Updated on December 10, 2021
iFanboy has this preview of “Earth 2” #3. Unsurprisingly (yes, SPOILERS), it looks like Alan Scott’s partner has bought the farm despite being only introduced in the previous issue. Said previous issue, you’ll recall, was hyped in the media by DC over its revelation of Alan Scott’s revised-for-the-New 52 sexuality.
DC Women Kicking Ass has more on this issue, as well. I’ve also seen others online pointing out TV Tropes’ “Bury Your Gays” trope, as well as dredging up memories of “Women in Refrigerators” (per the 90s Kyle Rayner Green Lantern comic that spawned such).
For me, it’s something I saw coming a mile away, and sadly I’m not surprised. They went and killed off one of their few gay characters only a month after introducing him in a much-hyped comic (hyped to the general public no less) just to give Alan some angst?!
At this point, I’m wondering if I should just write off DC as a lost cause re: cheap shock-value violence and other similar, dubious storytelling decisions. They seem fully dedicated to publishing such stuff, it apparently sells, and nothing short of the company going under (or a complete change in company leadership) seems like it’ll change that anytime soon, no matter how many complaints are made about their sensitivity tone-deafness. Never mind DC apparently doesn’t care about (or are aware of) such stories just living up to negative stereotypes the general public have about comic books, or the negative image they cast on themselves as a company.
Given my DC purchases are largely down to just trade paperback reprints and “Superman Family Adventures,” I guess I’m already voting with my dollars. So, anyone have any non-DC published comics (or even better, non-DC and non-Marvel) comics to suggest reading?
