# Existing "major" DC superhero to come out of the closet - Who will it be? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 23, 2012, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/existing-major-dc-superhero-to-come-out-of-the-closet-who-will-it-be/622794 "2012-05-23T05:24:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/existing-major-dc-superhero-to-come-out-of-the-closet-who-will-it-be/622794/41 "2012-05-23T13:29:43Z")
I think the “iconic” characters in DC are fairly limited (and the real list as far as the general public is concerned is probably smaller) – Superman Batman and Robin Wonder Woman and Wonder Girl Green Lantern Flash and Kid Flash Aquaman and Aqualad Green Arrow and Speedy Hawkman and Hawkwoman/girl Captain Marvel/Shazam Joker Lex Luthor Riddler Atom Supergirl Batgirl Doctor Fate Spectre Phantom Stranger Superboy Sandman Catwoman Deadman Poison Ivy Penguin ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/existing-major-dc-superhero-to-come-out-of-the-closet-who-will-it-be/622794/42 "2012-05-23T13:34:33Z")
It’s been years since I read any of the relevant comics, so I’m out of whatever the current rules of continuity are. How about **Proty**? That’s mess with everyone’s heads. Can you be gay if you can completely change your physical makeup? ---
**Author:** ![Sweetums](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Sweetums](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sweetums)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/existing-major-dc-superhero-to-come-out-of-the-closet-who-will-it-be/622794/43 "2012-05-23T13:38:14Z")
Sorry if this is seen as a thread\*\*\*t but my first thought when I saw this in the news was “why is this news, DC already has more gay characters than Glee.” It really doesn’t matter who it is, chances are it will get ret-conned out the next time DC reboots the universe, which happens about every year or so. This is just another cheap stunt to get them in the news like Superman dying, changing to an electric costume, Batman dying, Wonder Woman changing her costume again, or the other gay characters that they announced to media hype. They don’t come off as progressive, or tolerant, they come off as Stephen Colbert posing next to his “gay friend.” Really it’s a sad cry for attention. ---
**Author:** ![Suil\_Dubh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85f322/32.png) [@Suil\_Dubh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suil_Dubh)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/existing-major-dc-superhero-to-come-out-of-the-closet-who-will-it-be/622794/44 "2012-05-23T13:41:33Z")
My guess is either [Hitlerman](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14779573&postcount=2) or Rentboy. If I had to bet money, I’d go with Hitlerman. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/existing-major-dc-superhero-to-come-out-of-the-closet-who-will-it-be/622794/45 "2012-05-23T13:42:26Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > Counterpoint: Dick Grayson hasn’t been Robin since 1984. And yet, Robin is DC’s 3d most recognizable character after Superman and Batman (and before Wonder Woman) and there’s been no move to reinstate him as Robin, even after the Flashpoint reboot. Yes, there are a number of characters who they’re going against the ‘iconic’ version for some reason or another - Robin (as part of the minimizing the shakeups in the Bat family - notice that aside from Bruce and Selina forgetting each other’s identities, all the ‘reversions’ are given ‘and, that happened, now we go forward’ explanations), Aquaman (_actively fighting against_ the ‘iconic’ version, in this case), interestingly enough, Wonder Woman (in her own title, at least…none of it’s really coming through in JL), a couple others - but that’s what they mean when they say ‘iconic’. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/existing-major-dc-superhero-to-come-out-of-the-closet-who-will-it-be/622794/46 "2012-05-23T14:44:25Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > Yes, there are a number of characters who they’re going against the ‘iconic’ version for some reason or another - Robin (as part of the minimizing the shakeups in the Bat family - notice that aside from Bruce and Selina forgetting each other’s identities, all the ‘reversions’ are given ‘and, that happened, now we go forward’ explanations), Aquaman (_actively fighting against_ the ‘iconic’ version, in this case), interestingly enough, Wonder Woman (in her own title, at least…none of it’s really coming through in JL), a couple others - but that’s what they mean when they say ‘iconic’. Yeah, but Orion isn’t anything close to “iconic” ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/existing-major-dc-superhero-to-come-out-of-the-closet-who-will-it-be/622794/47 "2012-05-23T15:03:07Z")
It’s that beatnik guy who used to hang around with the JLA, Skipper, Zipper, Flipper, whatever his name was. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/existing-major-dc-superhero-to-come-out-of-the-closet-who-will-it-be/622794/48 "2012-05-23T15:47:21Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > It’s that beatnik guy who used to hang around with the JLA, Skipper, Zipper, Flipper, whatever his name was. “Snapper” Carr. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/existing-major-dc-superhero-to-come-out-of-the-closet-who-will-it-be/622794/49 "2012-05-23T16:54:21Z")
I’m going to guess that it’s going to be a Green Lantern. There’s tons of those, so they have plenty of options, but the typical man-on-the-street doesn’t know that there are tons of them, so they can point to whichever one they choose and say that he’s the iconic Green Lantern. Now, _which_ Green Lantern, I’m not enough of a comics nerd to say. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/existing-major-dc-superhero-to-come-out-of-the-closet-who-will-it-be/622794/50 "2012-05-23T17:03:51Z")
Metamorpho. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/existing-major-dc-superhero-to-come-out-of-the-closet-who-will-it-be/622794/51 "2012-05-23T17:04:44Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I’m going to guess that it’s going to be a Green Lantern. There’s tons of those, so they have plenty of options, but the typical man-on-the-street doesn’t know that there are tons of them, so they can point to whichever one they choose and say that he’s the iconic Green Lantern. > > Now, _which_ Green Lantern, I’m not enough of a comics nerd to say. I’d guess John Stewart or Guy Gardner. Gardner would actually be perfect. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/existing-major-dc-superhero-to-come-out-of-the-closet-who-will-it-be/622794/52 "2012-05-23T17:07:06Z")
Alan Scott might, possibly, be bi-sexual. He, Jay Garrick, and Wonder Woman used to have a somewhat…cozy…looking relationship [back in the day.](http://lileks.com/institute/comicsins/covers/DCheroes/1.html) OTOH, it might simply have been that a woman of Diana’s appetites needed more than one man. In any case, I don’t think he’s gay. Booster Gold would be my guess. He’s been rather fabulous since his first appearance. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/existing-major-dc-superhero-to-come-out-of-the-closet-who-will-it-be/622794/53 "2012-05-23T17:16:35Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I’d guess John Stewart or Guy Gardner. > > Gardner would actually be perfect. Can’t be either. They’ve all appeared since the reboot. All 4 of the major GLs have. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/existing-major-dc-superhero-to-come-out-of-the-closet-who-will-it-be/622794/54 "2012-05-23T17:17:25Z")
> [@Suil\_Dubh](#): > > My guess is either [Hitlerman](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14779573&postcount=2) or Rentboy. Rentboy: Able to lift tons of luggage with his bare hands… ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/existing-major-dc-superhero-to-come-out-of-the-closet-who-will-it-be/622794/55 "2012-05-23T17:26:18Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Rentboy: Able to lift tons of luggage with his bare hands… Bahhh…everybody knows that Marvel’s **Uhaul** is a much better superhero. He doesn’t even us his hands to lift things if you know what I mean. And FTR my hometown had an infamous local gay bar called the Green Lantern. Just sayin. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/existing-major-dc-superhero-to-come-out-of-the-closet-who-will-it-be/622794/56 "2012-05-23T17:37:55Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > “Snapper” Carr. That fact that they thought a character like that was something we could “relate” to, and that we even needed a character like that to relate to, really brought home to me how clueless and out of touch with their readers those old comics guys were. But as much as I detested “Snapper”, I’d still rather have that than the gritted teeth and angst and airbrushed look of today. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/existing-major-dc-superhero-to-come-out-of-the-closet-who-will-it-be/622794/57 "2012-05-23T17:39:45Z")
Didn’t they ditch Snapper in the '70s when DC stories started getting serious? ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/existing-major-dc-superhero-to-come-out-of-the-closet-who-will-it-be/622794/58 "2012-05-23T17:46:29Z")
Pretty sure they wrote Snapper out with a bizarre auto-erotic asphyxiation accident in an effort to make things “edgier” and more “today.” ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/existing-major-dc-superhero-to-come-out-of-the-closet-who-will-it-be/622794/59 "2012-05-23T17:46:46Z")
Duh, it’s right there in his name: Martian Manhunter. ---
**Author:** ![davidw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c4cdca/32.png) [@davidw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidw)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/existing-major-dc-superhero-to-come-out-of-the-closet-who-will-it-be/622794/60 "2012-05-23T17:47:35Z")
Is it definitely a super hero? If not, how about Alfred? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/existing-major-dc-superhero-to-come-out-of-the-closet-who-will-it-be/622794.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/existing-major-dc-superhero-to-come-out-of-the-closet-who-will-it-be/622794.md?page=4)