The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, or GLAAD, has announced their 21st annual Media Award nominees — and a bunch of solid comics are in close competition for the prize!
The best comic book nominees are perhaps no surprise, as they all had strong, three-dimensional takes on gay and lesbian characters:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Jane Espenson, Steven S. DeKnight, Drew Z. Greenberg, Jim Krueger, Doug Petrie, Joss Whedon (Dark Horse Comics)
Detective Comics by Greg Rucka (DC Comics)
Madame Xanadu by Matt Wagner (Vertigo/DC Comics)
Secret Six by Gail Simone (DC Comics)
X-Factor by Peter David (Marvel Comics
To be honest, it’s hard to pick a particular book — although my personal pick would have to be Detective Comics, after Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams III took such a strong stand against the “don’t ask, don’t tell” rule. What say you, Rama readers? Which book would you pick to win?
January 13th, 2010 at 12:17 pm
Congrats to the nominees! It’s a shame none of the Independent comics were recognized, and it’s a fact that for several years now, no Independent comics depicting LGBT characters by LGBT artists have been recognized or nominated. I would very much like this to change over the next few years, and I would love to see LGBT comic artists recognized in their own field, in their own arena.
Time to step up our act, folks!!!
January 13th, 2010 at 12:43 pm
This is a contest?
I think you know where I stand on this one, David.
January 13th, 2010 at 12:43 pm
Detective Comics is the clear winner, but X-Factor would have to be a close second. Both Rucka and David have made bold and realistic characters that can be strong role-models for the LGBT community. Well done, and whoever wins gets a congrats from me.
January 13th, 2010 at 12:46 pm
Tec will win
January 13th, 2010 at 12:49 pm
Also, houseofmuses, very good point.
January 13th, 2010 at 1:12 pm
Yeah, Billy…trying really hard not to have sour grapes on this one, but my series was up for a nomination at GLAAD this year, too. I’m mostly sad that PRISM Comics wasted their money sponsoring my entry. Like I said, let’s wait and see how the next couple years pan out.
January 13th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
All these books deserve to win, this award and many others. The only title I don’t read is X-Factor. Anyway, way to be progressive!
January 13th, 2010 at 5:33 pm
houseofmuses, GLAAD makes it very clear that they nominate top-selling/big company comics because the whole point of the media awards is to reward positive depiction of GLBT people in media likely to be consumed by non-GLBT, non-Allies. With some exceptions (e.g. Strangers in Paradise) indie comics with GLBT themes tend only make it to a pre-existing queer and queer-friendly audience.
January 14th, 2010 at 9:10 pm
Maybe the shadowy figure in the Birds of Prey image is Batwoman. Would make for some *interesting* read I would think..