Variety is reporting that Stan Lee is in production with Showtime to create a new TV series that will focus on the life of a gay superhero who struggles with identity issues … both of the secret and sexual orientation variety. To some, this idea sounds like a good one … one that may go a long way to fostering acceptance of gay issues. But is the world really ready for this next step?
Showtime is developing an hourlong project from comicbook icon Stan Lee that tracks the life of a gay superhero. Project is being exec produced by Lee and the president and CEO of his Pow! Entertainment banner, Gill Champion. Story, which focuses on an up-and-coming superhero who struggles to hide his secret identities, is based on the book “Hero” by Perry Moore. Moore is penning the script and also exec producing along with Hunter Hill. Previous series television produced by Lee includes whimsical reality-competish skein “Who Wants to Be a Superhero?,” which ran on the Sci Fi Channel from 2005-07. The comicbook maven is in development on several features for Paramount, including “Thor,” “The First Avenger: Captain America” and a sequel to last summer’s “Iron Man.” Project joins more than a half-dozen others in development at Showtime, including a series retelling of “Camelot” from “Tudors” creatives Michael Hirst and Morgan O’Sullivan.
Lee‘s new creation will NOT be the first gay superhero in existence. There are quite a few gay superheros already (Northstar, an incarnation of X-Men‘s Colossus and the latest incarnation of Batwoman, to name a few) but a Showtime series like this may, in my estimation, help make the issue of sexual orientation a non-issue. Stan Lee is a venerated comic book creator (he’s practically holy in some circles) and I’m very happy to know that he has signed on for this project. I’m really encouraged and intrigued by this new project … I can’t wait to see the final product.
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Captain Jack Harkness is gay … well omnisexual!
And my fave!
To my understanding this series is based off the book ‘Hero’ by Perry Moore–
At the same time that he’s coming to terms with his sexual orientation, basketball star Thom Creed is trying to figure out exactly what his untrained superpowers can do. In an attempt to break away from his seemingly non-understanding father (an ex-hero with something to hide) and homophobic community, Thom runs away, only to find himself in the middle of a multi-hero rescue operation. Using his ability to heal, he keeps an injured woman alive until the League superheroes arrive and impresses them enough to get an invitation to try out for a hero apprentice position. Thom is teamed with an old woman who can see into the future, a spiteful girl who unleashes her power through fire, a sickly boy who is able to inflict disease on anyone, and a demoted hero with insane speed. With superheroes dying in mysterious circumstances, Thom is forced to admit publicly that he is gay in order to prevent a miscarriage of justice, but finds himself cast out of the League. He organizes his ragtag team to figure out what is really going on and to fight society’s prejudices as well as the criminal element of the town. The story tackles love, friendship, and the eternal struggle to come to terms with who we really are in a tactful, interesting, and well-developed manner
w00t! a real ‘Rage’!!
There’s Midnighter and Apollo from The Authority too.
Don’t forget the Ambiguously Gay Duo! (Google it!)
First off, lol daniela!! I loves me some Captain Jack!! mmmmmmmmmm.
Anyways, what bugs me is if the sexual orientation is a ‘non-issue’, then why are there articles about the show with him classified as a gay superhero? It’s still obviously an issue and outside the “norm” if we are reporting it in this way, talking about the sensationalism of it. They should have just launched it as a superhero/comic book series and just had him revealed as gay with no fanfare–that would have been a non-issue stance on the whole thing. This is just promoting that it is a big deal.
how is north star an incarnation of colossus? northstar is canadian and also twin to aurora and has WAY different powers than colossus. colossus is russian and he has the power to turn to a metal alloy.
@hmmm — I didn’t say that Northstar and Colossus were the same. Northstar, an alternate universe Colossus and Batwoman were THREE examples of THREE different homosexual superheroes that I used.
I read “Hero”, the book this series is being based on, despite the fact it is actually a young adult novel (So is “Twilight” so maybe I need to grow up!?).
Anyway, the story was much more complex and interesting than just some beefy guy in spandex shooting rainbows. He has issues with his father, and not just because he is gay. Issues with his fellow superheroes. Issues learning to use and control his powers. Plenty of stuff to fill at least one TV season and likely more!
My only problem with the book was the main character, annoyingly named Thom (just say Tom dammit), was pretty cookie-cutter boring besides not coming out to his dad. He could have been more interesting, but the author has a great imagination and thought up all sorts of cool heroes and villains for his universe, so there was always something to keep me interested in “Hero”. Hopefully it will be made into a series and not just stall in production.
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I am all pro-gay and stuff…… but seriously
must we gayafy EVERYFUCKING BODY !!!!
ITS POPPING UP IN ALL THE SHOWS, SONGS, COMMERCIAL .. SERIOUSLY STOP FORCING IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@jersey girl — hmmm, you don’t sound so “pro-gay” to me. and i’m not exactly what you mean by “gayafy”ing everybody … do you realize that there are gay people in all walks of life? yes, there are gay people in the shows, songs, commercials and more without having to force anything.
Yes, I don’t see how a gay superhero is going to help to make homosexuality a non-issue. I’d like nothing better than if it were just a character trait, but it seems to be the central focus of this particular series. I hope it won’t be.
http://www.sosuperduper.com/
to check out a comic book that is in the same ballpark.
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@trent
lol, i only got that after i re-read the post.
didnt mean to sound like a smart ass. im jus a huge marvel/xmen geek
@*T — yes, it is.
@*T — no worries :)