A preview of "Astonishing X-Men" #50 features Northstar and his boyfriend Kyle Jinadu. (Mike Merkins and Marjorie Liu / Marvel Comics)
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A preview of "Astonishing X-Men" #50 features Northstar and his boyfriend Kyle Jinadu. (Mike Merkins and Marjorie Liu / Marvel Comics)
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A "create your own wedding" variant cover for "Astonishing X-Men" #51. (Dustin Weaver / Marvel Comics)
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Northstar, Marvel’s first openly gay hero, is going to tie the knot with his boyfriend in mainstream superhero comics’ first same-sex wedding in an upcoming issue of “Astonishing X-Men.”
The announcement comes on the heels of DC co-publisher Dan DiDio’s revelation that an iconic DC character will reveal he is gay in a June issue, joining prominent lesbian character Batwoman beneath the rainbow banner.
Northstar, whose real name is Jean-Paul Beaubier, is a Canadian mutant whose superhuman abilities allow him to move and fly at supersonic speeds. He’s also a professional skier, Olympian, novelist and businessman who made his debut in “Alpha Flight” #10 in 1984. He openly revealed his sexuality eight years later, in 1992′s issue #106, and officially joined the X-Men in 2002.
In “Astonishing X-Men” #50, set to hit comic shop shelves Wednesday, Northstar proposes to his boyfriend, Kyle Jinadu, a fellow snowsports enthusiast who possesses no superpowers. The couple will seal the deal in issue #51 (see the preview above), slated for a June 20 release.
“The story of Northstar and Kyle is universal, and at the core of everything I write: a powerful love between two people who have to fight for it against all odds,” said comic writer Marjorie Liu in a statement. “This is the quintessential Marvel story, one that blends the modern world with the fantasy of superheroes in order to tell an exciting story that begins with a wedding and continues in ways you can’t imagine.”
Although Northstar’s story marks Marvel’s first gay wedding (complete with white tuxedos and wedding shoes), the X-Men comics are known for tackling civil rights — including gay, lesbian and transgender issues — in their panels. Much has been made of the parallels between the mutant outsiders of the comics and gay youngsters grappling with identity and stigma. Other gay and bisexual Marvel characters include Mystique, Colossus (the Ultimate version), Destiny, Karma and Graymalkin.
“The Marvel Universe has always reflected the world outside your window, so we strive to make sure our characters, relationships and stories are grounded in that reality,” Marvel’s editor in chief, Axel Alonso, said in a statement.
Check out the preview of #50 and #51 in the gallery above, or see the larger versions below.
Issue #50 Cover | Inside preview 1 | Inside preview 2 | Issue #51 Cover
[For the record, May 22, 4:15 p.m.: Though Northstar’s wedding will be the first same-sex wedding in the world of mainstream superhero comics, Archie Comics’ Kevin Keller beat the X-Man to the altar. Keller, Riverdale’s first gay character, got hitched to Dr. Clay Walker earlier this year in “Life With Archie” No. 16. Thanks to commenter Doug Abramson for reminding us!]
– Noelene Clark
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I am waiting for the full gay version comes out….G-Men. Don't keep me waiting!
YEAH!!!!!!! THANK YOU MARVEL!!!!!
Archie isn't a "mainstream" publisher anymore?
Ahh Come On……….
wait….Wiccan and Hulkling has been opening gay for awhile. Just saying. Its all over The Children's Crusade
In other news: 58 other superheroes remain in the closet
Nice
Rumor has it that the She-Hulk is a transvestite.
figures he is Canadian
excuse me sir, but i have many friends with two dads or two moms, and it turns out that they all turned out just fine.
If one person or one group are deprived of their Civil Rights, then everyone is deprived of their rights. Besides, what does it matter, who loves whom? We have wars and poverty, famine, sickness and the Super Rich, stealing from the middle class. I believe the world can handle a gay wedding!
If that's the case, then why is the gay community so strung on getting married with the very same problems you stated going on in the world? Just an honest question, no hate or bigotry at all.
Israel Butler “If that’s the case, then why is the gay community so strung on getting married with the very same problems you stated going on in the world?”
So you believe we should treat Homosexuals as second class citizens until we solve all the other problems in the world? Letting Gays marry, if anything, is the easiest situation to resolve. Make it a Federal Mandate, just as was done with Civil Rights & Interracial Marriage, and quit leaving it up to the States. We cannot let the bigoted few keep this Country from progressing forward.
If that's the case, then why is ANYONE getting married?
Fail harder.
..because marriage should be among those rights that they should have( like we have) and it is then their choice to get married or not.
It's religion vs. state. THAT's why it's wrong. State and OTHERS need to keep their noses out of it.
hmm… first gay superhero wedding? not sure on your criteria here but The Authority's Midnighter and Apollo were a gay married couple back in 1999. I don't believe their wedding was ever shown though as it occurred before the comic started but they were frequently referred to as being married. So maybe you're just counting weddings that actually occur in panel.
oops, actually correcting my mistake here. their marriage was shown in 2002, so that would be the first super hero gay marriage shown in comics.
yeah for someone remembering apollo/midnighter_ did you read any of the too short lived 'authori-teens'? how great was that!!
it would be great if there were more of 'young avengers' and the 'authori-teens'_ these comic companies need to show younger teens it's ok to be anywhere on the sexuality slide scale . by giving them gay teen super heroes to read about- not gay adult super heroes.
I wish it were Erik and Charles. RATS
/saturday-night-l…
…i don't see how this is necessary.
Necessary? You're asking whether or not anything to do with comic books is necessary!?! However, I think because of regressive attitudes like yours spotlighting this issue is necessary in the realm of the comic book world.
Yuck!
Looks like I have an emotionally infantile twin out there.
as a true marvel fan this upsets me..its taking a true classic and turning it into sumthing its not…i wonder wat stan lee’s thoughts are?
The first ones already had gay characters…
What about Anole? from young-xmen
Come on now that's going a little to far don't you think?
I think so. I would have thought that I could encourage my son to read xmen comics with me, but no longer. I wont be purchasing any comic or viewing a comic movie that encourages homosexuality.
Scott
Don't turn on the tv then, or listen to music, or go outside either. In fact, just stay inside forever.
Yea i feel the same way.will not be buying my kids gay or lezbo.comics.im pissed off.tom c
I feel sorry for your kid. To be raised in a family with such hatred. What if he’s gay? You never know.
yet I bet you let them watch tv shows that are meant for adults like family guy, american dad, robot chicken, exc which has Cussing, sexual scenes, situations and jokes, but a comic that just has a marriage scene in it you will deprive the child of the awesomeness of X-Men? All "Gay" marriage is, is spreading the equal rights to people who happen to have different likes than yourself, if you don't like it (gay, lesbian) then don't participate in the acts. Its like other opportunities that are given to people such as Divorce, Abortions, Public or Private school, inter racial marriage exc; just because people can get abortions doesn't mean you need to aswell. Or just because you can get divorced doesn't mean you have to. Marriage is constantly changing with the norms of our society. Originally only Religious people could get married since people who didn't follow that faith wanted to get married it was passed that they could and it was changed to same race marriages. Then other human races wanted to marry a different race then themselves so the law got changed for inter racial marriage. NOW is the battle for gay marriage. its just changing with the tides. DEAL with it.
Looks like you also have to make sure your kids don't watch anything related to Disney in any way or fashion too, and especially don't go to Disney World. And better cancel any flight plans, most US airliners support gays. And there goes living in, taking a vacation to, or setting one foot in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa,Vermont and New Hampshire, New York, Washington DC, California. they approve it. OH!~ Don't let your wife and mom cook with Betty Crocker. And you better stop washing your cloths, Tide supports gays. Actually, stop wearing cloths completely since almost every single clothing company you get the cloths you are wearing right now support gays. And make sure you don't let your son get a car, since companies such as Ford and many other supports gays. Actually. You better get rid of the computer you are on right now, since both Microsoft and Apple support gays too, don't need that near your son.
I find this acceptable. Gays love being used as social pawns in hopes of pushing their own agenda. Pimp em out Marvel!!
I'm waiting for the day when your sales/stocks plummet because you want to take an all-american classic and turn it into a nightmare for a few more bucks and to earn a few more "brownie points".Shame on you Marvel.
or is open minded like a normal and sane person should be…
Marvel I have been a fan since I was a kid and still now as an adult. I am a GAY man thank you for the support unfortunately we still have ignorance in our world but these are struggles I go threw daily but I am PROUD of who I am! People fear what they do not understand!!!
it is not a mental disease or moral degradation. it's doing what you want to be happy for the short amount of time we have on earth. i for one would support doing what we want to be happy rather then conform to a strict life style just to be accept by the masses while wanting to kill myself inside.
"it's doing what you want to be happy" what if stealing or abusing makes someone happy? Should they be legal too? Just saying just because they want to, doesn't make it right.
are you seriously comparing STEALING AND ABUSING with Gay marriage? WTF LISA!?
I love how people commenting negatively act like X-Men is a 50's Puritan All-American title when the underlying theme has always been a band of outsiders no one likes, championing for equal status in their society. It's sad that the irony is lost on them.
Most intelligent post here. Thank you.
agreed
Exactly, dosen't X-men teach us to celebrate one's uniqueness? and accept that diversity is what makes our world a colorful place.
I just posted a comment kinda like this and I didn’t even notice this one first. Thank you for also proving this amazing point.
you are a closed minded and prejudice individual…. comparing being gay to incest and pedophelia. where do you get off? next thing you know being disabled will be like contracting a deadly virus!!!
I honestly don't understand the controversy over homosexual men and women getting married. I think homosexual couples should be aloud the same marital rights as heterosexual couples. Just because there's a wedding between two males in this issue doesn't mean that it will turn children into homosexuals if they read it. I think it's a great idea on Marval's and I'm also glad that they had the guts to stand up for something that they believe in, evein if it does alienate some of their readers.
don't you all get what x-men is about? it's about fighting against bigotry,hatred and injustice in all it's forms. how can you be an x-men fan and be judgmental against people who are different? that goes against what the book stands for.
Actually, the article above has it wrong. The X-men comic above was advertised a few months in advance and was in production for several months. Dan Didio's statement concerning the DC comic character came as a response to take away the spotlight from Marvel and make fans guess who the character they are turning gay is and was done the same week the issue of the X-men comic that is on the stands came out.
Wow, comics have finally found an appropriate place for black men; marrying gay superheros. I know you may think this is an insult but I am not the one putting them as the gay love interest in these comics. Hell they even made a black spiderman, and he was gay too.
This is sad, I hate to see how the media can influence people to believe that right is wrong, and wrong is right. Wake up people!
Wake up!! And smell the fresh air of equality!!
get used to it Cause it’s coming soon!!
i've been reading marvel since i was a little girl and i mean the original ones that my dad got when he was young and i can honestly say this is rediculious. i have no problem with gay marrage and stuff but marvel comic shouldn't be changed for others. x-men isn't about supporting gay marrage, it's about supporting being different. i can honestly say that when i get old enough and start to raise a family of my own, i will not be letting my son or daughter read these new books.
I think this is quite acceptable, because if you think about it, several comics had a friendship a bit like a love relationship, but they could not demonstrate the more so because of lack of acceptance of people. I found it pretty cool, but rather it was Erik and Charles.
Wooot! Good job Marvel!
As a Nana who thought of letting her grandchildren read comic books …that would be a big NO. God loves us all..but God said Marriage is for the coming together of a Man and Woman. Not 2 boys or two girls..That's called a Civil Union. Call it what it is. Don't try to take away what I have. Next they will be writing in the storyline that they have children.Try explaining that to my grandchildren…Oh the boys had to ask a girl for her baby & the girls had to ask a boy for his donation.
The rest of the world doesn't need to not do something because you're uncomfortable explaining thigs to your child/grandchild.
It’s only called a civil union because religious bigots are too scared of change and acceptance to recognize that marriage is an ever changing institution. Language is always growing; the definition of marriage is easily adapted to fit the society of today. A few decades ago, marriage meant only union between people of the same ethnic background. Now men and women of different races are legally allowed to marry as they please. At its heart, marriage is about love and commitment; gender doesn’t change that.
I wish you luck when one of your grandchildren grows up and comes out to you. Luck, and the capicity to love and protect them as much as you do now.
Homosexuals are humans too. Don’t you think we deserve a superhero to support us too? X-men started out being a team based on differences. It was mutants fighting to prove to humans that they deserve the same rights and love just like them. They wanted to be noticed for the good they did even though they’re different. They wanted love and acceptance. Just like the lgbt community. Maybe you shouldn’t buy your kid anything if you’re saying you’re not going to because it has a gay character. Just keep your kid sheltered because we don’t need any more discrimination and hate in this world. I bet if that superhero was real and he saved your life or one of your family or friends, you’d have different opinions. Just to throw that out there.
Lets just all be bi? xD
I guess if you figure in almost every superhero wearing tights, at least some of them are likely gay. But in all seriousness, this is completely unnecessary. I get the point to make kids growing up feel more "included" by producing superhero comic book characters that they may identify with, but why do it to the extent of "force feeding" its audience to just accept the lifestyle if they may not agree to it? Just create another batch of superheros, name the comic book something catchy, and market separately to a gay audience. Sorry if this sounds like I'm being a bigot, but really – I just don't understand. And Archie comics? C'mon. Let's take wholesome Riverdale and turn it into San Francisco. Sorry, but I just don't think that this is right. Another poster already said that they have to scan through comics now before buying for their kids – do you see what this is doing to the larger majority of your audience?
Oh, and now to really tick people off. The Bible defines marriage between a man and a woman. 'Nuff said. Of course, this will likely be what keeps this comment from making it past the moderator.
I’m sure it does. HOWEVER, marriage most likely originates from a political, if I may call it that, environment. It was used as a bargaining tool to secure fortune and seal deals. So it is entirely possible that homosexual marriage was normal until religion came into play. I’m not saying it’s likely, but it’s something to think about.
well, that may be so, but i’m not religious. why should my desire to commit to another person be restricted by a book by which i do not abide? marriage is not just an institution for people of religion, yet only marriage as interpreted by the bible is acceptable right now. how does that seem logical, from a legal standpoint?
And X-men is about evolution too… so you should probably be requesting rewriting on that part of the story too since it flies in the face of "the religious" (quotation marks intentional to highlight the picking and choosing of the religious on when and what topics to be religious about). Also, this character has been gay since 1992… it's not quite a new thing for this character. And, even though the character started in 1984, his coming out in the 90's kind of is in line with real life… MOST people in the '80's, in the real-world, weren't really jumping at the chance to come out. Also, one or two characters being gay is no where near "force feeding" or "turning it into San Fran." Really, having close to 10% of male characters being gay, straight, or "having sexual encounters with same sex" would just be true to the actual culture of America.
Last, My kids wont be reading these comics either because MOST comics now are too hypersexual in any form gay, straight, bi… whatever. They won't be reading most comics until i feel they are ready for sexual content. At that point they will be mature enough to handle these topics whether its comics, movies, TV, Etc.
Very disappointing!
I think it’s great that Marvel is showing all sides of the community and also gays and gay marriage. Although I had some problems with Logan being gay in a different multiverse
I also think it’s weird that a Silentnomorenana would deny her grandkids comics based on gays in the comic. But doesnt mind all superheroes having perfect bodies in tight outfits…