I posted a mute preview of this last week, but now we have a version with some dialog and additional pages… I do wonder how Mags is going to react to his newfound gay grandson dating a Kree/Skrull hybrid.

THE RACE IS ON as the Avengers, the Young Avengers, and the X-Men compete to be the first to find the Scarlet Witch. When the Young Avengers discover the secret of Wanda Maximoff’s disappearance, the Avengers attempt to neutralize the Scarlet Witch before the Young Avengers can find her. But their efforts soon lead to an all-out war between the Avengers and the X-Men that only the Young Avengers can stop.

via CBR

I was psyched to see Mags show up on the last page of the first issue. I’d been so focussed on the Scarlet Witch being Wiccan and Speed’s mom, that I forgot all about their grandfather (and uncle for that matter – did they talk to Pietro in Mighty Avengers?). Here are some unlettered preview images from #2!

Magneto confronts the two Young Avengers claiming to be his grand-children, in the hopes of finding his lost daughter, The Scarlet Witch. But he’s not the only one on her trail—the Avengers and the X-Men are both out looking to fulfill their own agendas.

Will they be able to work together or will the heroes of the Marvel Universe find themselves in another war over the Scarlet Witch? Find out in Avengers: Children’s Crusade #2!

I’m very glad to hear that the X-Men will be playing a part in this epic story as well. But questions abound… Where is Wanda? How will they find her? How will her old Avengers buddies feel about her when they do? How do the X-Men figure in? Do the mutants want/deserve revenge for M-Day?

I’m trying to be better about calling out references (both positive and negative) to LGBT characters and issues as I come across them in mainstream comics. There have been a number if significant sightings recently. Hot on the heels of Captain America’s thoughtful support of Wiccan and Hulkling’s relationship and The Rawhide Kid swishing and shooting his was across the old west we have a major development in the fan favorite romantic relationship between Rictor and Shatterstar…

Now I don’t want to give the end of the argument away because i LOVE Peter David’s work, so I’ve just included part of it, and will keep this focused on what happens in these 2 pages. This is the first time I’ve ever seen 2 men discuss their relationship on this level in a comic book. And I’d put money on it being the first time 2 men have talked about having an “open relationship” in a comic book that didn’t come from Class Comics. While on some level, I’d have preferred a traditional monogamous relationship for the pair (as an example to readers both gay and straight), I think Peter David’s choice here is the right one. It fits the character and history of Shatterstar perfectly.

Shatterstar is a very athletic fighter bred for a single purpose that didn’t include knowledge of or preparation for sex or emotional relationships. Once he became aware of the physical act, a warrior such as him might embrace it and excel at it but not understand the feelings that may come along with it. Peter David as always has done an excellent job of logically expanding upon what has gone before while still managing to break new ground and keep his audience surprised. I’ve said it before, Peter David Rocks!!!

In an earlier feature about LGBT Characters and issues in mainstream comics, I mentioned seeing a second title featuring an LGBT leading character this week… Marvel’s Rawhide Kid and the Sensational Seven #2 is a tougher call than the Young Avengers issue previously mentioned. The tongue in cheek nature of both the current and the last Rawhide Kid miniseries’ written by Ron Zimmerman work for me despite the fairly stereotypical depiction of the gay elements of the Rawhide Kid’s character. He dresses fancy, learned to style hair in Paris and introduces the Cosmo to the Wild West. But he also kicks ass, takes names and has the respect of some of the most famous gunslingers in the history of the Marvel U (apparently including having an ancestor of Ghost Rider on old west speed dial) while looking Fabulous, and as a gay man I cannot condemn anyone, fictional or not for Fabulousness.

These all too comedic scenes aren’t nearly as progressive as the treatment that Hulkling and Wiccan got (Rawhide has no caring boyfriend or significant love interest aside from an old discarded trick in the form of Sheriff Seth Bullock). The homosexual tendencies are definitely used for laughs, but in this context it doesn’t bother me like some might think. In fact with the Old West setting, I’d think this is as positive a portrayal as we could ask for and not have the tolerance seem incongruous and forced. I’d still like to see a rough-n-tumble gay cowboy sometime who is a bit less of a girl, but how would his straight compatriots look at his gay exploits? I think this reaction is as good as it gets for the period. I’m enjoying this mini. My biggest complaint is not enough Howard Chaykin drawn manflesh. I stuck by Howard through American Flagg and many of his more Hooterific titles, but hopes he might shine his exploitative light on the boys for a change, but this titles has probably been the least sexy of all his work. Rawhide walked in on Kid Colt with 2 hookers and they were all clothed? C’mon Howard! Lets see some pecs at least.

I’ll be featuring whatever mainstream comics that I come across featuring LGBT characters and issues. Last week there were two mainstream Marvel comics with gay male characters in leading roles. In the first, our favorite teen gay couple, Hulkling and Wiccan will finally be getting some page time together in the 9 part, bi-monthly maxi-series starring the pair and their teammates in the Young Avengers as they begin a quest to find The Scarlet Witch. Since their creation, Marvel has really done an outstanding job of handling their sexuality in a nonchalant, matter of fact way that shows it to be no big deal.

To have Captain America literally say “I have no problem with that” and then have Jarvis make up their room sends an powerful message to the masses out there… Its OK to be gay. While you and I may know that, we don’t all live in San Francisco. I was a bit worried when Disney first bought Marvel, but with their pro-lgbt record (watch a few Family Channel shows sometime), I should have known better. Kudos to Marvel, Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung on the first chapter of a story that I can’t wait to see unfold. By the way… GREAT LAST PAGE on first issue! Who could it be? Think, who are potential blood relatives to Wiccan and Speed!

More on the 2nd title in a bit…

I’m a HUGE fan of the Young Avengers so this is by far the Heroic Age title that I’ve been most eagerly anticipating. Wanda Maximoff (a.k.a. The Scarlet Witch) will be a major part of the story and her relationship to twins Wiccan and Speed finally addressed head on, so it really is THE YA story we’ve all been awaiting. Here is an unlettered preview if the first issue which hits stores Thursday 7/8 due to the 4th of July mail delay.

From original Young Avengers creators Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung comes a new tale chronicling the Scarlet Witch’s return to the Marvel U. With three words, the Scarlet Witch changed everything. So what will she do next?

Did Hulkling really kiss that terrorist as a diversion? A bit surprised they’d go there. I love that it is a 9 issue epic, but HATE that it is bi-monthly. It’s going to take 18 months to tell IF THEY CAN STICK TO THE SCHEDULE.

via CBR

I’m torn. On the one hand, we have a gay cowboy in the Marvel Universe being drawn by one of my favorite old school veteran comic book illustrators. On the other hand although he can kick ass and sharpshoot with the best of the old west, the character is a stereotypical blousey queen in a cowboy hat… We have him fanning himself like a “prissy little southern belle,” doing Annie Oakley’s hair as they dish and sip Chardonnay. I know Ron Zimmerman was also the writer for the Rawhide Kid: Slap Leather mini that had much the same flavor. But to me it’s akin to the old hollywood fey gay played for laughs. I’d much rather see a grittier less tongue-in-cheek cowboy who happens to be gay than to take it over-the-top. That said, I DID enjoy the issue.

The best-dressed gunslinger the Wild West ever knew is back in the saddle again — and this time, he’s riding with a posse! That’s right, pardners, it’s a brand new rip-roaring adventure of the Rawhide Kid!

When Wyatt and Morgan Earp are taken hostage by Cristo Pike and his pack of pistoleros, Rawhide has no choice but to put together a posse of the greatest western heroes in the Marvel Universe – to rescue the Earp brothers and bring Pike to justice.

Howard Chaykin’s artwork has delighted me for decades. Noticeably less present is his usual cheesecake-centric approach. Fans of his work know what I mean. Chaykin is somewhat famous for his bodacious babes and slap and tickle titillating imagery. I’m hoping we’ll get to see his talents used to create some instantly classic beefcake instead, but that wish may go unfulfilled. We’ll see what time and the next 3 issues have to tell.

In his review, the proprietor of GayLeage specifically mentions 2 shots that follow some especially impressive shooting on the part of the Rawhide Kid. After he shoots he blows on both his guns, which is a move I remember mimicking as a kid when playing Western with cap guns.

What do you think? Gun blow job or homage to classic movie western moment?

via CBR and GayLeague

Riverdale High has a new student matriculating this September. Openly gay character Kevin Keller will be joining Archie Andrews, Forsythe Pendleton “Jughead” Jones III, Elizabeth “Betty” Cooper, Veronica “Ronnie/Ron” Lodge and Reginald “Reggie” Mantle III and the Archie Universe as of Veronica #202 due in September. In the full-issue story that introduces Kevin (entitled “Isn’t it Bromantic?), Archie Comics’ first openly gay character, Kevin Keller is the new hunk in town and of course Veronica just has to have him.

After Kevin defeats Jughead in a burger eating contest at Pop’s Chocklit Shoppe, she desperately latches onto him. Mayhem and hilarity ensue as Kevin desperately attempts to let Veronica down easy and her flirtations only become increasingly persistent.

Well you know where there’s one of us, there’s more. Lets hope Kevin get a boyfriend eventually. Maybe by 2020 if he’s lucky. Will he have a crush on Archie too? Do Betty and Veronica have competition? If you think about it, they’ve both been after him for so long and neither has gotten him to put a ring on it. Maybe he’s just been waiting for the right guy.

via CBR and Robot6

This June, The Rawhide Kid a,k,a, Johnny Bart (Marvel’s own gay cowboy) returns when writer Ron Zimmerman and artist Howard Chaykin team up to bring us a 4 issue miniseries. This is definitely the first old west team book led by a gay cowboy. The Sensational Seven includes some of Rawhide Kid’s 4-color contemporaries: Kid Colt, Two-Gun Kid, Red Wolf and Lobo, and a few historical gunslingers: Annie Oakley, Doc Holliday and Billy the Kid.

Zimmerman was also the writer of the 2003 miniseries from Marvel’s edgy MAX imprint that outed the Rawhide Kid as a stereotypical homosexual, so we should probably expect more of the same. He mentioned that he shortened the group’s name from Fabulously Magnificent Sensational Seven to the Sensational Seven so maybe he’ll take the entendre’s down a notch, or maybe not. Hopefully he’ll be able to develop the character beyond the caricature he was in the MAX miniseries.

I’m especially excited to see Howard Chaykin is creating the art. He’s been one of my favorite creators since I read his brilliant American Flagg! way back in the 80s. He’s somewhat infamous for doing action oriented comics with plenty of Tits and Ass thrown in. Lets hope we get some Chaykin-drawn beefcake for a change. I long ago tired of his cheesecake.

via CBR

Even though it’s been FAR too long since the Young Avengers have had a title of their own, they’ve been the focus of a limited title during the past two mega events (Civil Way and Secret Invasion) and The Siege is no exception. Instead of a mini-series it will just be a one shot, but this time they aren’t sharing it with The Runaways (who seem noticeably absent of late). We saw them arrive at the battle alongside the likes of Captain America, but what happens once they find themselves on the frontline of a war between Gods and supermen? Read Siege: Young Avengers to find out!

Fans of Wiccan should be happy. Writer Sean McKeever says he gets the most time on-panel of the group, but everyone will get some attention. Also mentioned was a reminder that Wiccan’s original codename was “Asgardian” for a reason and we’ll be learning it here. PLUS They are taking on The Wrecking Crew!!! I love the look of these pencils from artist Mahmud Asrar. Looked like he was influenced by Alan Davis.

via CBR