Blogging for AfterElton.com, Lyle Masaki considers six openly gay men whose work in comics and science fiction has “helped improve visibility for those of us who’d like to have a superhero, space captain, or time-traveling immortal of our own.” From comics, he names writer and journalist Andy Mangels and artist-writer Phil Jimenez:
Jimenez became a role model for gay comic fans in 1996 with an editorial that appeared the last issue of the Tempest mini-series that he wrote and pencilled. In the editorial, Jimenez publicly came out and touchingly remembered Neal Pozner the man who first hired him to work for DC Comics who became a mentor to Jimenez, as well as Jimenez’ partner. Pozner died in 1994 and the eulogy was powerful not only for increasing gay visibility among comic creators but for bringing a gay relationship into the dialogue.
Other names on the list are: Russell T. Davies, executive producer of Doctor Who and creator of Torchwood; horror author Clive Barker; Hero author and movie producer Perry Moore; and Brian Fuller, creator of Dead Like Me and Pushing Daisies.
March 31st, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Nice to see on Newsarama. Trying my best to put a foot forward with this genre of work. Phil Jiminez is a nice guy and the panels that take place in San Diego Cons have been inspiring. Just finished Perry Moore’s Hero. As a gay man it can almost be annoying how we want gay characters to come to the forefront. Better we just continue stories that are great with characters who happen to be gay but never downplay the fact that this is an aspect of the character that needs adressing and story time as opposed to sales and controversy.