DC Comics re-launches superhero Green Lantern as gay

DC Comics finally revealed on Friday that its super hero, Green Lantern, will be reintroduced as gay in the next edition of "Earth 2". Writer James Robinson insists that turning DC Comics' one of the oldest and well-established characters as gay is not a publicity stunt, but an effort by the company to bring diversity to comic book fans.

After teasing fans for nearly a month, that one of its iconic characters will be stepping out of the closet, DC Comics finally broke the suspense on Friday through its official website. After fighting super villains for 72 years as a straight man, the brave Green Lantern will be reintroduced as gay next week.

Alan Scott, the original Green Lantern character, is a railway engineer who discoveres a green lantern with magical powers and ultimately turns into the savior of the world. He has married twice and has kids. Interestingly, Alan’s son was gay in a previous comic book. But the re-launch introduces him as a young man, thus eliminating his kids and previous relationships altogether.

“So I thought, ‘Why not make Alan Scott gay?’” James says of his decision to alter Scott's sexual orientation. “That was the seed that started it.”

Nicola Scott, the artist who drew the character, says she was given clear guidelines as to what the new Green Lantern character should look like. "He needed to be a big, strapping, handsome man that everyone would instinctively follow and love. No short order but right up my alley," she said. "Alan strikes me as an incredibly open, honest and warm man, a natural leader and absolutely the right choice to be Guardian of the Earth. His sexuality is incidental. Every time I draw him I love him even more."

Following DC Comics announcement, there were speculations that the new gay character might be Wonder Woman, hiding her little secret under her tiara, or Batman, who never goes anywhere without his faithful sidekick, Robin.

Robinson told Entertainment Weekly, according to a report by Reuters, that the decision was never meant to spread sensation. "The Alan Scott I'm doing now is that same dynamic, brave, honorable man," he added. "A man that you'd want guarding your welfare, your children, your life, your home. He's willing to give his life for the world. He's everything you want in a hero. And he happens to be gay." The re-launch only means that a greater audience will now be able to relate to the superhero.