Both Marvel Comics and DC Comics have had truly historically unprecedented years for LGBTQIA+ representation in their comics, with multiple storylines from both publishers revolving around a diverse group of queer heroes. The comics industry has been putting a lot of time and energy into diversifying their portfolio of artists, writers, and characters to be more representative of the vast array of different gender and sexualities that exist; the two top comics publishers are no different.
The year 2021 saw the continued publication of many queer and LGBTQIA+ stories from independent comics publishers, which is equally as important as mainstream representation, but there is something particularly special and impactful about seeing long running characters such as Tim Drake or Mystique be able to lean into their often-hidden queer identities. While critics of the increased LGBTQIA+ representation in comics— have argued for new characters to make history, not existing ones, both Marvel and DC made history by having long-running, established characters explore and embrace their diverse identities.
Violence against LGBTQIA+ people, especially queer youth and trans women of color, is still extremely prevalent in the United States and globally. Genuine representation of these identities in a medium as popular as comic books can have a real, tangible impact on the lived experiences of these marginalized communities. By pushing back against the heteronormative narrative that 'all comics characters are inherently straight unless explicitly stated,' DC and Marvel have continued their work of making honest portrayals of queer characters.
Superman Jonathan Kent Comes Out as Bisexual
2021 was an epic year for LGBTQIA+ representation in DC Comics, with the introduction of an entire superteam's worth of queer DC heroes and the emotional coming out of several long-running characters. A highlight of DC's 2021 lineup was DC Pride #1 which focused on stories about Batwoman, Dreamer, Extraño, Midnighter, Renee Montoya, Alan Scott, Jess Chambers, Andy Curry, Justice League Queer, and others.
With such a huge amount of representation this year, several moments deserve specific mentions. But in Superman: Son of Kal-El #5 the headlines arrived that many thought would never, could never be seen: Jon Kent, Earth's new Superman came out as bisexual to his family and began to date his friend, and Daily Planet reporter, Jay Nakamura. This was one of the biggest comics news event of the entire year, and Jon and Jay's relationship continues to be a highlight of the series.
Tim Drake Confirms He is Bisexual
Similarly to Jon Kent, another long-running DC youth (and Teen Titan) was able to embrace his identity as an adult, when Tim Drake reconnected with Bernard, a friend from school, and quickly realized that his feelings went deeper than friendship--leading to Bernard asking Tim out in Batman: Urban Legends #6, before officially becoming a couple in issue #10 (where fans also saw a heartwarming and ive reaction from Batman to Robin's coming out).
Bia, The First Transgender Amazon
The Infinite Frontier era of Wonder Woman comics has been spectacularly queer, and even Diana Prince herself has been in a relationship with a woman in the pages of the alternate reality world Dark Knights of Steel in 2021. One new character addition truly stands out though, with the introduction of the Nubia & The Amazons, by Stephanie Williams and Vita Ayala. Bia, a new character, went through the "Well of Souls" in the first issue, being "reborn" after being killed by the "World of Man," and her rebirth and naming was clearly an emotional moment for her. Stephanie Williams, the author of the series, confirmed on Twitter the subtextual reading of Bia as a Black trans woman. Williams assured readers that her identity would be genuinely and honestly explored, not fetishized.
Poison Ivy & Harley Quinn's Love Takes The Spotlight
Can there really be a list of historic DC LGBTQIA+ moments without mentioning the Harley Quinn and Dr. Pamela Isley? These two lovebirds were queer-coded for years, with fans assuming they were romantically involved before DC took the extra step of explored the Harley/Ivy romance even more. In main DC continuity, Harley just recently saved Ivy from complete destruction in the pages of Batman #17.
Mystique & Destiny Reunited
Marvel Comics also had a stand out year for LGBTQIA+ representation with more than 40 regularly used queer characters throughout their series. Similarly to DC, Marvel published a Pride Month themed one-shot Marvel Voices: Pride #1 which compiled stories of several diverse queer characters, pushing past common stories of White gay men to include LGBTQIA+ people of color and trans folks, while also incorporating queer stories into regular series to avoid the tokenization of just publishing a one-shot event.
In Marvel Comics continuity, the mutants Mystique and Destiny have been a couple for literally more than a century, but their romantic relationship was not made canon until 2019. Years ago, the writer Chris Claremont attempted to make the two villains enter into a formal relationship but, at the time, Marvel forbade it. In 2021 the loving relationship between the two was at the center of the X-Men's biggest event Inferno, and their love for each other is shown to be deep, powerful, and beautiful.
Black Cat & Odessa Drake's Kiss
Felicia Hardy, Marvel's superhuman thief the Black Cat, has had a slow but steady coming out process in comics, referencing past relationships with women over the years and finally being confirmed as canonically bisexual in 2020. But in 2021 Black Cat's first on- same-sex kiss came with with Odessa Drake, the leader of NYC's Thieves Guild, who she is in direct competition with. This kiss happened in Black Cat #7, by Jed Mackay and Michael Dowling, and is now an officially canon part of the Black Cat's long and complicated romantic history, adding yet another tough, strong bisexual woman to Marvel's roster of characters.
Prodigy & Speed Are Still Going Strong
Prodigy and Speed are two of the Young Avengers and have been shown to be a casual couple for several years now. Speed is the brother of Wiccan, one of Marvel's most famous gay heroes, but the love story between Speed and Prodigy shown in Marvel Voices: Pride #1 is nothing like his brother's cosmic romance with Hulkling. The two young heroes are shown enjoying a nice pizza date during Pride Month. While this might seem silly or not impactful, it's incredibly powerful to see two queer men in a loving, open relationship, free from any world-ending or cosmic drama.
The Resurrection of Somnus
One of the best newly-debuted characters in Marvel Comics is a young, gay mutant named Somnus. Somnus' story, told in Marvel Voices: Pride #1 and continued in the relaunch of Marauders, is a powerful one. Somnus has the ability to enter people's dreams, but he never got to live out his own dream. Living in a time when being an out gay man was not allowed, Somnus grew old and died before ever getting the chance to live life as himself. Daken, who also identifies as queer, had met Somnus earlier in life and ed his story. He found a way to resurrect Somnus into a younger body through Krakoa's Resurrection Protocols, and gave him a second chance at living life as his true self—a life that so many LGBTQIA+ people are denied.
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The representation of LGBTQIA+ people in mainstream media is becoming more and more accepted globally, but it is still rare enough that it is important to recognize the historic nature of queer people being seen publicly. While both DC and Marvel still have work to do to increase the representation of marginalized communities in their characters and in their internal staff, it is clear from the stories told in 2021 that both publishers are dedicated to telling diverse LGBTQIA+ stories and increasing the visibility of these groups.
Source: Trevor Project, HRC
