This week, Andrew Garfield caused comics fans to literally (LITERALLY) explode when he asked a simple question to EW: What if Spidey was gay?
The actual full quote: “And I was like, ‘What if MJ is a dude?’ Why can’t we discover that Peter is exploring his sexuality? It’s hardly even groundbreaking!…So why can’t he be gay? Why can’t he be into boys?”
Good question, Andrew Garfield. Why can’t Peter Parker be gay? Well, I’ll tell you why.
Because after this article hit EW.com, the comments immediately started crying out against the idea. Because you “don’t change an established character like that,” or something. Because it’s promoting AN AGENDA to make Spider-man gay. Which agenda? I’m guessing the one that insists that gay people are a lot like straight people and don’t deserve the shit they get socially and legally and when it comes to the media.
It’s also because when Marvel ran an innocent image of Hulking and Wiccan from Children’s Crusade, showing the openly gay teens about to share an intimate moment, the Facebook comments blew up claiming Marvel was, once again, promoting an agenda. Or worse, corrupting youth by showing them gay superheroes and encouraging them to emulate them. Or something. Bonus points to all of the people claiming they were only going to buy DC comics in the future because DC wasn’t “shoving gays down their throats.” Here’s a tip for those people: start your new-found devotion to DC by reading Batwoman.
In short, Andrew Garfield, the answer is simple: there is no good reason that Spider-man CAN’T be gay.
Because all of these arguments are bullshit. “Purity” of the character? So, characters who were created in a different generation should never evolve and grow with the times? You want Superman to act and talk and look exactly how he did in Action #1?
No, you don’t. You probably love Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns which took a new look at the character. Or Extremis which changed the status quo for Tony Stark. And if you don’t want a gay Spider-man but are okay with the ending of Man of Steel, I hate you. Your call for “purity” of the character is bullshit.
As for “agendas,” what you mean by that is “doing things for the sake of selling comics.” Because this is a recent thing designed to destroy comics for straight men who love comics, because it’s only because of the feminists and the gays that this could happen. It’s not like Dick Grayson was introduced as Robin in order to sell comics. Or Jean Grey returning from the dead. Again.
Get over yourselves. Here is a fact: COMICS ARE A COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE. THEY ARE A BUSINESS. THE POINT OF THE COMICS INDUSTRY IS TO SELL COMICS. I mean, this doesn’t necessarily apply to indie comics, but we’re not talking about that. We’re talking about DC and Marvel and they want to fucking sell you things to make money off of you. This is not punk rock, this is not about keeping the message in the subculture, this is fucking comics. And here’s a fact you have to deal with as well: gay people buy comics. So do women. And they deserve to see themselves represented not just as minor characters or sidekicks.
So, what if Spider-man was gay? What if, straight male comics fans, you identified with a gay character? What if you could understand him and relate to him just the same as a gay or bi or bicurious character as you can when he’s written as straight?
What if identifying with a gay character means you might be gay?
What if you start thinking that you’re a little further along the Kinsey scale than you previously thought?
What if you realize you’re not totally turned off by the idea of kissing another guy, though maybe you’re not gonna go out looking for a chance to do so?
What if you’re asked to challenge your culturally and socially ingrained sense of masculinity and sexuality and it means you have to re-examine yourself and a lot of beliefs or stereotypes you didn’t even know affected you?
Now, lemme ask you again: Why can’t Spider-man be gay?
Ashly is an IHO Geek staff writer who wants you to keep things civil in the comments but isn’t necessarily holding her breath. She can also be found on Twitter (where she is more than willing to use the “block” function) @newageamazon
REVIEW | The Batman Who Laughs – #1
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Emerald City Conversation with Jen Wang
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J: This week was legitimately TERRIFYING. Like I actually FREAKED OUT for the first time since Waters of Mars.
M: Ya you shrank down into nothing for a while there.
J: I think what totally freaked me out was the fact that I’m so used to the door swinging open and the Doctor being like AMELIA POND! GET YOUR COAT! not like MRRAAAWWWWW MONSTER FAAAAACCCEEEE
M: That surprised me the first time I saw it actually, I had no idea it was the Doctor which is a bit strange that I didn’t figure out that it was him. I usually pick up on these things. 
J: That’s what I’m saying they reversed our expectations because they’ve been doing it the other way for so long.
M: Interesting that they called him Monster when he just said in “Hide” “Every lonely monster needs a companion.” Probably coincidence but who knows…ya know…Moffat. Cause apparently Moffat’s been planting stuff for the past bajillion years. You notice the Doctor at the end did hint that he wanted to take Clara to Victorian London to see if she’d “like it” a.k.a jog her memory.
J: Doctor is a troll. But I like the prospect of taking the kids with them. I see something like Summer Falls in next week’s episode.
M: Next one looks very cybery, Doctor’s wearing a Borg thing on his face.
J: It reminds me of the thing in the Western episode.
M: Screw that episode.
J: Yes. yes indeed. OH HEY SPEAKING OF SHITTY EPISODES Mark Gatiss is totally making up for “Victory of the Daleks” here. I didn’t even think that was possible.
M: UGH THAT EPISODE. Amy got it bad with that one and the two-parter Silurian reboot. Ugh. But yeah this is loads better than “Cold War” which wasn’t particularly that engrossing for me either.
J: VIVA LAS SUBMARINE. I liked “Cold War”.
M: It’s ‘LOS’ but ANYWAY (GOD)
J: Las. Like Las Vegas. GOD MAX.
M: Psh. Either way I’ve been enjoying that the last two weeks have been meatier and meatier shows. I liked that Clara basically died again last episode but didn’t.
J: BISH NEEDS TA GO
M: Still a little hostile there huh.
J: I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m watching out for Matt and Karen’s marriage here.
M: Jenna’s dating someone from Game of Thrones. So she’s not a threat.
J: Johnny Snow.
M: Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah so much ice and snow stuff.
J: Why do these reviews always turn in to gossip hour with Jen and Max?
M: Because our lives. Look at them.
J: Fair Point.
M: BUT YES THIS LAST EPISODE felt more like series 5 and 6 again. It was completely ridiculous but I thought it was pretty darn good. Finally something passes the Bechdel test lately. Amazing performances by Dame Diana Rigg and her daughter Rachel Stirling.
J: I thought last week’s was more series 5-6. This week felt totally fucking terrifying. And very Sherlocky. But like weirdly gender-bent Sherlock. With a GPS Irregular and a weird mustache man with a penchant for fainting. There was…a lot of shit in this episode.
M: There really was. I’m a bit disappointed Madame Vastra didn’t do more. Jenny sort of stole the show especially with that Victorian Emma Peel catsuit. (enter image here so people know what the EFF you’re talking about.) Which was clearly an homage since Dame Diana Rigg played the villain Mrs Gillyflower.
J: I like that about this episode.
M: A lot of people were upset that he kissed Jenny, but it was obvious after Clara was thawed when they are de-calcified so they’re loopy so…he’d probably have done that to anyone.
J: It was very CLASSIC Doctor Who like he’s just kissing her because he’s overly excited and doesn’t know what else to do about it. CUE THE IMAGES OF DOCTOR KISSING RORY AND THEN ALL THE FANGIRLING IN THE WORLD.
M: I can see why people wouldn’t like it since she’s queer, but she does appropriately slap him. This episode was filmed before they filmed The Snowmen so they didn’t reveal or possibly even know yet that Jenny and Madame Vastra got married. Obviously still a couple.
J: With a pet potato, apparently.
M: I want a spin-off. Now.
J: Doctor Sherlock. NO. MADAME SHERLOCK.
M: Madame Vastra IS Sherlock, as his exploits were the inspiration for her.
J: I’m not sure Sherlock ever ate the people he was investigating though. At least not in canon.
M: That’s Hannibal.
J: I’d call her a cannibal, except we’re a different species.
M: “Journey to the Center of the Tardis” was interesting too, we missed talking about that last week, anything in particular you’d like to say bout that episode too? I thought it was good.
J: It reminded me of the last two seasons for a few reasons: the development of the TARDIS as her own character was really strong, and the exploration of a mysterious character was also pretty interesting. I’m fairly convinced that Clara is going to turn out to be River and the Doctor’s baby. I mean of all the shit on that ship, she found his cradle and the paper mache TARDIS that Amy made as a child and Mels plays with in “Let’s Kill Hitler”.
M: The strong emphasis on family in every single episode especially with this past episode deliberately written for the mother/daughter actress duo it seems pretty strong that’s obviously family will probably be a big part of who Clara is. She may be Kate from Amy’s book actually come to life somehow, haven’t seen that theory. I’m excited that 11 gets not only two new companions next episode, they are the also some of the youngest he’s probably had, and are also well, not white. A big criticism so far of this era is that all of the companions have been well, white.
J: YES. I love that we’re getting a lot of different companions. And also now “chairs” have been added to the Doctor’s arsenal.
M: Wood chair I might add.
J: I was definitely expecting that glass to stay put when he swung the chair. But this does make a really good point I wasn’t meaning to make–we got little to no sonic action this episode. Looks like they’re pulling away from the magic wand of days of yore. (and by yore, I mean seasons five and six, the Dark Fairytale era of New!Who)
M: It was an obvious jab at the as of late overuse. Clara was also very active in deciding to do that, it’s nice to actually see her being a bit more proactive since her current incarnation is much more reticent than the others. I’m excited to see how she and the kids function together.
J: Which brings me back to last week’s episode and the Summer Falls parallel, since Clara was dressed an awful lot like the girl on the cover of the book. Same hairstyle and everything.
M: That hairstyle was mad intricate yo. I’m more and more convinced that Summer Falls will play into the finale and the 50th which supposedly rolls pretty directly out of the finale I think, at least I read something like that. Its plot is essentially the skeleton of the current Clara arc.
J: I am pretty convinced of it as well. I’m disappointed that the whole theme of the Great Intelligence has been dropped. At least it seems like it has.
M: I wouldn’t be so sure. They’re back for the finale. The images of River and the idea of a Post-Library River even being in the episode suggests the Great Intelligence may be hacking the Library’s data core or something of that ilk. People are speculating the teaser image of River is either a hologram or the Tardis voice interface thing (which is more or less the same).
J: I haven’t seen that image yet I don’t think. But I want River back so bad. Don’t tell 2009 Jen. She would kill me. She would also be really upset that I like Matt Smith but you know. Whatever. Anyhow, what I mean is like in season six they had Silence references almost every episode. Seven point two seems very disjointed to me. 
M: Well the big tagline of the season was about stories having a beginning a middle and the end though sometimes not in the right order, which many people noticed anyway with the first half being out of order as well.
J: Your face is out of order. omg what if Ten is involved in the anniversary special because the great intelligence goes back to River’s death in the library and they muck things up and they end up saving River accidentally and then Ten never has to leave Donna and when Rose comes back he is like BAI GUYS YOU GET THE TARDIS NOW and then eleven gets cancelled out and that’s the end of Doctor Who forever.
M: Or he regenerates intooooo another actor you really like.
J: EWAN MCGREGOR FOR TWELVE. I’m sorry. I’m clearly done for the evening.
M: I wouldn’t say no. He’d be the singing Doctor.
J: in a kilt.
And now I’m really done for the night.
M: yis.
good.
fin
UNTIL NEXT WEEK, DEAR READER!
Jen Schiller and Max Eber
Staff Writers and Amy/The Doctor
Twitter.com/Jenisaur
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Let’s cut the bullshit, you guys.
I know we’ve touched on fanfiction and porn here before, but we’ve ignored the elephant in the room for long enough! You know what I’m talking about, that luscious secret same sex pairing you love to read about in the darkest time of night. Those two ladies who just can’t seem to get enough of each other. Those episodes of Torchwood where the pansexual immortal oozes sex appeal and you just know he’s ohsoclose to making your dreams come true. No? How about timeless 80’s couple Clair and Bender from the Breakfast Club? Ever wonder what happened with them the Monday after their Saturday in the supply closet? Sex is nothing scary or taboo and reading, watching, learning about such is nothing to be ashamed of. Instead, I want to let you know you’re not alone. There are thousands upon thousands of us geeky gals and gents who enjoy a good dose of sexual content. Not convinced? Let’s dive into the mass pool of evidence just waiting to be fondled in exploration of what is such a mainstay in media today. (more…)
Colorado Anime Fest Wrap Up
Viz Media Announces Free Streaming Anime!
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Aniplex of America to Stream New Slice of Life Comedy, Slow Start, on Crunchyroll in January 2018
Nan Desu Kan 2016 – Recapping Rocky Mountain’s Biggest Anime Convention!
