In this week’s “Joe Fridays” Q&A at Newsarama, Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada makes an announcement that will likely surprise, well, everyone: The publisher has reversed its controversial policy that would require a “MAX” rating on any solo series starring a gay or lesbian character.
Newsarama: … It’s one thing to cite a policy saying “this would happen if”, but what is the true likelihood given the circumstances of any project actually being approved if this sensibility exists?
Quesada: I’m glad you asked me this, fortunately this question has been raised again and it’s given us the opportunity to spark some internal discussions and revisit this issue especially in light of the fact that we have characters like Freedom Ring (who is the current star of Marvel Team Up without much fanfare mind you) and that we’ve had more gay and lesbian characters appearing in Marvel comics than ever before. In many ways, the old policy over the last few years has just sort of faded away, so let me just say that there is no longer any policy.
Newsarama: Okay, just so we’re clear about this – a character’s sexual orientation is no longer a factor in determining the rating of a potential title starring that character? So Freedom Ring — to use your example — could star in a non-MAX/Marvel Universe title — even if the character’s sexual orientation was a factor in the story?
Quesada: Yes and Freedom Ring is already the star of Marvel Team Up.
Newsarama: And this is a new policy, or more accurately, the policy that may have prevented that the last few years is newly no longer in effect?
Quesada: Correct.
Newsarama: Can you give interested parties any insight into the circumstances of this change?
Quesada: It’s pretty simple, the topic really hasn’t come up in quite some time, we discussed it and decided it was no longer necessary.
At the link, Quesada also addresses the issue of Marvel’s “social responsibility.”
August 19th, 2006 at 11:54 am
“Freedom Ring is already the star of Marvel Team Up.”
Which Marvel’s cancelling in two months, which would explain why there’s “not much fanfare” about Freedom Ring taking over the title. When FR gets his own #1, I’ll be a lot more impressed.
August 19th, 2006 at 4:21 pm
Thank goodness. I was getting the impression that Marvel was determined to tow the line that right-wing christian, ‘family values’ groups drew.
Most of the people buying Marvel comics are not so anal retentive and definately NOT part of that demographic. About time Marvel realized that.
August 19th, 2006 at 4:33 pm
I’m fairly certain the only thing they’ve realised is that the can’t make this official policy.
If it should so happen that no homosexual character becomes the star of his or her own book, Marvel doesn’t offend the religious right and at the same time can get GLAAD awards for Young Avengers.
(I have no idea why Quesada went about needlessly antagonizing folks the way he did.)
August 20th, 2006 at 8:19 am
Nothing to do with the public backlash against the idea of MAX labelling gay characters, of course. Purely an internal discussion thing.
August 20th, 2006 at 9:00 pm
That’s great that Marvel changed their policy. I don’t find it necessary to look any further than the fact that they have made the change.