

"When you tackle these issues it will always push buttons," he said.

Marvel is planning six stories over the next six months. After looking at the response to those issues they will decide whether to continue production and whether they would be interested in more series with gay title characters.

Although Rawhide Kid is the first gay title character, Marvel does have several existing gay characters, such as North Star of the "X-Men" comic book series.

The Rawhide Kid series, beginning with the first edition "Rawhide Kid: Slap Leather," will run about 22 pages and have a suggested retail price of $2.95.

Edit: changed title for clarity...
[This message was edited Tue Dec 10 8:10:18 PST 2002 by IceNine]

You've got to be fucking joking.

teller said:

Nope...

http://www.cnn.com/2002/S...index.html

I'm totally looking forward to this coming out, too funny! Esp if they use it in a campy way. Woo hoo!

Marvellous!

Can't wait to see him in those chaps!

jthad1129 said:

Nice double meaning there!

teller said:

and





I wonder why they don't just create a new character, instead of using one that people r already familiar with. Is it that hard 2 come up with something more original?

C'mon.

As 4 the gay issue, who really cares! If u don't like it, don't buy it!

Oh I've got nothing against gays...it just sounded really fucking stupid!

(though the muppet with AIDS was a little much, dontcha think?)

Politically correct or no? Wondering.

teller said:

it IS really fucking stupid. read it. it's crap.

penelopeperriwinkle said:

what was politically correct or incorrect about posting a news story, word for word, without editorializing?

WTF?

penelopeperriwinkle said:

IceNine is? No. What does that have to do with it?
[This message was edited Wed Jul 16 17:23:50 PDT 2003 by AaronSuperior]

well?

IceNine said:

to be technical, Northstar did have his own mini-series in 1994, (relatively) shortly after he came out.

and they don't have "several"... only Northstar and Mystique come to mind. oh, and some dude that was one of the Hulkbusters, i think... maybe? i know he was supporting cast in the Hulk during Peter David's run.
[This message was edited Wed Jul 16 18:40:00 PDT 2003 by AaronSuperior]

AaronSuperior said:

yes, really? as a gay man i am not in these least bit offended by this.

what's up with penelope?