THE ART OF THE COMIC-BOOK (10)

 

Another piece of contemporary comic-book cover-art; this one by Jon Bogdanove for Knight Terrors: Superman, Issue # 2 (variant cover B). 

Bogdanove (best known for co-creating the title title, Superman: The Man of Steel) has created a stunning piece of art with a powerful image artfully achieved through its depiction of energy, movement and the simultaneously in-focus above-and-below water perspective. The outstretched grasping hand breaking the surface is, for me, an exciting and intensely dramatic gesture –– and, incidentally, very scary for a thalassophobe....... 

Er... WHAT?

Oh, just go and look it up!

THE ART OF THE COMIC-BOOK (5)

[Click images to enlarge]

To mark the beginning of Pride Month, I've chosen Travis Moore & Tamara Bonvillain's variant cover art for Superman: Son of Kal-El Issue #5 (released 9 November 2021) showing Jon Kent (son of Clark Kent, aka Superman, and Lois Lane and currently known as “the Superman of Earth,”) dramatically flying in for a passionate embrace. 

The source of Jon's attraction is a journalist: yes, like father, like son ––– except that, in Jon's case, the journo in question – social activist Jay Nakamura – is male! 

Although Jon Kent, formally presumed to be heterosexual, was not the first comic-book hero to reveal an LGBTQ+ alignment, it caused a minor sensation in the comic world – unsurprising, perhaps, since 'Superman' suddenly identifying as 'bi' was a radical departure from comic historicity. Certainly, I couldn't help pondering how I, as a closeted 10-year-old comic-reading lad, would have reacted in making such a discovery! 

The series – all too short-lived – was written by Tom Taylor and illustrated by John Timms who was responsible for the art on the pages shown below, augmented by the work of colorist, Hi-Fi, and letterer, David Sharpe.

COMIX COME OUT

I wonder whether Nick Clegg is a comic book fan?

Do you suppose – when he's not fagging for Head Prefect Cameron – that Cleggers is closeted away in the Tuck Room reading the latest X-Men adventures?

I ask because it occurs to me that he may just have been encouraged in his dedication to the cause of 'gay marriage' (currently causing so much Conservative apoplexy) by the revelation that one of Marvel Comics' superheroes is about to enter into a same-sex union.

Northstar (left) was the first openly gay comic book character. True identity, champion skier, Jean-Paul Beaubier, is a mutant who can move and fly at near light speeds and possesses superhuman stamina, endurance and reflexes.

Northstar's sexuality was somewhat nervously revealed in 1992, but a decade on he has proposed to his partner, Kyle, and the pair are to set be wed on 20 June in issue 51 of Astonishing X-Men.

Not to be out-done, rival comic book publishers, DC Comics have let slip that they are about to "reintroduce a DC character who was previously straight and will now will be 'one of our most prominent gay characters'.” Who will it be? Superman? Batman? Robin? Wonder Woman? Time will tell...

Meanwhile, maybe Cleggers ought to get some extra copies Astonishing X-Men No. 51 for the Prefect's Common Room.

Source: Bleedingcool.com.