Northstar, openly gay X-men hero to have same-sex marriage in ‘Astonishing X-Men’ issue (PHOTOS)
A preview of Northstar’s proposal to his boyfriend Kyle in Issue 50 of “Astonishing X-Men.”
In 'Astonishing X-Men' Issue 50, which hits stands Wednesday, openly gay mutant hero Northstar proposes to his boyfriend Kyle, foreshadowing a superhero same-sex marriage next month, USA Today reported.
Marvel's editor in chief Alex Alonso told Rolling Stone that he and his team started to think about working a gay marriage into the X-Men plot last June, after New York legalized same-sex weddings…far before President Obama spoke out in support of the issue.
"When gay marriage became legal in New York State, it raised obvious questions since most of our heroes reside in New York," Alonso told Rolling Stone. "Northstar is the first openly gay character in comics and he's been in a long term relationship with his partner Kyle so the big question was – how would this change his relationship?"
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Marvel first revealed that Northstar was gay in 1992. The Canadian superhero associated with Alpha Flight and the X-Men proposes to his boyfriend Kyle Jinadu (who does not possess superpowers) in this issue, and the couple will wed in front on their many superhero friends in Issue 51, which is slated for a June 20 release, according to the Los Angeles Times.
June will be a busy month for LGBT superheroes: DC co-publisher Dan DiDio announced that one of his company’s heroes will come out of the closet next month as well, according to Entertainment Weekly.
DiDio didn’t specify who or when, but whoever they are will join Batwoman, who is openly lesbian, as one of the comic company's gay characters.
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However, Northstar and Kyle's wedding will prove to be just as controversial as the gay marriage debate going on across the United States, Alonso told Rolling Stone.
"Let me make it clear – this story begins with a marriage, but it ain't over with the marriage," said Alonso. "…While a lot of Marvel Universe characters will be attending Northstar's wedding, not everyone is going to accept the invitation and not everyone is going to accept the validity of Northstar's vows. At least one of Northstar's team members is going to turn down the invitation, and that's going to make for an interesting dynamic."
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