DC Comics announced its decision to relaunch a major character as gay a few days ago and fans have been on tenterhooks to find out who would be chosen.
But today those responsible for the series put them out of their misery as they announced that Alan Scott, the original Green Lantern from the 1940s, is the one.The first storylines featuring the new version of the character will hit shops on Wednesday in the second issue of the new 'Earth 2' series.
The change is part of the publisher’s complete makeover of the whole fictional universe which started last year.
Alan Scott's first appearance came in the pages of 'All-American Comics' Number 16 in July 1940.
In an unusual move makers decided to go back in time to relaunch some modern day characters as younger versions of themselves.
The move meant modern day Obsidian, Scott's openly gay adult son no longer featured.
To redress the balance and ensure a continued gay presence in the storylines DC Comics have taken the bold decision to make Scott, the popular original Green Lantern gay.
The Earth 2 Series writer James Robinson wrote a storyline featuring the first openly gay kiss in comics.
He was quoted on the NYTimes as saying: 'I was sort of putting the team together and I realized one of the only downsides to relaunching the Justice Society as young, vibrant heroes again was that Alan Scott’s son was no longer going to exist in the reboot.'
'I thought that was a shame and then it occurred to me, why not just make Alan Scott gay.'
The decision is the latest of several comic book characters to be outed as gay and raises the, all be it unlikely, possibly that should X-Men superhero Northstar's relationship with his long term boyfriend not work out Scott and Northstar could become an item.
In the X-Men series Northstar popped the question to his partner just last week and the next issue is set to feature in same sex wedding.
And his being gay is not part of some wider story line meant to be exploited or undone down the road, either.
OPENLY GAY COMIC HEROES
This decision to make the Green Lantern gay is the latest comic book hero to be 'outed' here are some of the others...
- 1992: X-Men superhero Northerstar made history when he declared 'I am gay'
- 2003: Marvel relaunched 50s character The Rawhide Kid as gay character
- 2005: Another Marvel comic The Young Avengers launched Wiccan and Hulkling to gay men in a monogamous relationship
- 2006: Gotham City crimefighter Batwoman is relaunched as a lesbian by DC Comics
- 2010: Wholesome comic Archie introduced Kevin Keller a dashing gay army brat
- 2011: Teen Titans announced its flamboyant character Bunker would be gay
'He's gay when we see him in issue two.
'He's fearless and he's honest to the point where he realized he was gay and he said `I'm gay.''
'It was just meant to be - Alan Scott being a gay member of the team, the Justice Society, that I'll be forming in the pages of `Earth 2,'' he said.
'He's just meant to be part of this big tapestry of characters.'
Richard Ferraro of GLAAD (The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Discrimination) said: 'When I was growing up, I’d read comics or watch TV and I wished there were characters who I could relate to, who I knew had gone through what I was going through.'
'Today’s LGBT young people can see gay characters in comics, movies and many TV shows who show them that they too can grow up to be parents, leaders, or even superheroes.'
However, the decision has reportedly not been well received by the group One Million Moms who have called for a boycott of comic books featuring gay superheroes.
