Kitty's Scratching Post

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Green Lantern, one of DC Comics’ oldest and enduring heroes no matter what parallel earth he’s on, is serving as a beacon for the publisher again, this time as a proud, mighty and openly gay hero.

The change is revealed in the pages of the second issue of “Earth 2” out next week, and comes on the heels of what has been an expansive year for gay and lesbian characters in the pages of comic books from Archie to Marvel and others.

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But purists and fans note: This Green Lantern is not the emerald galactic space cop who was, and is, part of the Justice League and has had a history rich in triumph and tragedy.

Instead, said James Robinson, who writes the new series, Alan Scott is the retooled version of the classic Lantern whose first appearance came in the pages of “All-American Comics” No. 16 in July 1940.

And his being gay is not part of some wider story line meant to be exploited or undone down the road, either.

“This was my idea,” Robinson explained this week, noting that before DC re-launched all its titles last summer, Alan Scott had a son who was gay.

But given “Earth 2” features retooled and rebooted characters, Scott is not old enough to have a grown son.

“By making him younger, that son was not going to exist anymore,” Robinson said.

“He doesn’t come out. He’s gay when we see him in issue two,” which is due out Wednesday. “He’s fearless and he’s honest to the point where he realized he was gay and he said ‘I’m gay.’”

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“It was just meant to be 7/8— Alan Scott being a gay member of the team, the Justice Society, that I’ll be forming in the pages of ‘Earth 2,’” he said. “He’s just meant to be part of this big tapestry of characters.”

It’s also another example of gay and lesbian characters taking more prominent roles in the medium.

In May, Marvel Entertainment said super speedster Northstar will marry his longtime boyfriend in the pages of “Astonishing X-Men.” DC comics has other gay characters, too, including Kate Kane, the current Batwoman.

And in the pages of Archie Comics, Kevin Keller is one of the gang at Riverdale High School and is also gay.

Some groups have protested the inclusion of gay characters, but Robinson isn’t discouraged, noting that being gay is just one aspect to Scott.

“This guy, he’s a media mogul, a hero, a dynamic type-A personality and he’s gay,” Robinson said. “He’s a complex character.”

That’s about all I can say right now. You know, before I had my baby, I used to talk to my ex all the time about moving out of Missouri. I kinda don’t like it here, and I’ve always wanted to live SOMEWHERE else. Over the years the locale has changed, but the general trend has been more mild weather, and nearby a big city. Years ago it was outside of Seattle, more recently it was outside of Chicago, possibly (although it’s far to expensive to actually want to live there.) And now that I’ve visited the East Coast, pretty much anywhere there would be awesome. I couldn’t live in a big city. But I could live nearby. I don’t know if I’m just itching for some kind of change? To go somewhere totally my own? I don’t know. what I do know is that it can’t be done. Because to do that, I’d have to give up joint custody of Annabelle, and I’d only get her on summers and holidays. The internet now makes it easier to keep in contact with people, and yes I could use Skype, but it’s not the same. The idea alone just makes me -sad-. To be without her for months. Shame I can’t talk my ex into taking a better job out of state. He could do so much better. But he won’t. 

Maybe someday.

Kinda wishing I wasn’t. *laughs* I had an absolute blast. I feel so much more relaxed now. It was nice to just be with people I care about, and lounge around. We watched some movies. I had a bagel. (which, mind you, has ruined me completely for bagels forever.) I was afraid meeting in person for the first time was going to be strange, but it wasn’t. I mean, of course -I- was awkward, but I can’t help that. I didn’t feel out of place. It was just all around a fantastic week.

Top it off with a trip to Manhattan where I got to see two more of my good friends, and I couldn’t be happier. I got to see Times square!

I wasn’t even there for long, just a few hours. And we didn’t do much but walk around while I faingirled, and had some lunch. and Pie! So, so much pie. It was exactly like I thought it would be, and I’m just in awe of how BIG this place really is.  And how many people. I could never live in the city. I could live outside of it, and part of me kind of wants to, but I know it’s just a pipe dream. 

All in all, I can’t wait to do it again. And I’m shooting for the fall, to come back sometime in October. Even though flying is NOT MY THING AT ALL. I spent the whole flight drugged up, trying to sleep, wanting to sleep but being in a state of panic. The first one wasn’t too bad, maybe I was just really tired. The flight home, was different. The plane was bigger, it moved more. I sat there shaking like a leaf the whole time. Next time, I need stronger drugs. 

I’m home now, and settled, and glad to be here. But I do miss my second family already.