"This would indicate.."

Communism, witchcraft, homosexuality, or whatever else one would like to suggest or accuse someone of in a non-specific way.
Nothing good has ever come from a sentence that started like that.

I have read interviews with various creators that Jim Shooter would never allow any portrayal of homosexuality in Marvel comics when he was editor in chief.

... I know that Shooter did the infamous Hulk story where Bruce Banner was nearly raped by a man at a YMCA.

Well obviously the man at the YMCA was not a homosexual!

I know that Shooter did the infamous Hulk story where Bruce Banner was nearly raped by a man at a YMCA. This would indicate homophobia on Shooter's part.

****

This reminds me of this letter I read in Prime. In an earlier issue Kevins powers had given out a long way from home. So he hitched a ride with a guy who turned out to be a pedo. Somebody sent in a letter saying how offensive and homophobic I still find the letter very odd. How somebody would get offended at a child molester being shown in a negative light.  

I have read interviews with various creators that Jim Shooter would never allow any portrayal of homosexuality in Marvel comics when he was editor in chief. 

***********

I don't think this indicates anything, other than Shooter was being careful, as Keith says.

Homosexuality still is a controversial subject for some people. That was even more true 20 years ago when Shooter was EiC at Marvel. Introducing such a controversial subject in what was still largely a kids-oriented medium could have offended many parents.

I can't blame an editor for wanting to avoid that kind of trouble and I would caution against trying to read too much into Mr. Shooter's motives.

No comment.

*******************

My admiration for you just increased.

Talk about forcing the character to serve your story!

That's why I created Northstar -- I felt the Marvel Universe needed a Gay superhero (even if I would never be allowed to say it in so many words in the comics themselves), and I felt that I should create one, rather than retrofitting an existing character.

Banner being too scared too turn into the Hulk seems odd. I mean the rush you get from anger and the rush you get from fear are basically the same. I would think scared Banner turns into the Hulk faster than pissed Banner.

Without retrofitting an existing character? Not trying to stir up anything, JB,
but I just want to clarify -- I thought you decided to make Northstar gay
when you were given the assignment to do Alpha Flight as a comic, and that
it hadn't occurred to you when you created him in X-Men. Was I mistaken?

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John, the answer to your question is in the Byrne FAQ, http://www.byrnerobotics.com/FAQ/listing.asp?ID=2&T1=Que stions+about+Comic+Book+Projects#106

This is, I think you will agree, a very different thing from "outing" the Beast, or Colossus, or Iceman. That's what I mean by "existing characters". Characters that have long established backstories.




*Actually, I knew Jean-Marie was a split personality, tho there is no hint of it in the first appearance.

Somewhere between 6 and 10%.