DC LGBTQ+ characters 2022 appreciation

[J. D. Guy]

There's a Pride 2022 variant cover with Nightwing.

Nightwing #93 - Cover C Nick Robles Pride Month Card Stock Variant:

Seriously?!

::sigh::

They've no sense of shame. (Yes, I know, it's a corporation; it's still a point of frustration.)

[Psy-lock]

Seriously?!

::sigh::

They've no sense of shame. (Yes, I know, it's a corporation; it's still a point of frustration.)

I wouldn't call it "queerbaiting", more like acknowledging that he has a significant gay fanbase.

[J. D. Guy]

I wouldn't call it "queerbaiting", more like acknowledging that he has a significant gay fanbase.

Nah, no. That's being too generous to DC, I feel.

It's DC taking advantage of Nightwing's queer fanbase, who headcanon Dick as queer, without going through the effort of actually making Nightwing queer.

[witchboy]

There's a Pride 2022 variant cover with Nightwing.

Nightwing #93 - Cover C Nick Robles Pride Month Card Stock Variant:

The art is beautiful but I do feel like they did the bare minimum to make it a Pride variant. I wonder if the actual issue will make any effort to include Pride elements. I know it doesn't have to just because of a variant cover, but it would feel less like queerbaiting if they did some kind of inclusion inside as well. Dick could be seen to have a Pride flag hanging up, or actually watch/attend a Pride parade in the comic. There are straight allies that do that.

[Will Evans]

Nah, no. That's being too generous to DC, I feel.

It's DC taking advantage of Nightwing's queer fanbase, who headcanon Dick as queer, without going through the effort of actually making Nightwing queer.

No. Last year DC gave Pride variants to Superman (Clark), Batman and Nightwing too. It’s just acknowledgment. It’s not saying those characters are them selves gay.

[J. D. Guy]

No. Last year DC gave Pride variants to Superman (Clark), Batman and Nightwing too. It’s just acknowledgment. It’s not saying those characters are them selves gay.

The points being that, for one, time to focus on the queer characters in the variants means that's what the focus should be on, as the likes of Clark and Bruce always get covers, including other variants and the main covers, as well as for two, in the case of Nightwing, who's a special frustration that I've already spoken to. (I'm fully aware they did this last year, including with Nightwing. And particularly with Nightwing, it was just egregious then as now.)

[Confuzzled]

The difference between the Superman and Batman covers and the ones for Nightwing are that Superman and Batman are just holding the flag, standing near a rainbow etc. to show they are allies.

Whereas Nightwing Pride variant tends to be... Dick jutting out his junk in support?


If DC is going to use him like this then the least they can do is throw his queer fanbase a bone and confirm he's on the spectrum, even if it won't lead to a same-sex relationship with the longevity of his relationships with Starfire and Batgirl.

[ZuLuLu]

The difference between the Superman and Batman covers and the ones for Nightwing are that Superman and Batman are just holding the flag, standing near a rainbow etc. to show they are allies.

Whereas Nightwing Pride variant tends to be... Dick jutting out his junk in support?


If DC is going to use him like this then the least they can do is throw his queer fanbase a bone and confirm he's on the spectrum, even if it won't lead to a same-sex relationship with the longevity of his relationships with Starfire and Batgirl.

Lately most of Nightwing variant covers are sexualized because he has a large female and gay fan base who likes and buy those covers.
Plus unlike Batman and Superman, Nightwing is an acrobat that is why he is in a lot of acrobatic poses, the fact that people automatically make it is about his sexuality is stereotyping.

Having Nightwing come out on the spectrum and then do nothing with it is actually queerbaiting.

[witchboy]

Lately most of Nightwing variant covers are sexualized because he has a large female and gay fan base who likes and buy those covers.
Plus unlike Batman and Superman, Nightwing is an acrobat that is why he is in a lot of acrobatic poses, the fact that people automatically make it is about his sexuality is stereotyping.

Having Nightwing come out on the spectrum and then do nothing with it is actually queerbaiting.

I agree. If they had it confirmed that Dick was bi or pan but did nothing with it, fans would be upset and rightly so. I’d love if they did have him come out, but as we just got Tim, I’d say the better move would be to give Tim more of a spotlight.
There’s definitely more room for more LGBTQ characters though, but also use the ones you have better. And hopefully DC will continue to do better using queer men, because for a long time LGBTQ at DC meant hot bi and gay women only.

[Rac7d*]

Nah, no. That's being too generous to DC, I feel.

It's DC taking advantage of Nightwing's queer fanbase, who headcanon Dick as queer, without going through the effort of actually making Nightwing queer.

You over exaggerating

Superman Clark Kent had a pride cover last year

[witchboy]

I do understand why some people see the Pride variants with straight heroes as queerbaiting, but for me it's meaningful to see beloved characters as allies. Superman, Nightwing etc with a Pride flag is something I'd never have imagined on a cover when I was a kid.
That doesn't change that we also need queer characters on covers too.

[Felipe Silveira]

The art is beautiful but I do feel like they did the bare minimum to make it a Pride variant. I wonder if the actual issue will make any effort to include Pride elements. I know it doesn't have to just because of a variant cover, but it would feel less like queerbaiting if they did some kind of inclusion inside as well. Dick could be seen to have a Pride flag hanging up, or actually watch/attend a Pride parade in the comic. There are straight allies that do that.

His sister

[titanfan]

If DC is going to use him like this then the least they can do is throw his queer fanbase a bone and confirm he's on the spectrum, even if it won't lead to a same-sex relationship with the longevity of his relationships with Starfire and Batgirl.

Honestly, for me as a kid, having stories where Superman/Batman/Nightwing etc showed they cared about the LGBT community/defending them/solving hate crimes etc would have done so much for me as a child too, just as much as having lgbt role models. As a kid, you know you were gay, but it wasn't all about sexuality per se, you just didn't want to feel invisible and lonely. Having Superman on your side would have meant s much to me as having lgbt representation.

[Will Evans]

His sister

Huh? What about Melinda? Did I miss something?

[J. D. Guy]

If they had Dick/Nightwing come out as Bi/Pan and then did nothing with it, then that'd be on them for not following through. That shouldn't be seen as some deterrent for them not to do so, or for readership to not to want it to happen or be celebratory if it did happen.

You over exaggerating

Superman Clark Kent had a pride cover last year

You're missing the point, particular when it comes to Nightwing.