Scarlet Betch

SuperQueeros! for February 15th, 2012

2012-02-13T08:09:00.006-05:00

This week brings us one of the best comic books around right now, as well as a mixed bag of 'queero-featuring titles. Also, a KYLIE COMIC!!!!

Wonder Woman #6

It's Wondie vs. Hades vs. Poseidon, battling for Zeus's kingdom!! Last issue Wonder Woman bluffed her way into being Hera's champion, so a victory for Diana means that Hera would take the throne. Are we going to have a woman on Mount Olympus before we have a woman in the White House????

Hellblazer #288

John continues his journey into Hell. Also his wife and niece do stuff on Earth. (Can you tell I don't pick this book up? But John is one of the longest-running, eponymous bisexual characters in sequential art, so I hope he makes it out of Hell with his life, and maybe a few more scars.)

Female Force #35: Kylie Minogue

Yup, it's a Kylie comic book!!!!! I'm buying it so hard. Judge me if you must, join me if you don't: one way or another, this thing is guaranteed to be fun!

X-Factor #232

Madrox is dimension hoping. Cool story, zero 'queeros. Peter David's on twitter now: @PeterDavid_PAD

New Avengers #21

The solicit says that one team member will be leaving! Will it be Victoria? Or maybe someone who can't stomach trusting V-Hand any longer?? And what will be the outcome of the brawl with Thor's clone, Ragnarok???

Superqueeros! for February 8th, 2012

2012-02-08T06:39:00.004-05:00

Sorry this is so late, guys! I'm getting ready to move so I've been preoccupied with those details! But this is a huge week!

Kevin Keller #1

AWESOME! Kevin Keller's continuing series officially starts here, meaning from here on out you can get amonthly dose of Keller! The only downside I can think of is that the style section with Veronica and Kevin may be gone... That was adorable! Thankfully, even if there is no style section, this issue promises to keep the adorbs rolling in: Kevin is class president, he's been published in the newspaper, AND he's never been on a date! Which means in issue number one we get date number one, with all its cute little awkward moments. And according to the solicit this going to be one date CHOCK FULL of awkward moments! #worstdateever

Batwoman #6

The new story arc "To Drown the World" gives us a new villain, Maro, and the same awesome cast of misfit peacekeepers careening through life. Amy Reeder's on art this issue (with help from Richard Friend), so definitely pick it up to see the second official take on the art of the Batwoman. I've heard a lot of good things about Reeder myself, but I'm very excited to see exactly how her Batwoman work feels!

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9: Freefall #6

Robin Wood (the hot, season 7 principal of Sunnydale High AND son-of-a-Slayer) is back! Also, I forgot that Buffy lives in San Francisco now... With the X-men and the Scooby Gang in the Greater Bay Area it really must be the (metaphorically) gayest city on Earth!

Daken: Dark Wolverine #21

It's the beginning of the end for Daken as he sets out to once and for all settle his score with dear old daddy. With only two more issues left after this one are we about to see the death of one of Marvel's most innovative characters or his rebirth into a villain free of the burden of his father's legacy? Personally I'm hoping for option three: blood, guts, and angst!

SuperQueeros! for February 1st, 2012

2012-01-30T10:07:00.003-05:00

Hello February! What 'queero comics do you have for us this year??

Avengers Academy #25

Reptil's gone all evil and stuff!!! At least that's what I've gathered from the cover of this issue. The solicit says that this issue is a mega-brawl between a student, another student, and a teacher. Fingers crossed that when the dust settles Reptil isn't the most evil guy in the room!

i, Zombie #22

Spot is tied up in his basement!?! And not in a good way??? The cast is split up and machinating as the post-zombie-invasion story gears up. And you thought hipsters were scary when they only looked dead!

Stormwatch #6

Throw down in the Carrier! Looks like the Authority are finally going to find out where exactly their inter-dimensional ship comes from. And since this is going to have consequences in Grifter and Voodoo, I'm betting that those odd controls were designed for Daemonites.

X-Factor#231

Can Madrox get home??? Watch Captain America punch Tony Stark and find out!!!!

SuperQueeros! for January 25th, 2012

2012-01-25T07:03:00.007-05:00

So many books this week and this is the only day I'm in the office! Okay, here's a quick run down of the SuperQueeros in stores this week:

Alpha Flight #8

It's the end of the series and the resolution to the Master of the World's machinations! Will Northstar save his boo? Will Kyle have awesome robot powers now???

Justice League Dark #5

Now that Constantine is working with the full team of the JLD will they be able to take out Enchantress? And at what cost??

Daken: Dark Wolverine #20

Resolution for the Donna Kiel relationship! Will Daken be redeemed? Gosh, I sure hope not!

Teen Titans #5

TAKE DOWN SUPERBOY! Can the team beat their own powerhouse? And is Skitter going to be the deus ex machina???

X-Men: Legacy #261

Anole has a cameo AND a line! In a really cute Blindfold scene! And Gambit is a jerk (of course).

SuperQueeros! for January 18th, 2011

2012-01-17T08:10:00.003-05:00

It's a slim week, but we get the next installment in one of the New 52's best books, Wonder Woman!

Wonder Woman #5

Woah, what? Evidently Wonder Woman lives in London??? So... Why is she chilling with Steve Trevor, American, over in Justice League? Woof, this new universe... so confusing! ANYWAY, some more gods enter the picture and they are far from happy. Diety sibling fight is go!

Hellblazer #287

Wonder Woman is returning to London and, evidently, chasing John out! He's headed to Hell this issue. Evidently he's doing a favor for his niece (something about a gangster who's John's father-in-law?) that will involve old enemies, demons, angels, and aquariums. So, you know, PaRtAy!

Hack/Slash #12

The first issue of "Monster Baiting" finds our heroes on a tropical island, searching for a cure for slashers. There are just so many places to go with this... But I hope Samhain has to wear "skimpy outfits" too! That way real life slashers of every variety will have something to work with!

New Mutants #36

Did anyone pick up issue #35? Do we know if Blink is actually dating that lady rocker or if that was just a clever cover? Either way, it's Blink's last issue with the New Mutants, so pick it up and see what happens!

SuperQueeros! for January 11th, 2012

2012-01-10T08:09:00.005-05:00

A plethora of classic queer-inclusive titles this week, plus I just want to note that, though he's not in the main cast atm, Anole is over at the Westchester school making all sorts of cameos in Wolverine and the X-men, and issue #6 is out Wednesday. You know, in case you were jones-ing for some Victor. ;)

Batwoman #5

The last issue in the first arc! With her allies either ostracized or hospitalized and enemies hot on her tail, will Kate be able to foil the Weeping Woman or will the water witch wrench up Kate's dark past and seal the fate of our intrepid heroine???

Daken: Dark Wolverine #19

Karolina Dean + Daken Akihro. Awesome. Looks like there's one loose end that our favorite runaways and our favorite sociopath have in common. And they're going to have to team up to tie it up!

New Avengers #20

New Avengers vs Dark Avengers! Will Victoria's true colors finally be revealed? #thisteasersponsoredbyCyndiLauper

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9: Freefall #5

Severin: sorted! Willow: back on team Buffy! So what's next? INTROSPECTION!

X-Factor#230

So Madrox is bouncing between dimensions. So who's going to lead X-Factor while the bossman's on vacation? All signs point to Havok and Polaris!

SuperQueeros! for January 4th, 2012

2012-01-03T15:13:00.005-05:00

Happy New Year! I've spent the majority of 2012 in a drug-induced slumber thanks to some atrociously-timed food poisoning. But I've woken up long enough to give you the (brief) 411 on the comics you want to buy tomorrow!

Life with Archie #16

It's Kevin's wedding! Who's the lucky guy?????

Stormwatch #5

It's Midnighter vs. the Prince of Lies!! And Adam One on trial! What's Apollo doing?

i, Zombie #21

No mention of Spot or Gavin in the solicit... But the promise of a cameo is enough to get me to buy this title!

Avengers Academy #21

Reptil is being evil!!!! Everyone fights Hulk-monsters!

SuperQueeros! for December 28th, 2011

2011-12-27T08:37:00.004-05:00

The last comics of 2011 are pretty rockin'! Though there aren't any superqueeros in it, I'd recommend checking out Sinister's views on nature vs. nurture in Uncanny X-Men. Also, I'd recommend these killer books:

Avengers: Children's Crusade#8

Almost the end! The solicits say someone dies... Is it Vision, so that Iron Lad can get his armor back? Or Speed, because he's boring? Or Wanda, because they're counting her as a Young Avenger and it looks like that's the way the story is turning? Or maybe it's Billy and then whoever currently has the reality warping powers that drove Wanda crazy will bring him back and then kick the bucket. Yeah, I'm going with that theory. Let's find out if I'm right!

Teen Titans #4

More Bunker, more Bunker, more Bunker! I'm excited! And Superboy and Wonder Girl get in a fight! No doubt they will be in <3s and Robin will be mopey until the awesomeness of the Spoiler comes along! And Bunker will be in the story and punch Superboy! #nice

Alpha Flight #7

Wolvie! The most famous member of Alpha Flight returns to knock some sense into the fascist Canadian government!

Justice League Dark #4

The team comes together! But also, the Enchantress is supes crazy... Will they rescue her from her madness, or lock her up and throw away the key?

Hack/Slash #11

The end of the Women's Prison Breakout story arc!!!

SuperQueeros! for December 21st, 2011

2011-12-12T08:49:00.006-05:00

I'm on vacation next week, so here's a quick run-down of the superqueeros coming out on the 21st!

Wonder Woman#4

AMAZING AND PERFECT BOOK.

Daken: Dark Wolverine #18

BEAT DOWN.

X-Factor #229

This book is so crazy atm.

Hellblazer #286

Constantine finally gets his coat back!

New Mutants #35

Is Blink bi?

SuperQueeros! for December 14th, 2011

2011-12-12T08:39:00.008-05:00

Batwoman #4

Firebird has taken to the streets, Kate's alienated everyone in her life, and the child-napping water-witch is still on the loose! Things are really not looking good for this book's heroine, but the book is still as good looking as ever! #buyit

Avengers Academy #23

As noted in the post below this title is (semi-)newly queer-tastic! Plus X-23 is joining this issue! Wouldn't it be weird if she were joining as staff? She's almost there, if you disregard the raging angst. Anyway! Julie Power and Striker! #Doublequeeros!

(Veronica #210 Veronica Presents) Kevin Keller #4

It's the last Kevin Keller! Well, the last one before his continuing series in February. But it's a momentous occasion: like Kurt on Glee, Kevin Keller is running for class president! Will Veronica's scheming echo the disastrous effects of Rachel's awkward efforts to elect her gbf, or will Kevin rise above adversity and claim the presidency? #plainfun

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9: Freefall #4

The new cast members start snooping in this issue (finally!). With Buffy in peril and the Scoobies ignoring her, hopefully the newbies will put the stash of stakes and the night-roaming together and come to the aid of their rogue slayer-roommate!

The New Avengers #19

Avengers vs. Dark Avengers!!! But whose side is Victoria Hand really on????

SuperQueeros! Back Issue Alert!

2011-12-06T22:10:00.003-05:00

What's this protein-rich substance on my face????!!??!

Oh, it's egg. Because I have egg on my face. Because I missed tracking one of the campiest bisexual superheroes to ever grace the pages of a Marvel magazine: Julie Power!!!! And for that I am TOTES sorry.

In case you don't know, Julie came out when she was running with a short-lived but critically acclaimed group of ex-heroes called "The Loners". And, in case you're counting, yes, every rainbow-trailing lady in oh-so-subtle 616 is a flag-waving superqueero. A fact which I forgot until one of Power's new teammates decided to jump on the out-and-proud bandwagon and Avengers Academy writer Christos Gage gave this interview.

Did you go read the interview? It's good. Way, way heavy, but good. I went through a lot of emotions reading the piece, but Gage echoed a lot of the worries that I've heard from ill-augering fans and he seemed up on his research. I'm hoping that means that this is going to be a crazy poignant, crazy complex story. Plus, a new gay means a new love interest possibility for Graymalkin!

And it means that every little LGBTAllies comic book fan has some holiday reading to do: all 22 issues of Avengers Academy! (Or just start with #21 if you're only reading for Julie ;D )

SuperQueeros! for December 7th, 2011

2011-12-05T11:01:00.008-05:00

X-Factor #228

DID YOU READ ISSUE #227?????? That was CRAZY, Y'ALL! As in, I kind of don't understand what happened? But a lot of prophecies came true? But.... I don't know how? Also, why? And there's two more issues in this story arc so... The answers we'll be getting this week will probably only lead to more questions. Hopefully, though, we'll get some dot-connecting, because Regenesis is only two issues away and right now I don't think time is moving linearly for our heroes!

Stormwatch #4

So last issue's date didn't go very well and now Midnighter will have to rescue his soon-to-be-beloved from the stomach of a world-munching moon-beastie. By himself.

I give the monster 4 pages until it's dead.

The other news, though, is that there's a roster change to the team? I'm guessing they're referring to how the swordsman-guy who is the spirit of lies is going to betray the Authority and become their first Big Bad, but that's just a guess. They could mean they're going to kill Jenny and bring her back. Or knock out Adam One in a bid to make this an arc about nihilism. But I'm pretty sure no one's dying this early on, just switching sides.

True Blood: The French Quarter #4

Possibly the best cover of a comic book ever, ever. Eric, Sookie, and Bill deal with STDs while Lafayette and, evidently, Pam, get crunk on TruBlood cocktails. #awesome

Hack/Slash #10 & the 2011 Annual!

What to write about these two issues? From the solicits the annual seems like an interesting supernatural adventure and issue #10... seems like a cartoon-ish-ly absurd straight male fantasy. So pick it up, bi boys (and allies)!

SuperQueeros! for November 30th, 2011

2011-11-28T14:38:00.004-05:00

It's the fifth Wednesday of the month, and while a lot of X-titles are out this week, none of them have any 'queeros. Instead we have:

Herc #10

Baba Yaga?!?!?!?! Evidently the technically bi, currently de-powered Greek hero joins forces not only with Elektra this issue, but also with the witch of the chicken-footed house! So there may only be one superqueero this week, but he stars in a quality remix of multiple mythologies!

Scarlet Betch Episode 62: The Return of the Betch

2011-11-23T12:12:00.000-05:00

Hey Betches!

We're back from an extended hiatus! We're so sorry for being gone for so long but compounded challenges of moving, crazy work schedules, and technical difficulties led us to where we are now. But we're so excited to be back recording and we've jam packed this episode with all the betchy news you've been waiting for! We grip about the changes and cancellations at Marvel, the inconsistency of Wonder Woman in the New 52, zoosexuality in Our Love is Real, and much much more!

Let us know what you think! Plus, any comics you think we missed in our coverage let us know! Send us a tweet @ScarletBetch or by email at scarletbetch@gmail.com

Marvel: Heads Up Kiddo, We're on Rocky Turf

2011-11-22T18:37:00.004-05:00

So have you heard? Marvel is canceling Daken: Dark Wolverine! As well as basically ALL its (good) comics. What's up Marvel? Where are you hemorrhaging money that you can't publish comics that are NOT your lowest selling books? I mean, I thought Disney buying you was going to be this great funding extravaganza that would let you explore new markets and NOT pull another slight to the queers everywhere on par with the extradition of Xavin from Runaways. But I guess it's the opposite.

WTF, Marvel? W? T? F?

SuperQueeros! for November 23rd, 2011

2011-11-21T08:41:00.006-05:00

I give thanks this Thanksgiving for all the LGB boys and girl in comics this week!

Teen Titans #3

The WAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL! I am pretty sure I'm going to love this guy! While most of what I have seen from this comic is Robin's lust for Wonder Girl (Give it up, Cass, it's totes your name. [Also, Tim give it up. Your OTP is still out there {<3 <3 <3 Stephanie!}]), I think the internal conflict of a flaming 'mo from a traditionally macho culture has the potential to create a varied and interesting character. And how bad is it that I think his lack of boobs will mean that he'll be developed as both a person and as Robin's GBF? ... ... It's pretty bad.

Edit: Evidently Avengers: Children's Crusade #8 doesn't come out again until next month! Bi-monthly publishing schedules are the worst!

Daken: Dark Wolverine #17

KAROLIIINAAAAA! Yep, the only lady this week is the incomparable Karolina Dean, beating some sense into the drug-addled Daken. I have to say, I hate the drug-taking that Daken's been doing, but its effect on his healing factor has certainly upped the stakes! Now where's some Mutant Growth Hormone so he can self-medicate the side effects of Heat?

Alpha Flight #6

How bummed are you that this isn't gonna be a continuing series? So bummed, right? I'm all sorts of put out... but this storyline is so boss that I can't complain too much. And if Alpha Flight became a series of miniseries, like The Autority was for a while and like Young Avengers is now, I'd be so down for it! Fingers crossed that Van Lente and Pak can tie our fav canooks into the next event storyline!

Justice League Dark #3
I'm just loving the slow slouch that this book has been bubbling along. And Madame Xanadu! So mysterious! What is she up to??? Does she want to help or hinder the Enchantress? And when are all the disparate pieces of this team going to converge? #soon #excited

SuperQueeros! for November 16th, 2011

2011-11-14T14:05:00.007-05:00

EDIT: Did you catch what Clarice said at the end of New Mutants today? That she was "Tina's new girl"??? Is Blink gay now? Is Blink+ Karma a canon-able pairing that will bring my fav lesbrarian back into the superhero fold??? So many questions!!!

X-Factor #227

"In this issue a member of X-Factor dies."

And that's all she wrote. But for those of you who haven't read the preview I can say that the baddie they're battling eats souls, so all signs point to the death of the only soul-less character in the book. Though this is a Peter David book so that death might not be left-field enough... Either way, this Wednesday is THE WEDNESDAY!

Wonder Woman #3

It's time for the big paternity reveal! By now I'm sure you've heard that Wondy is not simply of clay born in the DCnU, but have you heard who her papa is? Because a lot of characters haven't, and it's about to shake up the Pantheon! But will Diana's new family relations welcome her with open arms or with openly armed Minotaurs?

Justice League #3

Wonder Woman makes her first JL appearance. So far we haven't seen Diana interact with much of the modern world in her own title, so it'll be very interesting to see how she interacts with the rest of the DCnu.

SuperQueeros! for November 9th, 2011

2011-11-07T09:04:00.004-05:00

Batwoman #3

Betrayed by her father, training her cousin in heroics, dodging the unmasking efforts of her new girlfriend, unwittingly being hunted by a mysterious agent, and working to solve the supernatural kidnapping case in front of her, Batwoman is facing enemies from every angle, all while being haunted by the idea that her sister might still be alive. This issue marks the halfway point for this story arc, the last arc planned for the original Rucka/Williams run back in Detective Comics. It's sure to be good and it's sure to start getting ugly, so be sure pick up the hottest book on the stands* today!

(*That statistic is based only on the fact that both Jason and I love this book. Also because J. H. Williams III is AMAZING.)

Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season 9: Freefall #3

A boy slayer?!?!?!?! What is going on???? This book is getting crazy, what with the uncertain new status quo in a magic-less world, both in terms of mystical rules and the lives of our hapless Scoobies! How is Dawn and Xander's relationship progressing? What does Willow do all day? And how is the new guy slayer turning vamps back into the (dead) people they were before they turned?

New Avengers #18

V. Hand is sure to make an appearance as Normie Osborne gets the new Dark Avengers together. But will she be with him or against him? And with someone as embedded as thoroughly as she is, which side is she truly playing for? Does she even care???

Hack/Slash #10

This cover + the solicit has me thinking this issue is more Tarot, Witch of the Black Rose than Karolina Dean, Superqueero. But if you like ladies showin' some skin, this is probs a really good buy!

SuperQueeros! for November 2nd, 2011

2011-10-31T12:45:00.006-04:00

This week is the Hack/Slashiest! First, issue #9 from last week is actually shipping this week (Sorry Hack/Slashers!), and then there's issue 4 of a Hack/Slash crossover event with "Eva" (don't ask me). And for the friends of Dorothy there's a relevant reimagining and the third issue of the new Stormwatch comic! Good times!

(EDIT: Breaking news! Karma IS in New Mutants #33!!!! So pick it up!)

(EDIT 2: Also, there's a new True Blood comic that's already on issue #3?! And has a basically-NSFW- cover?! [it's not actually NSFW, unless you think Greg Land is NSFW] This week is SUPER queero!)

Hack/Slash/Eva #4

It's the last issue of the miniseries that pairs a nubile slasher-killing girl and her muscle-bound monster-man back-up with a time-displaced nubile monster-killing girl and her muscle-bound monster-man back-up! Find out if either of these final-girl leading ladies survives the greatest crossover since you looked in the mirror this morning, only at your local comic book store! (Note that for all my snide remarks this could actually be a good book: I haven't read it. But rest assured, this ain't no "Gert and Nico Raze the Patriarchy" so temper your expectations)

Stormwatch #3

What I gather from the solicit is that this issue has Apollo and Midnighter getting smashed and bashed while kicking the collective butt of the monster troops sent to invade Earth by a sentient Darwin-inspired, Apocalypse-esque Moon demon. But will they fall in love?????? #squee #buyit

Legend of Oz: The Wicked West #1

What's the land of Oz without the yellow brick road? Well, it's a lot more like the wilds of Kansas! And if there's anyone who knows the Kansas back country like the back of her hand, it's Dorothy Gale, cowgirl.

SuperQueeros! for October 26th, 2011

2011-10-24T08:36:00.006-04:00

Have I ever mentioned how much I love making fictional characters bi? It opens them up for all sorts of storylines, so that they're not locked into being "the only gay in the village" and allows authors explore queer storylines with well-loved characters without changing canon. We've got a lot of ambi- boys and girls this week, and one awesome alien lesbian:

Daken: Dark Wolverine #16

Now that we know who the Claws Killer is and that he's got Donna Kiel we... well, we basically have a classic cliche: hero must save helpless blonde from maniacal homo. I mean sure, this maniacal homo is the ex of our hero, and all three of them are despicable killers, so we're not watching Steve Rogers punch Hitler or anything quite that well-tread, but this is a disappointing return to more archetypal comic book stories for Wolverine's son. Hopefully Karolina Dean and the Runaways will be able to set this situation queer! (Edit: I thought the Runaways were gonna show up at the end but... they didn't! But we WILL see them next issue!)

Hack/Slash #9

Bomb Queen (evil, hates clothes, loves implants), Dr. Weir (presumably also evil, but I've never heard of her. Her views on clothes and implants seem to be the same as Bomb Queen's), and April Fool (might actually like clothes) break out of inter-dimensional prison and attack NYC. Only Cassie Hack stands in their way, and it ain't lookin' like she's rockin' any full body armor this issue either. Oh, and she has to ask for help from Samhein. So... this is going to be one of those "empowering" comics, I guess. #bored

Justice League Dark #2

Madame Xanadu continues to assemble her motley crew to battle the insane Enchantress. Fingers crossed for more John this week!

SuperQueeros! for October 19th, 2011

2011-10-17T14:10:00.005-04:00

Hellblazer #284

Posting this one first for obvo reasons. I love the conceit that Constantine is naked without his signature trenchcoat, and that the covers make the metaphor literal. It's totes filled with lols. Anyway, this issue continues the Gemma-has-Constantine's-coat story, but it turns out that I was very wrong about Gemma being his neice. That's some other wayward waif. And she's also in this issue. So it's brimming with awesome. #thingsIamsobuying

X-Factor #226

SOMEONE DIES!!!! For weeks we've been teased that one of the team kicks the bucket, and judging by the cover (I can't remember... that's what you ARE supposed to do, right?) it's gonna happen this month! My bet is on soul-less Guido or conundrum-wrapped-in-an-enigma Layla. Actually if it's Madrox there's the whole it-was-a-dupe dupe... And if it's 'Star there's the whole clone-thing that could bring him back... Banshee would just be funny in a sadistic way... Okay, I literally have no idea who's on their way out, because they all make SUCH GOOD VICTIMS (and are on the Regenesis cover). Oh, I guess it could be Pip too. #screwyoupip

Wonder Woman #2

Discord makes her entrance! I love that this comic is like spoiled-rich-kids-fighting (e.g., the CW), but with superpowers and mutilation (e.g., Spike)! #buyit!

Herc #9

Enter Elektra! This is a Greek mash-up of epic proportions!

SuperQueeros! for October 12th, 2011

2011-10-11T12:18:00.006-04:00

Deluge! Five awesome titles this week!! I literally cannot believe how awesome your reading is going to be tomorrow!

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #2

Now that introductions are out of the way, Whedon starts in on the first arc. Buffy's gonna be a sorta private dick, a la Batman, and her buds are gonna be... chillin'? Schemin'? It's a little unclear from the solicit, but whatever it is I bet it won't last long!

Batwoman #2

Romance heating up (but not with Renee!!!!!), villains still at large (both Alice and this water witch) - this is the material mythologies are made of! Hop onto 2011's hottest comic before it leaves you behind! #whyisntDCpayingme?

Alpha Flight #5

Alpha Flight is facing of against the brain-washed dark dopplegangers! This is my favourite type of story, and with Canadian Thanksgiving yesterday I think we can all thank the Canada for giving us such bad-as superheroes duking it out north of the border!

Daken: Dark Wolverine #15

We find out who the Claws Killer is! Wouldn't it be weird if it were Moon Knight all along? Or that blonde detective girl!!! She is super obsessed with Daken, and he sorta needs an arch-nemesis who's NOT related to him or involved in his rearing... #onewaytofindout

Veronica #209 (Veronica Presents Kevin Keller #3)

...And finally the next chapter in the Kevin Keller epic sees Kevin dealing with his stage fright. A queer who doesn't like to be on stage?! What the hoo-hey Dan Parent?!!!?! #smashingstereotypes

Superqueeros! for October 5th, 2011

2011-10-03T12:40:00.004-04:00

Just one new comic with superqueeros this week, but you can buy it online, so your carbon footprint need get no wider!

Stormwatch #2

Apollo and Midnighter are teaming up on a super-date! At least I hope they are. Of course, given that Paul Cornell (famed scribe of many genres and this book) was slated to pen scripts for a never-realized Queer As Folk spin-off (see his Wikipedia page), that hope may be close to realization! Plus this issue promises Martian Manhunter back story and the moon, newly sentient and homicidal, starts transforming into ~~Unicron!~~ ~~a trans-morphic, planet-destroying super-entity!~~ Unicron!

SuperQueeros! for September 28th, 2011

2011-09-27T11:52:00.004-04:00

It's bi week! Cassie Hack, John Constantine, and Herc! (also, possibly, Madame Xanadu... I'm not sure what GLAAD nominated her book for...)

Hack/Slash #8

I haven't been following this story too closely, but it's the final chapter! Cassie and Vlad are separated and in peril (of course). Can they kick the butt of the baddie bumping off the big-wigs? Or will the ghoul who gored Gaga get our girl too? #alliteration

Justice League Dark #1

John Constantine AND Madame Xanadu in THE SAME BOOK?!?! I am SO FRIGGIN' EXCITED FOR THIS TITLE!!!!

Herc #8

More Spidey Island stuff... But Herc fights the X-men in this issue so... awesome-times?

Scarlet Betch Episode 61: DragonCon 2011 Edition

2011-09-16T14:19:00.001-04:00

Hey Betches!

We're back this week for a special in-real-life edition. We're recording live from Dragon*Con 2011 and go over the awesome nerdiness we were made witness to at the convention in addition to updating you all on what's been coming out in the world of comic books. We chat about DCnU and our resoundingly unenthusiastic response, the end of Wonder Woman: Odyssey, Daken: Dark Wolverine and Moon Knight's ever confusing inclusion in the book, Astonishing X-men (and lingering questions on whether or not Hisako is now a Super Sentai), Uncanny X-Factor (and its absurd release schedule), and a review of Dragon*Con cosplayers!

Oh, and check out my original origin of Wonder comic that inspired my friend's cosplay!

Let us know what you think! Plus, any comics you think we missed in our coverage let us know! Send us a tweet @ScarletBetch or by email at scarletbetch@gmail.com

SuperQueeros! for September 21st, 2011

2011-09-16T11:06:00.003-04:00

Did you know that Rictor was my first X-crush? I got this trading card of him hulked out and blasting the earth, creating a fissure and just looking... awesome. I thought he was the coolest guy. And this week is all Rictor, all the time! He's just gotten his powers back in Children's Crusade, and he's just started using them again in X-Factor! Plus Wondy #1 and a new Hellblazer!

Avengers: Children's Crusade #7

It's the X-Men vs. the Young Avengers vs. the Avengers vs. X-Factor vs. Magneto vs. the Scarlet Witch!! This book is crazy, y'all! Crazy good that is! Wanda's got her powers and her memories, and she wants to go on a pilgrimage to, if not undo the damage she's cause to the Marvel U, at least restore the powers to some of the mutants whose lives she's ruined. And did I mention that she started with Rictor? W000000t!!!! And, also, swooooon!

X-Factor#225

The solicit says something about a recently deceased teammate returning to kick the team's collective butt? however the only deceased teammate I can think of is a dead dupe, Guido, or Darwin. But he didn't really die, he just became a death god for a little bit... Still, Darwin's omni-power would explain the kick-butt armor and grudge against Layla that he's wielding on the cover of issue 227...

Hellblazer #283

John continues to be the bi babe that he sooo is and we get the start of a new storyline. Natural and supernatural events alike are incited by Constantine's neice auctioning off of his prize trench coat. Will Gemma survive the bad karma she's brought down on herself? Will John get used to being basically naked? Will he be basically naked?

Wonder Woman #1

The new Wonder Woman starts here!!!! So excited for this book, even if I'm worried that Diana will catch a chill in those shorts. From what I've seen of the other #1s, expect a character-defining issue that's light on set up for the first story arc. Also expect amazing art. #soexcited!!!!

SuperQueeros! for September 14th, 2011

2011-09-09T12:48:00.005-04:00

Oh. My. Gaga. This week is DEFINITELY happening FOR REALSIES. Batwoman and Buffy are BACK!!!! Plus favs like Alpha Flight and Daken! And the bi kids are representing with Herc and Hack/Slash! The only way this week could get better is if Young Avengers came out this week. But I guess we have to save SOMETHING for next week!

Batwoman #1

KATE KANE IS BAAAAAAAACK!!!!! I haven't waited this long for beautiful art set to butt-kicking action since... Well since I was born and started waiting for her Detective Comics run to be written! Seriously, this is one of the only relaunch titles that I'm buying in hard copy because something this awesome NEEDS to be tangible! I think some ghosts and stuff are happening in the actual story, but basically it's Kate drawn by J.H. Williams III so it's PERFECT.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9: Freefall #1

("Freefall". I like this whole subtitle thing... It makes it seem more like episodes, or miniseries!) Buffy's back!!!!!!!!!!!! And Willow!!!!!!!!!!!! And Andrew, though I still have trouble telling who he is in-panel... (I just had a thought: maybe, like SMG, Tom Lenk didn't give permission for the use of his visage in the comics... Time to dig up some trivia!) Anyway, the preview looks good, so #buyit.

Alpha Flight #4

Northstar beats up people in order to save his boyfriend. HOT.

Daken: Dark Wolverine #14

Moon Knight continues to think he is Wolverine. Daken continues to be played. Kinky.

Hack/Slash #8

The Fame Monster/Justin Bieber continues to kill Lady Gagas. Save the Gagas, Cassie!!!

Herc #7

Hercules gets powers again!!! But it's only Spider-man powers...

SuperQueeros! for September 7th, 2011

2011-09-06T08:53:00.006-04:00

How was your Dragon*Con? With all the storms did you get back from Dragon*Con okay? Have you gone on your new friends' Facebook profiles and looked at all the pics of awesome costumes?? Gosh, I love Dragon*Con...

NEW COMICS THIS ~~THURSDAY~~ WEDNESDAY (EDIT: Evidently long weekends don't affect shipping anymore?):

Stormwatch #1 (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Midnighter and Apollo are back!!! With the Martian Manhunter and the rest of the dysfunctional Stormwatch family! I'm so excited for this book! After Batwoman this is my most anticipated title for the DCnU, and it's here this week! Yay for husbands!!!!!

X-Factor #224.1

So X-factor is getting a "point-one" issue. I'm very excited that they're getting the Marvel point-one treatment, but I have no idea what to expect! The solicit says that the team journeys to Madrox's hometown for... some... reason... and while there... stuff takes place and readers are (as in every point-one) introduced to the main cast and central themes of this book. Which are... Actually this "point-one" issue is going to be great! Because even hardcore fans who've read every issue could really use a refresher!

House of Mystery #41

More Fig/Lotus fighting/mind-effing. Will we see Tursig? Who knows!

New Scarlet Betches! #59 and #60!

2011-08-29T11:02:00.004-04:00

Ack, I forgot to post these episodes!!!

Jason has been busy being a refugee in his own city (thanks Irene!), so I've been recording our episodes and posting them to Youtube. But I forgot to post them here! So it's time for a double-wide catch-up post!!

SuperQueeros! for August 24th, 2011

2011-08-22T11:48:00.006-04:00

Slim pickings this week, and a lot of the books are good-byes before the relaunch. So it's tears today, but next week is Justice League #1!!!

Daken: Dark Wolverine #13

Moon Knight guests in this issue on a mission from Wolverine and the Avengers! Meanwhile, Daken continues to make his bid for control of L.A., but given how well his last plan went, and that there's now an Avenger in town, how will Daken's plan change to accommodate his new obstacles? Given that Moon Knight's pilot was/is gay (where is he these days anyway?) it'd be cool if they could work a homo angle. But if they don't at least we'll get some awesome and twist-y psychology-followed-by-action!

Wonder Woman #614

The last Wonder Woman before the re-launch! It'll be interesting to see what kind of meta discussion will go on in this issue. Wonder Woman isn't disappearing, but she's changing again. This story has been all about change, though, so it's thematically on point to talk about it. The last few issues have all been about what essential characteristics makes Diana Wonder Woman; the conclusions drawn in this issue will probably show the direction for next month's number one! #excited

Gotham City Sirens #26

Of all the titles ending because of the re-launch, this one has a unique situation: all three of its protagonists are continuing on as prominent characters in three different titles. And with the re-launch affecting the Bat-verse so spottily, where will this issue take the team and the characters themselves? The cover shows us that the past two years has changed each woman for good (if not for the better [Sorry, I couldn't help it!]), but the big question, as usual, is will these character changes carry into September? #greatseries #greatcover

Scarlet Betch Episode 58: Super Nannies and their Friends Edition

2011-08-18T11:31:00.000-04:00

Hey Betches!

We're back this week discussing the latest and greatest in gay comic book news. We chat about the latest Alpha Flight (featuring as ever our favorite Canadian gay trailblazer Northstar; also major points to Aurora for her United States of Tara moment!), X-men: Legacy or the Continued misadventures of Legion, Batgirl (and the end of Stephanie Brown's tenure on the mantle), Secret Six (and lesbian polygamous marriages), Fear Itself: New Avengers (and SQUIRREL GIRL!!!!!!!!!), and much much more!

Let us know what you think! Plus, any comics you think we missed in our coverage let us know! Send us a tweet @ScarletBetch or by email at scarletbetch@gmail.com

Scarlet Betch Episode 57: Sexy Furries!

2011-08-16T14:35:00.000-04:00

Hey Betches!

We're back this week discussing the latest and greatest in gay comic book news. We get down and dirty with all the sexy furries out in the nerdverse recently. We chat about the new Thundercats reboot, the latest furry adventures of Wolfsbane and "The Pack" (also, Guido and Monet, sitting in a tree!), questionable advertisements in comics (marvel sleepwear with... no sleepwear in the ad...), How the Ultimates are really big douchebags, The Atom is Asian again, and much much more!

Let us know what you think! Plus, any comics you think we missed in our coverage let us know! Send us a tweet @ScarletBetch or by email at scarletbetch@gmail.com

SuperQueeros! for August 17th

2011-08-15T09:06:00.008-04:00

Yeah, so... Kevin Keller #2. Where the frak is it????? (EDIT: if nothing else you can buy a digital version today!!!) I feel like the back of a milk carton over here...

But anyway, let's get back to our regularly scheduled 'queeros:

JLA #60

Ta-dah, it's the end! The JLA's farewell issue before the re-launch is here and it's mission is to tie-up loose ends (i.e., solve Jesse Quick's moody-powers storyline) and, as we saw from the end of issue #59, find some natural way to explain why this team has decided to disband after just totally saving the Earth from Moon-based disaster! Fingers-crossed that Mikaal gets to make out with a new bf! (Actually, how hilariously sensible would it be if the JLA were like, "Yeah, we should really splits-ville this team so we can all work on our personal relationships..."? So hilarious, right? #right)

X-Factor #224

Ummm... Who is THE PACK? Because its not on Wikipedia, which means that THE PACK has to be a Peter David idea that is so new it hasn't made it up onto the wiki page yet. So that hot new werewolf boy from last issue is part of THE PACK, I guess? Gosh, this sounds like a bad idea... Any time you put something in all caps it sounds like a bad idea... Unless it's the start of a spin-off werewolf soap comic, in which case BRING ON THE PACK! (Oh, and something about a demon baby is in this issue too... whatevs.)

DC Retroactive: Wonder Woman - The '90s #1

I love these issues! I'm excited to see what the quintessential Wonder Woman comic from the '90s looks like, and it'll be interesting to see if/how the new story interacts with that old status quo. And Wondy can fly in the 90s right? That whole invisible-plane-dependence from the 70s and 80s was such a misstep!

SuperQueeros! for August 10th, 2011

2011-08-08T14:54:00.003-04:00

Not a lot this week, but my sources (the same ones that mislead me last week...) say that Kevin Keller #2 ships on Wednesday! Fingers crossed!!! Aside from that the we get two of Marvel's most beloved superqueeros:

Daken: Dark Wolverine #12

It's the end of the bank-heist storyline! With a hot cop on his heels, Heat in his system, and Taskmaster standing in the way between the Dark Wolverine and his cash, Daken seems to be in a bit of a tight spot. Of course, if there's one thing this book has taught me in the past year it's that when things get tough, Daken gets scary. This book is gonna rock!

Alpha Flight #3

Alpha Flight goes rogue this issue, and the Canadian government reveals their dastardly back-up plan! Who knows what sort of deathtrap (Arctic-sharks-with-lasers?) the PM has Kyle suspended over, but fingers crossed that Northstar can come up with a plan to save his beau before Jean-Paul becomes the Mikaal Tomas of the Marvel U!

Scarlet Betch Episode 56: Spectacles Edition!

2011-08-04T14:49:00.000-04:00

Hey Betches!

We're back this week discussing the latest and greatest in gay comic book news. Anthony and Jason decide to rock out with the spectacles out and expose you all to the lovely glare of our computer screens. We chat about Wonder Woman #612 (and the best hat in comics this week! Eat your heart out Hela!), Scorpina vs. Goldar, Uncanny X-force and it's rapid descent into poor writing and skeptical comic book science, X-men Legacy (hooray hot Legion! boo boring big bads!), the premier of Thundercats (HO!) and how undeniably awesome it is!

Let us know what you think! Plus, any comics you think we missed in our coverage let us know! Send us a tweet @ScarletBetch or by email at scarletbetch@gmail.com

SuperQueeros! for August 3rd, 2011

2011-08-01T08:08:00.011-04:00

Welcome to August, the month of saying good-bye to our favorite DC titles! The DCnU relaunch is right around the corner, and our superqueeros are coming out in force this week to bid adieu!

Adventure Comics #529

It's the kids versus Evil-Cosmic-Boy (I think his name is Cosmic King)! From what I've seen of the new Universe Legion, Dragonwing and Chemical Kid are going to kick butt and be deputized into the Legion, but the jury is still out on whether Power Boy and/or Gravity Kid are going to get a similar promotion. As far as powers & personalities go theirs have always struck me as a little boring, but I'd love to have a cute gay couple to squee over every month. I'll definitely be getting this issue, if only to find out the fate of these two 'queeros. EDIT: Iread it, and it don't look good, kiddos.

Secret Six #36

It's the last Secret Six! And while Deadshot is going to be joining Harley and King Shark in Suicide Squad it looks like the other five members of this fan fav team are M.I.A. in the DCnU! Which means this is probably the last comic book to feature Scandal Savage for at least six months! NOOOOOO!!!!!

Veronica #208: Veronica Presents Kevin Keller #2

EDIT: I have no idea if this comic actually came out today. My guy didn't have it, and it's vanished from comixology so... Did you find it??? More Kevin Keller! As we noted in our video-cast, the last issue was a little heavy handed regarding Kevin's SUPER BIG WISH to be in the military because GAYS CAN DO THAT. And while that message is both topical and quintessentially conservative, like the Archie comics themselves, it'd be nice to see a more mellowed, less political story like we got in Kevin's first two appearances. From the solicits it looks like that's what we'll be getting, though I have heard that Kevin's military-themed relationship with his family is going to be a topic in future issues.

X-Factor #223

More Baby Mama Drama! Rahne continues her made dash to escape the powers converging on her uterus and we get one issue closer to Rictor having his powers again! Plus, there's a cute boy werewolf being all flirty with Rahne in this issue. I love cute boy werewolves! Team Jacob! Team Turn-Jackson-Into-A-Werewolf-and-Have-Him-Date-Derek-Hale! Team This Book!!

House of Mystery #40

The second to last issue of the Lotus Blossum story! This arc has been pretty good with the Tursig inclusion, but the solicits are hinting at a new new status quo in the coming months. hopefully this won't be to Tursig what the DCnU is to Scandal, but until then we've got two more issues for him to find a cute troll boy! #fingerscrossed EDIT: No dice on the Tursig front!

DC Retroactive: Wonder Woman - The 80's #1

I loved the WW in the 70's reprinted issue, so I'm really looking forward to picking up an issue that's over 20 years old! Also, hopefully the new story makes sense this time...

Herc #6

More Fear Itself stuff... Get a sidekick for ambiguous Greek tension, Herc!

Scarlet Betch Episode 55: It Gets Really, Really Worse (For Mutants)

2011-07-28T14:17:00.000-04:00

Hey Betches!

We're back this week discussing the latest and greatest in gay comic book news. Jason was brilliant and left his comics at work without reading them, but we're keepin' calm and carryin' on! We chat about the JSA (with all the Star people), Retro Wonder Woman, Daken: Dark Wolverine (and wtf is going on with Taskmaster?), effed up JLA previews, annoying miscolorings (Wiccan and Sleeping Beauty... not in the same book... but we've already seen that Wiccan likes to play dress up), Generation Hope (and joins the Its Get Better bandwagon), and much much more!

Let us know what you think! Plus, any comics you think we missed in our coverage let us know! Send us a tweet @ScarletBetch or by email at scarletbetch@gmail.com

SuperQueeros! for July 27th, 2011

2011-07-25T08:35:00.002-04:00

Ladeez Week! Karma and the ambiguously lesbian women of the DCU grace your local comic book store this week, and I'm looking forward to all three books!

New Mutants #28

Karma is back on the team!!!! So it looks like that whole "New Team!" mumbo jumbo that the solicits were spouting at the beginning of this last storyline were just that: gibberish. The team hasn't changed, we just have an stationary unit and a mobile unit. Unsurprisingly, Karma is in the stationary set. But that means that she's one of the five New Mutants featured this week! Woo!!! Also, Dani brings in a psychologist to help Nate deal with being a reasonable not-Gary-Stu. Sweet!

Wonder Woman #613

It's the second to last Wonder Woman comic before the DCnU and this month we get New Wondy versus Classic Wondy (who we all know is Nemesis in disguise because we all read this book, riiiiight?)! Anyway, I'm excited for this storyline to resolve and usher in a new, awesome-r era of the Wonder Woman mythology. Hopefully we'll get some ability-to-alter-costume into the new power set/status quo. Because sometimes you want to wear star-spangled Spanx, and sometimes you don't!

Gotham City Sirens #25

The second to last issue of this dream team-up!!! Honestly, this is one of the few books that I think is being wronged by the re-launch. Batman has always had mind-warping villains, and these three ladies are in Gotham City's top ten. But the solicits promise that we won't be disappointed: the secret that's been haunting this little family for over two years is going to finally come to light! And you know how much smashing it takes to break down the walls around a secret! #lookingforwardtosmashing

Scarlet Betch Comic Werkshop: Chapter 2!

2011-07-19T23:35:00.008-04:00

The subject of this week's weeerkshop is Chapter 2 of Jessica Abel and Matt Madden's Drawing Words and Writing Pictures: "Every Picture Tells a Story, But Only If It's A Gag!" Plus, my brother submitted some work for us to look at, Jason showers us with adoooorable Wiccan fanart, and the music theme is Club Tracks!

Scarlet Betch Episode 54

2011-07-19T12:34:00.000-04:00

Hey Betches!

We're back this week discussing the latest and greatest in gay comic book news: X-men Schism, House of Mystery, Legion of Superheroes (hooray Power Boy and Gravity Kid! DC has its own superhero boyfriends!), Birds of Prey, Alpha Flight (Northstar saves the day!), Batgirl (also known as The Grey Ghost is dead.... wait what?!), Wonder Woman Pants controversy aka Pantsgate, the return of Ultimate X-men (and why we're excited about it... mainly because we're aching for some Ultimate Colossus gay beefcake and cuddles with crippled Ultimate Northstar).

Let us know what you think! Plus, any comics you think we missed in our coverage let us know! Send us a tweet @ScarletBetch or by email at scarletbetch@gmail.com

SuperQueeros! for July 20th, 2011

2011-07-18T08:38:00.008-04:00

So many bi people this week! Okay, a lot of gays too, but we've got some bi representation from both sides of the gender aisle (those problematic areas within the larger, more inclusive gender church! [this metaphor broke so many syllables ago...])! Anyway, to the comics!

X-Factor #222

It's salt house time!!! Last issue 'star and Rahne were running for their lives from an assortment of slash-y, bite-y animal gods while Layla was salting every entrance to XFI. This issue starts with everyone (except M and Strong Guy) rushing into XFI and shutting the doors. Unfortunately, we also learned last issue (or the one before...) that Pip the Troll is actually a Troll-spy, getting ready to put a plan of his own in motion! So, the score is outside: gnashing teeth and crackling god-power. Inside: traitorous trolls and a pregnancy coming to term. Given how crazy the last X-Factor birth was, get ready for fireworks!

Justice League of America #59

Donna's dead?!?!?! Hopefully not for long! The Eclipso story is wrapping up next month, so expect some eleventh hour acrobatics from Starman and Obsidian and a dreamy, power-awakening pseudo-death for Donna, as well as a trick or two from the man in the two-tone mask to raise the stakes for next month. This has been a really interesting cast of characters, so I hope they go out with a bang!

Hack/Slash #6

Cassie's having dreams. About Beebs, about Gaga, and about the cast of Jersey Shore. Sometimes don't you wish they were just dead? Cassie does. And she's been killing them in her dreams. Funny thing: when she wakes up, they are! But what kind of Final Girl would Cassie Hack be if she just let these wish-fulfilling forces of evil go unchecked? It's saddling up time as Hack/Slash take on the Fame Monster!

True Blood: Tainted Love #6

This story is ending! This issue is about Bill, says the solicit. And Sookie and Jessica too, but mostly Bill. Yawn... I haven't been picking up this TB series, so don't know if we can expect some Lafayette, but it's the last issue, so if you have been reading along, this is the big finale!

Herc #5

Herc loses his shirt for a scene! Justice! Also, he's teaming up with his mystical foes to go take down a bunch of run-away gods who are riding high on the tide that is Fear Itself. So, cool times. Herc smash!

DC Retroactive: Wonder Woman - The 70's

This seems like it could be the coolest thing! If you don't know, before the big re-launch DC is doing a limited series of three issues each for its long-running heavy-hitters, one for the '70s, one for the '80s, and one for the '90s! The issue will be written by an iconic writer from that era and work to capture the spirit of the decade. This week it's the '70s, which means Wondy is in white and... really I don't know anything about this era, which is why I'm gonna #buyit and find out!

SuperQueeros! for July 13th, 2011

2011-07-11T08:04:00.006-04:00

While there's probably only one title this week that will feature a queer character in any significant capacity, I'm including two others in the hopes that their 'queero will make a cameo:

EDIT: ALPHA FLIGHT #2

My comic book retailer gave me Alpha Flight #2, not Daken #11. So either he got shorted Daken or the shipping information I got this from was wrong! ~~Daken: Dark Wolverine #11~~

Are there any other queer characters with their own on-going solo title? Even though he's another villainous queer, Daken is the most interesting superqueero around these days, and Rob Williams' run on this title isn't changing that any time soon. This issue sees the escalation of the plots introduced last issue: Daken gets nasty with his new closeted beau/tool, the serial killer gets stabbier, and the cop on the cover gets wrapped further in a web between the two of them.

New Avengers #14

I've read that Victoria is getting a little antsy playing the good guy and is double-agenting between the Avengers and the remains of H.A.M.M.E.R. The solicit for this issue says that the New Avengers and the Avengers are teaming up to deal with Fear Itself, though, so I'm not sure how Hand's double-dealing would feature in this issue. Either she's front and center, making some under-the-table meetings that will screw with her teammates, or she's sidelined this issue. Only one way to find out: flip through it in your comic book store and buy it if you see pink highlights!

New Mutants #27

So Karma's on the cover and on the first page, but if she's in this story at all you can color me purple and call me "Indra". I think Anole and Northstar on that first page too, and they're not even a part of this team! ANYWAY, it's New Mutants vs Sugar Man in a bid to free X-man, so hopefully they'll bring Karma in so that this isn't a snooze-fest. #AoAisboring

Scarlet Betch's Comic Weeerkshop - Episode 1

2011-07-09T09:51:00.006-04:00

It's the first ep of our journey working through Jessica Abel and Matt Madden's Drawing Words and Writing Pictures! I split our discussion into three parts: discussing chapter 1, discussing the "classwork" we did, and discussing our homework assignments. The first part is posted below and parts two and three are embedded after the jump!

(Also, since J and I were just at Toronto Pride this weekend, all the music is Toronto themed, besides one Lady Gaga track. Special thanks to The Cliks, Diamond Rings, and the rest of their Toronto-born brethren for ROCKING!)

Superqueeros! for July 6th, 2011

2011-07-05T10:37:00.004-04:00

I'm still in Canada atm, and I'm flying home tonight! So here's a quick look at the gays in comics this week:

Action Comics #528

I'm not really sure if Gravity Kid is a senior, but the senior Legionnaires-in-training are graduating, and Power Boy is DEFINITELY one of those. Will he make the cut to be in the Legionnaires? Will Gravity Kid make the jump to the DCnU? This is one of the titles that isn't going to change very drastically, so developments now are probably going to stick! #buyit

Secret Six #35

It's a Bane-centric issue as SS finds some pre-DCnU denouement, which means he'll be looking at his relationship with Scandal, and probably her current relationship. I'm interested to see a Secret Six issue that's not trying to be over-the-top "awesome". #checkitout

House of Mystery #39

The solicit for this issue is promising to reveal a lot of secrets, so I'm tagging it "awesome" in terms of twisty-plot reveals and "low-moderate" in terms of likelihood of finding out what Tursig's been up to. I'm gettin' it though!

Scarlet Betch Episode 53: Scarlet Flight, Canada Edition!

2011-07-03T09:57:00.001-04:00

Hey Betches!

We are back at it again... IN THE SAME PLACE! We chat about the latest in Avengers: Children's Crusade (aka Wiccan has mommy issues), Wonder Woman (not actually the end, j/k! Solicits lie!), Glee, Doctor Who and much much more! Did we mention that we're in the same place? Holy Uncommon Occurrences, Batman!

Let us know what you think! Plus, any comics you think we missed in our coverage let us know! Send us a tweet @ScarletBetch or by email at scarletbetch@gmail.com

Scarlet Betch Episode 52.1: All New! All Different! Relaunch Edition!

2011-07-02T15:49:00.000-04:00

Hey Betches!

We continue our first week with crossposting on Gay-Nerds.com. We totes forgot to introduce ourselves, so consider this our 0.1 issue, which can help you catch up! We chat about Daken Dark Wolverine (and his continued queerness), Batgirl (the last of the Steph Brown issues, plus Squire! Brits!), Alpha Flight (hooray Canadians! Queer Quebecois! Kyle's adorable!), X-Factor, Generation Hope (finally gets interesting!), and much much more!

Let us know what you think! Plus, any comics you think we missed in our coverage let us know! Send us a tweet @ScarletBetch or by email at scarletbetch@gmail.com

Tosh is the New Captain Jack! or Gay: "So that's what a Jedi is"

2011-06-28T13:43:00.005-04:00

Please direct your attention to the awesome interview with Aaron Ashmore and Warehouse 13 creator Jack Kenny from Out magazine. Why you ask? Because Aaron's character, a new addition to the cast of the two-year-old SyFy original series, is a human lie detector... and a 'mo! (I'm assuming that his powers developed because of all his experience lying about his sexuality at WASP-y church functions.)

Aaron's character, Steve Jinks, combines everything I love about the cast of Torchwood into one character: he's got the social conservative-ness of Tosh, the hotness of Owen, and the man-on-man potential of Jack! (Which is basically Ianto, now that I think about it...) But unlike all those other characters, Steve is played by a twin. And Aaron says this in the interview:

"I don't think Steve's into muscles. He's more laid back. I picture him with someone similar to himself."

They say that there's not a lot of room for romance in Warehouse 13. You know what's not a romance? Awkward twin-ttractions between, say, two clones or a boy and his alternate-dimension double. Yes sir, I think the future looks bright for everyone involved. Especially slash writers.

Drawing Words & Writing Pictures - A Scarlet Betch Perpetual Nomad

2011-06-27T23:19:00.004-04:00

Here at scarletbetch.com we love comics: we love readin' 'em, we love betchin' about 'em, and we love makin' 'em! But whereas we have years (yeeeaaaars!) of experience with the reading and the betching, making comics is something that we've only recently started dabbling in. Which is why we thought it would be an excellent experience to work through a book on how to make comics!

For the next 15 weeks Jason and I will be sketching our way through Jessica Abel & Matt Madden's Drawing Words & Writing Comics. The book has a term for a regularly-meeting group of people working through the book together -- they call it a "Nomad". Jason and I figured, since we'll already be nomads meeting on Skype, why don't we record it and post it to our youtube channel so that anyone on the 'net from now to the year Infinity A.D. can be a part of our Nomad?

We'll be aiming to do a chapter a week, at which point we'll post a discussion of the chapter and share our homework assignments. As a cyberspace co-nomad we'd love for you to give feedback on any work we feature, and we'd love to give feedback on any work you'd let us feature!

Expect our first video early next week, and if you'd like to pick up the book and read the first chapter, feel free to share your homework assignments with us at our e-mail address or on Google Docs!

SuperQueeros! for July 29th, 2011

2011-06-27T08:21:00.003-04:00

It's ladies week, DC week, and the week that we learn that everything ends ...unless it doesn't! With DCnU on the horizon it looks like some storylines got a little bit... extended:

Wonder Woman #612

It's the end of the Wonder Woman reboot! ...Except that it continues for the next two months after this. Clearly the DCnU shake up is going to use New Wonder Woman (it's basically doing for the rest of the DCU what JMS did for Diana a year ago. What a trend-setting hipster... ;) ), so she's got to drag her feet until the rest of the world catches up with her. As a result i have no idea what's supposed to happen in this issue. It's billed as The Ultimate End in solicits, but next month pits Old Wondie vs. New Wondie and the month after that shows a victorious New Wonder Woman on the cover. So we know where all this is headed, but who the villain is, why the JMS-reboot happened... these are all questions that will soon be answered! Finally!!!

Batman Incorporated #7

More Batwoman! Morrison's Batwoman is a lot more happy-go-lucky than Rucka's, but I like that she gets to cut loose in BI, since she'll be going up against ghosts and angst when her solo title starts this fall. This month sees Kate teaming up with the Hood and sees me buying this issue of BI and any previous months that have included the read-headed righter of wrongs and managed to fly under my radar!

Gotham City Sirens #23

The end of this title seems a little better synced with the DCnU re-launch. Harley is hellbent on breaking her boy out of Arkham, and it's up to her friends, enemies, and everything in between to make sure the Master of Mental doesn't see the light of freedom! Ivy, and especially Selina, are going to have to decide which side they're on, and whether that team includes each other or even Harley!

Scarlet Betch Episode 51: Green Lanterns and Guests!

2011-06-26T08:41:00.001-04:00

Hey Betches!

We're back with a special surprise! We welcome special guest commentator and wikipedia afficionado... Sarah! We say hello to all our new friends at Gay-nerds.com and reviw the latest summer super-hero film, Green Lantern (aka that movie with Ryan Reynolds' abs).

Stay tuned for more coverage this week of recent comics that came out in the past few weeks and our thoughts!

Let us know what you think! Plus, any comics you think we missed in our coverage let us know! Send us a tweet @ScarletBetch or by email at scarletbetch@gmail.com

SuperQueeros! for June 22nd, 2011

2011-06-20T10:57:00.010-04:00

I just passed my latest actuarial exam yesterday (woo!) and crunch time these past few days didn't leave me much time to blog. But here’s what’s new today!

Hack/Slash #5

Did you know that this book is about a nubile monster slayer and her muscle-bound, silent, Frankenstein/bodyguard/father-figure? And that she's bi??? I so did not see that coming (this is my sarcasm face)! But until I'm corrected (See Tarot, Witch of the Black Rose), I'm going to assume that Hack (the eponymous bi character. Good name, right? [this is my earnest face. I like a strong name for a female character!]) is a complete and fully formed character honestly exploring/experiencing her sexuality. I've heard good things about this book, namely that it's about upending the standard victim/killer formula of slasher films. If anyone has read a bit of it, let us know what you think!

New Mutants #26

A new arc, a new direction, and a new team! Since the last issue ended with Cannonball, Karma, Face, and Magik all either in jail or the hospital, signs aren't looking good for their inclusion on the new team. So flip through the issue before you buy it: I love the New Mutants, but I only buy New Mutants when Karma's on the team.

Justice League of America #58

Obsidian's crossover with the JLA continues! Eclipso's still being a douche, so Todd's going to infiltrate the enemy camp and bring the smack down from within! And what with the whole DCnU not showing any of the JSA, I'm a little nervous that this'll be the last Obsidian story for a long, long time...

Scarlet Betch Episode 50: Scarlet Crisis! Epic Sized!

2011-06-17T15:51:00.002-04:00

Hey Betches!

It's our 50th episode! Thank you to everyone of you viewers who have kept with us from the beginning. You helped us move from an audio podcast to video podcast and sat through all those hours of us gabbing about our favorite fictional spandex wearing heroes!

In this episode, we chat about the new Kevin Keller mini-series, Birds of Prey (and the lesbi-tension between The Question and Huntress), The DC Relaunch aka DCnU (and wtf is going on with Oracle/Batgirl/Babs, also what happens to all our fav queer DC characters?!), X-men Legacy: Age of X Aftermath, X-men First Class, and much much more!!!

Let us know what you think! Plus, any comics you think we missed in our coverage let us know! Send us a tweet @ScarletBetch or by email at scarletbetch@gmail.com

SuperQueeros! for June 15th, 2011

2011-06-13T12:12:00.008-04:00

I forgot I hadn't finished Superqueeros yet! Here's who we got:

Alpha Flight #1

Wooo!!! The first official Alpha Flight issue! More Northstar! More Kyle! More Canooks! This is a Fear Itself tie-in, so I assume that the team is going to be fighting a generic muscle bunny with a super-hammer and a grumpy disposition. Cool? The coolest. Either way, Jean-Paul = <3 #getit

Daken: Dark Wolverine #10

It all starts (again) here! Daken is in the hands of new scribe Rob Williams and he's moved to the West Coast in his bid for WORLD DOMINATION. What surprises does this new chapter have in store? How will Williams compare with Liu? From the preview it looks like he's going to be a little more verbal than Marjorie, and I think that could be a very good thing. #newdirection #jumpingonpoint

Hellblazer #280

The DCnU has reminded me that Bling! isn't the only grumpy bisexual in the comic-verse: John Constantine of Hellblazer is the classic world-weary noir character, albeit with an dash of the arcane and a queer twist. This issue sees his niece coming to ~~kill him and take his place~~ visit. I wonder what will happen?

X-Factor #221

Did you read last issue?! The art was crap, but the cameo at the end??? AWESOME! And this issue... kind of drops that whole thing in two pages. And then 'Star stares at Rahne naked? This issue had better go somewhere amazing because the first few pages took me from crazy to disappointing to confused. I mean, nekkid preggers ladiez, FTW!, but the last two panels on page four make it seem SO RANDOM. I guess I'll just chalk it up to 'Star being all cute and test-tube-baby-raised-to-be-a-gladiator. I still love this book, no matter how bad the art gets or how random the nude wolf-ladies. <3

Cameos:

X-Men #13

A preview I saw showed Anole. I'm not terribly interested in this storyline (yay, more lies?) but it at least seems to be good about including the whole of the X-community.

Scarlet Betch Episode 49: Giant-sized Betch!

2011-06-12T10:28:00.000-04:00

Hey Betches!

We're back for another week of reviewing the latest in queer comic book news. We chat about Alpha Flight 0.1 issue (yay Canadians! Yay Northstar's first kiss!), Uncanny X-Force (and how much we dislike Dark Angel, but how much we like Age of Apocalypse!), X-Factor, Wonder Woman (and the big bad reveal!), Power Rangers (and their bizarre catch phrases), and our thoughts on DCnU!

Let us know what you think! Plus, any comics you think we missed in our coverage let us know! Send us a tweet @ScarletBetch or by email at scarletbetch@gmail.com

Even More Kevin Keller Pages!

2011-06-07T17:52:00.012-04:00

Evidently that preview that went out to the gay blogs was the middle of Kevin Keller #1. Another preview, this time of the first 5 pages, has just popped up at comicbookresources.com. I've reposted them after the jump!

Batwoman #1 Confirmed for DCNu Relaunch

2011-06-07T15:16:00.001-04:00

When DC announced last week that it was relaunching their entire comic book line up with new #1 titles, the fan community erupted in speculation. Many of us in the fan community who are more diversity/social justice-minded know that these kinds of events have a tendency to reduce diversity rather than increase it, and many feared the worse for the various successes at diversifying the DC Universe which had been won in recent years. Among these speculations, many thought that the oft delay-plagued and highly anticipated Batwoman title (penned and drawn by phenomenal artist J.H. Williams) would surely be victim of this continuity reboot, as the prospect of having a Batman with a similarly aged Batwoman seemed dubious and inconsistent with the character's re-launched history.

Despite audible groans from many Barbara Gordon fans at the rewinding of Oracle back to Batgirl, Kat Kane fans should rest assured that their "Dark Red Angel of the Night" will indeed be returning to the pages in the revised DCNu line-up, as reported recently by Newsarama.

Interestingly enough, DC also announced Birds of Prey amongst the line-up of #1's hitting shelves this fall. How this team will be formed and led without their iconic leader in Barbara Gordon as primo-info jock of the DC Universe remains to be seen, but it should be noted that the iconic team line-up seems to be missing key players in the absent Huntress and Zinda Blake.

Additionally, what the revamped Gordon Batgirl portents for notable successors to the mantle; Casssandra Cain and Stephanie Brown (who many view as being a successful and apologetic revival of the character), is still yet to be seen.

Kevin Keller Preview Hits the Web!

2011-06-07T10:54:00.012-04:00

After the jump, check out the preview of Kevin Keller #1 I swiped from afterelton.com!

SuperQueeros! for June 8th, 2011

2011-06-06T09:29:00.007-04:00

This is both one of the most meager weeks in terms of queer comic book characters and one of the most anticipated! Because this is the week that we get...

Veronica #207 (Veronica Presents KEVIN KELLER #1)

FINALLY!! IT'S HERE!!! Who knows what it's about, and who cares? Kevin is back in Riverdale and he'll be sticking around for the next four months! But seriously, there's no information on the plot of this issue. Everything I find basically just says "Kevin is back! People are very excited! You should buy it!" And I definitely will because, duh, it's Kevin Keller, the Chris Colfer of comic books, but it's reduced me to talking about how much I am going to buy the heck out of this issue instead of waxing sophomoronic on anything of substance. Good marketing strategy, Archie Comics! #buyit

Birds of Prey #13

Also this week, Renee continues to help out the Birds of Prey as they work to escape Junior, the tortured, sidekick-sized version of Ragdoll. Groovy, eh? Also there's a big maze and "Oracle's death". I'm pretty sure they just did that? And it was a figure of speech? Like, she's not actually dead, just even further off the grid. Whatevs. Ever since DC announced their impending reboot I've been feeling that it's futile to invest any more emotions into the struggles of these characters. Like, okay, sure, you can kill Oracle, that's awesome-sauce because she's about to get reset to 15 years old in two months and won't even remember dying this one time. And the Question is just going to be a dude again, right? Ugh.

The short version? This is your last chance for some Montoya action, so pick it up!

New Avengers #13

So Mockingbird is near death and stuff. And Nick Fury's secret history that they ~~retconned~~ revealed last month is going to save her? Cool beans. Also, the "new head of H.A.M.M.E.R. is revealed" and am I too naive to hope that it's Victoria? Because that would be awesome! Either that or it should be Maria Hill with Victoria as her second. That would be splendidly tense!

Scarlet Betch Episode 48: Super Soap Operas!

2011-06-02T12:23:00.000-04:00

Hey Betches!

We're back for another week of reviewing the latest in queer comic book news. We chat about Astonishing X-men (the storyline with Armor... we don't read the other one), Daken: Dark Wolverine 0.1, X-men: Legacy (aka Rogue has daddy issues, also yay Frenzy and her butch haircut!), and Generation Hope (hoorah for Laurie's speed mode!).

Let us know what you think! Plus, any comics you think we missed in our coverage let us know! Send us a tweet @ScarletBetch or by email at scarletbetch@gmail.com

SuperQueeros! for June 1st, 2011

2011-06-01T08:26:00.008-04:00

So, I figured because Monday was a holiday that comics wouldn't ship until tomorrow. But everywhere I check on the internet either doesn't mention a schedule change or says that comics are shipping today so... to the Queer-mobile!

Secret Six #34

They're back from H-E-double-hockey-sticks and the solicit says that Bane is being all emo/psychotic and question-y and his relationship with Scandal will be put to the test! But I read solicits every month for this book and let me tell you, they are often totally misleading. Rest assured that Scandal will appear in this book with lines and involvement in the story. And it'll probably be a good tale at that!

X-Factor #220

This is the Wolfsbane pregnancy issue! Plus, if you read the preview, it has what will forever be my second favorite Shatterstar panel of all time! Also there will be a story about a monster that kills church-goers? Eh, we're all reading it for soap-operatic-action, and it looks like Rahne and 'Star are going to finally bond... right before her womb is ripped open by a hell beast/cute baby! Hopefully Shatterstar will decapitate something!!!

CAMEOS:

X-Men #12

So it's that "First to Last" story that's a crossover between First Class and adjective-less? I'm not terribly intrigued by the premise, mostly because it seems ret-con-y and dull. Who knows, maybe it'll be awesome, but neither of the two realities are alternate ones so I'll be awaiting the wiki page. But Northstar totally makes a cameo! SWEEEEET!!!

House of Mystery #38

Did you see, did you see??? Tursig was a patron in the bar last issue!!! Which makes me hopeful that Lotus Blossom is about to go head to head with our favorite gay goblin soon! (There will probably be more heads involved in that "head to head" match-up, but I'll only be focused on Tursig. ;-P )

UPDATE: There wasn't any Tursig this issue (that I saw) but there was a little bit of Tel in Adventure Comics!

GREEKS WITH AMBIGUOUS SEXUALITIES: Yes. This is now a category of comic book.

Wonder Woman #611

Second to last issue!! We get answers, we get final showdown,... we get old Diana back???? This arc went from 'WTF??" to "Balls-mazing!!!" in one or two issues and hasn't let up since. All signs point to these last two issues being the biggest Wonder Woman moment since Maxwell Lord looked over his shoulder!

Herc #4

IMO this series is still finding its footing, but I'd be more interested in helping it if they restored some of Herc's invulnerability so he could go back to his old costume. Because, seriously, another fully-clothed dude fighting an Underworld succubus in an evening gown (here played by Hecate)? Yeah, I've read this story before.

Wolverine/Hercules: Myths, Monsters, and Mutants #4 of 4

Here we go! A holdover from the old status quo, this Wolvie/Herc crossover brings the Ruffians fighting a giant Sarlacc-type sea monster! Hero in a skimpy outfit and a villainous beast a cross between traditionally male and female imagery? Yup, this issue brings in the queerness!

Northstar's First Kiss

2011-05-27T11:54:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure how many of you picked up the 0.1 issue of the new Alpha Flight limited series that came out last week. I wasn't sure if our favorite northern Nancy was going to be gracing the pages since Northstar isn't officially on the team roster and he didn't appear in any of the solicits or preview pages released by Marvel. But Northstar was featured indeed. Canada is under attack by a series of super-powered terrorists attempting to disrupt the upcoming Canadian elections in which a new "Unity" party is gathering political force.

Northstar, who we last saw splitting his time between Montreal and Utopia in the Tim Fish short piece in Nation X, is shown spending some quality time with his main beau, Kyle, when he receives the distress signal. Joining Guardian, they attempt to combat Purple Girl... or Purple Woman (she's all grown up now) who amusingly forms a throng of mind-controlled Canadians into a Canadian Voltron. Unfortunately, Kyle, who was on the scene getting publicity shots of his boyfriend/client becomes enthralled by Purple Woman's powers and gets sucked up into the Canuck Voltron!

Long story short, Alpha Flight saves the day, but not before Northstar and Kyle share their first on-panel kiss. This is big news for Northstar fans. Northstar was the first openly gay super-hero in a mainstream comic book company's line-up. He came out over twenty years ago, but never in those twenty years have we seen our Speedster from the land of maple syrup and poutine pucker up with a fella'. Marvel broke ground when Rictor and Shatterstar had their first same-sex kiss in mainstream comics (if you don't count DC's Wildstorm imprint... also interestingly enough, had Marvel run their original story for Anole where he eventually committed suicide after coming out, Karma would have taken the title of first same-sex kiss in mainstream comics. But then, we would have been without Anole, so we should be glad of that).

So congrats to Jean-Paul and Kyle for their momentous smooch. We've all been waiting for it. Plus, it brings me extra pleasure that Greg Pak was the person writing this comic. Loyal readers will know I have more than a passing crush on Mr. Pak...

SuperQueeros! for May 25th, 2011

2011-05-23T13:57:00.015-04:00

This week's comics are more balanced in terms of the gender of the queers they include, mostly because I looked up a comic book that's been on-going for almost six years and, low and behold, the protagonist is bi! Actually, most of the superqueeros this week are bi...Take a look:

Tarot Witch of the Black Rose #68 (EDIT: Totes an Adult Title 4 Str8 Boiz, Sorry!!!)

Hello comic-book-I-never-knew-existed, how are you? Evidently you are a ~~Wiccan~~ comic book (EDIT: whose proponents doth protest that it's Wiccan) about a coven's witch-warrior-hottie who defends her people from ~~nefarious~~ busty threats. And has a regular lady-hook-up in the form of a were-feline named Boo Cat!? Also there's ~~frequent~~ (EDIT: constant) nudity and gravity-defying breasts??? So we're not really out of queer-sploitation territory (EDIT: We are at its HQ), but at least it sounds like ~~fun!~~ EDIT: PR0N! It sounds like pr0n! This is it folks! While you were collecting all the issues of Naked Justice and Guardians of the Cube and wondering what straight people did without a Patrick Fillion of their own, Jim Balent was hard at work (pun intended) on being the straight, witch-y version of looking-at-superheroes-with-over-sized-sex-organs! Except someone felt like they had to market this book as female-empowering, not-pr0n? Straight people are weird...

Evidently it is horrible/hilarious: Here's an NSFW link that gives a great example of what this book is and, if you like that blog post, then I strongly encourage you to check out the rest of the links T-Dogg has provided in the comments! Seriously, the only things empowered by this comic are the male gaze and haunted vaginas, two things that I believe firmly in focusing on straight boys!

Wolverine #9

Mystique and her weird chest/heart bomb from Dark Reign are back! Or else she just got shot in the torso. It's hard to tell, because the preview has no lettering... I'm also not sure how either of those things would even slow down the Marvel U's Master of the Morph. Whatever the case, Wolvie is after her, 'cause he's pretty sure that she knows who sent him to Hell (wasn't it Daken?) and he wants to know whose balls he needs to bust. I'm definitely picking this issue up because, while Wolverine is as boring as toast, Mystique is the best thing since sliced bread!

Daken: Dark Wolverine #9.1

Speaking of Wolverine's bi, anti-heroic, sociopathic son, he's getting his very own "Point 1" issue! I'm nervous that when Rob Williams takes over scribe duties on Daken the Dark Wolverine's queerness will get swept under the rug. Let's hope this issue makes a point of showing all the things that Daken will do to get what he wants, including a man in uniform! ;)

True Blood: Tainted Love #4

No Lafayette in the solicit again, but he's one of the main cast so... I imagine he'll be in this book. (Obviously I haven't been keeping up with the True Blood comic book... Oops!)

Gotham City Sirens #23

Harley's still in Arkham, so Selina and Pam are going in to break her out! Let's just hope they can get her out of the toxic embrace of her ambivalent amour, the Joker!

Scarlet Betch Episode 47: Comic Book Potpourri

2011-05-19T14:12:00.000-04:00

Hey Betches!

Rounding out our coverage from this past week of comic book marathon. We chat about Age of X: Universe and the increasingly confusing, X-Factor (and Layla Miller's increasingly confusing power set), Birds of Prey (finally with a decent artist and a cameo from out and proud Renee Montoya aka The Question), Daken: Dark Wolverine (aka emo wolverine), Batgirl (and the departure of Proxy), and a lightning review of the new Thor movie!

Let us know what you think! Plus, any comics you think we missed in our coverage let us know! Send us a tweet @ScarletBetch or by email at scarletbetch@gmail.com

Superqueeros! for May 18th, 2010

2011-05-17T11:50:00.011-04:00

It's boy-week in comics this week as we get six bi/gay/pansexual male-indentified characters in four books! Plus a cover by out comic book artist Phil Jimenez! Now if we can just get Herc to get some on-panel guy-action I'll be a happy clam! Or snail, as the case may be. ;)

Alpha Flight #0.1

ALPHA FLIIIIIIGHT!!!!! As a queer and a Canadian I am STOKED to see this title back on the shelves. Plus, since I didn't read the original series I'm interested to learn about (most of) the original team. Especially Marrina! (Didn't she die really early on? She's back!) This issue is a pre-series set-up issue, so it should be perfect for folks like me who want some background on the ground-breaking Canadian super-squad. Plus, it'll have Northstar and Phil Jimenez on covers, so we basically know it's going to be a whole helping of awesome, Canook style! #pickoftheweek

X-Factor #219

Mysteries! Last issue was packed with MYSTERIES! Who are these super-powered Hit Girls? How can they fire bullets out of nothing? How can they so rarely miss?? How can they RISE FROM THE DEAD??? Well we're about to find out because M is PISSED OFF and ready to telepathically break into the Fort Knox of Answers that is J Jonah Jameson's mind! Plus, is someone going to tell her that Strong Guy got all fix-i-fied before she smashes some villain's face into the ground? And why isn't Guido pictured on any of the next three months of covers???

Herc #3

So our fav bi-guy Herc ain't got no powers (Humanizing! Good narrative move!) and so his sassy handler Rhea has him listen to people's problems (Good lift from JMS's Superman story!) and then put on some fancy clothes to fight Brooklyn's beasts. BAD MOVE! Just like Emma Frost, Herc uses his semi-nudity to distract his opponents/readers into making bad combat choices/impulse comic purchases! Unless his tunic is going to have as many wardrobe malfunctions as Caitlin's from Gen13 I demand a redesign!

JLA #57

After the Obsidian/Jade crossover between JSA and JLA I forgot to keep following the adventures of pan-sexual alien Starman! Luckily he's been busy fighting Eclipso, so I don't think he's noticed his fall from my queer spotlight, but I figured I should bring him back into the fold. Also, totally coincidentally, Obsidian guest stars in this issue! But, given Todd's past with Eclipso, whose side will he be on? And will that dumb Brightest Day mechanic be gone so that he can team up with his sister, or is this book's creative team about to get HUGE HEADACHES trying to both tell their story and separate two of its main characters at all times???

Scarlet Betch Episode 46: Messy X-men Storylines

2011-05-16T11:00:00.000-04:00

Hey Betches!

We continue on our marathon of coverage this week with discussions on the conclusion and fall out of the Age of X storyline, the denouement of the latest New Mutants arc (and some awesome OTP Yuri pairings!), Astonishing X-men (also known as the book no one knows if it's in continuity or not), the racial awkwardness of Flashpoint, and finally, where-the-hell-is-the-new-runaways-book? Stay tuned for our next episode this week cuz we have SO much more to cover!

Let us know what you think! Plus, any comics you think we missed in our coverage let us know! Send us a tweet @ScarletBetch or by email at scarletbetch@gmail.com

Scarlet Betch Episode 45: Catch Up If You Can!

2011-05-13T14:58:00.000-04:00

Hey Betches!

So we didn't end up finishing our podcasting last week. So we're covering SO much this week: the end of Wolverine & Jubilee, the beginnings of Marvel and DC's respective annual events:Fear Itself and Flash Point; and the latest in Wonder Woman. Stay tuned for our next episode this week cuz we have SO much more to cover!

Let us know what you think! Plus, any comics you think we missed in our coverage let us know! Send us a tweet @ScarletBetch or by email at scarletbetch@gmail.com

SuperQueeros! for May 11th, 2011

2011-05-11T09:52:00.006-04:00

We've got two definites in terms of queer visibility this week, and two comics that might feature their queer characters but have previews that don't bode well. First the good news!

Birds of Prey #12

The Question guest stars alongside the Huntress as Renee and Helena team up to take out some of Gotham's crooked cops. Huntress also has a question for Renee, but we don't see what it is in the preview. Could Helena be recruiting Renee for the Birds? Or is this a more personal matter? Only one way to find out... #buyit

Daken: Dark Wolverine #9

You just can't pin Daken down, can you? Almost immediately after turning X-23 over to her villainous makers, Daken was pulling a rescue of the lady-clone of his father. And seconds after that double-crossing liberation, the comic went all Resident Evil and turned into the stabby slashfest (not that kind of slashfest) we expect from Wolverine's clones and offspring. So how will this tale conclude? Will Daken and X part on good terms? Or is this the start of some even more complex family relationships? Collision, and Liu's run as writer, ends here!

Possible Cameos

New Avengers #12 is mostly a flashback to "the first Avengers" (read: retconned origin story), but we could get some Victoria Hand if they set any scenes in the present day. New Mutants #25 is the first Post-Age of X issue, but the preview doesn't show Karma (or Magik) in the opening scene. Hopefully she'll make an appearance, but I'm not holding my breath. Though, to be fair, I am totally buying this issue anyway...

Scarlet Betch Episode 44: Shout Outs

2011-05-03T15:27:00.001-04:00

Hey Betches!

So much happened in comics in the past two weeks that we were only able to fit out shout outs in this episode of Scarlet Betch! We shout out Godzilla, the end of Brightest Day, Green Lantern War, Generation Hope, and much much more!

Let us know what you think! Plus, any comics you think we missed in our coverage let us know! Send us a tweet @ScarletBetch or by email at scarletbetch@gmail.com

Superqueeros for May 4th, 2011

2011-05-02T14:21:00.011-04:00

It's a motley assortment of queers in this week's comics shipment, but it's spearheaded by the epic conclusion to the most anticipated Secret Six story of all queer-story! (That's queer history, of course)

Secret Six #33

It's the end of "Darkest Hour", the awesome Secret Six story where the team fights its deceased members to see who gets to use the "Get Out of Hell Free" card! Someone's going to use it, but who will it be? I'm squeeing for Knockout to get the chance to return topside, but knowing Simone and her ever-expanding team of villains we'll probably get more than one resurrection. As long as one is Scandals' rowdy redhead, though, I'll be happier than a pig in mud!

House of Mystery #37

Okay, so the solicit says "a gang of mysterious strangers appears in the House of Mystery looking for one Lotus Blossom Mackenzie." Given the whole world-flipped-upside-down cliffhanger ending to the last issue I'm hoping that this "gang of strangers" involves some queer character, and my highest of hopes is that it includes Tursig. If it doesn't House of Mystery and I may begin seeing other people. Tursig hasn't been in so many of these issues recently! #VanishingGays

Fame: The Cast of Glee

Chris Colfer in comic book form! Also, other Glee actorzzzz... But Chris Colfer!!! The solicit doesn't say much, but if you're just starting your Mr. Colfer stalking this will probably condense all his interviews over the past 2 years into a handy two or three pages. And if, like me, you're already a huge Gleek then it'll combine three of your loves: comics, homos, and Gleeeeeeee!

Herc #2

If you don't remember, Herc's a canon Kinsey bisexual, so his continuing series makes the superqueero cut! Plus we get shots like this one. Anyone would go a little gay for that, am I right? And it's got Greg Pak co-writing, so it's got to be good!

Superqueeros Addendum!

2011-04-28T21:05:00.003-04:00

Jason picked up Batman Incorporated #5 this week because, despite a solict that didn't mention her at all, the issue has a healthy helping of Batwoman-goodness! Plus a cover by J.H. Williams III! So go back to your local comic book shop and pick it up! Batwoman is the greatest!!!

SuperQueeros for April 27th, 2011

2011-04-25T15:25:00.010-04:00

Daken, Karma, and some hope for a few cameos are the queers in comics this week:

X-23 #9

Daken has quickly turned the tables on this little family reunion and now X and Gambit are in the clutches of the villainous hottie's henchpeople. Will X be able to escape from the men who made her? Will Gambit's team-up with Tyger Tiger liberate them both? And Daken wasn't in the preview... I wonder what he's plotting...

New Mutants #24

It's the end of the Age of X! Will X destroy the mind of every hero in its clutches, or will Legion, his dad, Karma, and the rest of the X-Men emerge victorious? We know that Frenzy, Cyclops' romantic partner in the Age of X, will become a major character in X-Men: Legacy next month, so what does that mean for everyone's memories? Will everyone remember AoX or will it only be Frenzy or the cast of Legacy? Only one way to find out! #buyit

Age of X: Universe #2

Plus this week we get the conclusion to what is essentially X's super-violent Avengers fanfiction. Given that this is just a imagined history perpetrated by a mental construct (i.e., nothing's at stake in 616's reality) and we know that the Avengers don't appear in the earlier AoX chapters, I'm guessing that the Avengers meet an untimely demise in this issue. But watching the X-men crush the Hulk, the Winter Soldier, the Invisible Woman, Spider-Woman, and Iron Man's re-animated corpse is gonna be frakking awesome!

Wonder Woman #610

Diana has finished her trek through her past selves with Dr. Psycho which means one thing: it's time to bring the pain to the Morrigan! And with the next three issues' covers feature a mash-up of old and new Wondy, so it seems like we'll be seeing the old Diana more and more! The JMS story begins its final act this week; be sure to jump on for the beginning of the end of Wonder Woman's new beginning!

Scarlet Betch Episode 43

2011-04-21T15:34:00.000-04:00

Hey Betches!

We're back this week talking about all that is not X that came out last week. We chat about Batgirl, the Legion of Super Heroes, Wonder Woman, Avengers: The Children's Crusade, and much much more!

Also, check out my ultra-cute Mudkip hoods that I made! I heard you liek them! :P You can get them on Etsy here.

Let us know what you think! Plus, any comics you think we missed in our coverage let us know! Send us a tweet @ScarletBetch or by email at scarletbetch@gmail.com

PREVIEW: Alpha Flight #0.1

2011-04-19T15:27:00.001-04:00

Newsarama has a preview of the #0.1 issue of the new Alpha Flight limited series that is due out later this year. The preview doesn't include any screen time with our favorite ground-breaking queer speedster, Northstar... but the art is great and we get to see Sasquatch before he goes all furry (a first for me!)

Check it out at Newsarama!

SuperQueeros! for April 20th, 2011

2011-04-18T12:34:00.008-04:00

Another 11th hour post about the new comics coming out today that feature queer characters, but this time I've delved a little further and pulled up some manga as well! One (if not both...) is super yaoi-y, so, you know, respect your age and what not:

X-Factor #218

Man down! Guido has been struck down by Ballistique's bullets! Which, we have found out, are not weird destruction vectors that come from her fingers and are therefore able to break bullet proof glass and puncture people whose mutant ability is to absorb kinetic energy, but are in fact real life, solid, able-to-be-turned-around-by-telekinesis, (but also they are magic?) bullets. Well. I'm sure we'll get an explanation. Right Peter David? Gosh I hope so... Also Ricstar!

True Blood: Tainted Love #3

Hot Eric and Pam cover!!! Hey, did you all see Anna Paquin in Scream 4? Best scene ever, right??? LOVED. IT. Back to comic books: Jessica is still in trouble, which means Sookie is just very, very bad at saving people from poisoning. Quelle surprise. So she runs to Eric. The quelle suprise-est. Lafayette wasn't mentioned in the solicits, but if you're a True Blood fan you can pick this up today (instead of waiting for Game of Thrones to finish). Thank gosh only the TV show is scheduled behind that constantly-delayed fantasy behemoth, am I right?

Mangas:

Treasure Vol 2

The first of my manga findings! This is either a cute shounen-ai or gross yaoi about a slow country boy and a hot city boy! With ex drama! That's all I know... There's not even a wiki page on it! And the cover art may not be the final version!! Oh, I just skimmed a google search of the author, Yamakami Riyu, and... I'm doubting that this is an innocent plain shounen-ai... especially considering the pr0n-esque premise... Still, the solicit doesn't say it's for mature readers only, so even if you have the intellect of a 17-year-old you can go ahead with this title! As for the issue of yaoi vs not-yaoi, there's only one way to find out: go to the store and see if it's plastic-wrapped! #dirty

Yellow II Vol 2

This one is definitely adult! But it also includes the "genre-bending" (the solicit's words, not mine!) qualities of action and adventure! In other words: "This ain't no Chi Chi feature, expect (some) plot!" And, also, expect the strict, conformist gender roles of uke-seme heteronormativity!!! #awesome?

Items of Interest:

Angel Aftermath #44

Oh, yeah, and Angel is ending its run on IDW. There's gonna be a coda issue next month too, but basically this is the end of the road folks! Next stop... twilight!

Scarlet Betch Episode 42: X-travaganza

2011-04-15T11:23:00.001-04:00

Hey Betches!

Despite there being less mutants nowadays, there seems to be more X-books than ever. It looks like we're going to be designating X-clusive episodes for the X-men releases. To be fair the X-men have isolated themselves on Utopia, so I guess that makes sense. Today we talk about the newest in Daken: Dark Wolverine vs. X-23, Uncanny X-men .1, Age of X (Universe and Normal story).

Also, check out my ultra-cute Mudkip hoods that I made! I heard you liek them! :P You can get them on Etsy here.

Let us know what you think! Plus, any comics you think we missed in our coverage let us know! Send us a tweet @ScarletBetch or by email at scarletbetch@gmail.com

Wolverine's Teen Girl Squad Go!

2011-04-14T11:49:00.004-04:00

So I've been saying that Marvel needs to make a book just about Wolverine and his teenage girl sidekicks. From the original Kitty Pride and the overly-reviled Jubilee, to his clone/daughter/sister/niece X-23 and the Whedon conceptualized Armor; this would be a fantastic book full of blood, mayhem, and sleepover pillowfights. Bloody, bloody pillowfights.

Evidently Wolverine & Jubilee artist Phil Noto was thinking the same thing and produced this lovely piece of work. Please, Marvel gods above. If you see this... MAKE IT HAPPEN! Uncanny X-strogen? Logan's Angels? I'm personally a big fan of Wolverine Teen Girl Squad Go!

Go check out Project Rooftop for the full-sized pic!

SuperQueeros! for April 13th, 2011

2011-04-13T10:35:00.018-04:00

I threw a lesbian under the bus!!! Victoria Hand has been one of my favorite queer Marvel characters ever since she came out during Dark Avengers, but I forgot that she's the new team handler for the New Avengers!! I've corrected that this week, but don't forget to pick up your post-Siege The New Avengers back issues if you love you some V. Hand! Other queers this week:

Adventure Comics #525

The misadventures of Gravity Kid and Power Boy, as well as of the not-gay Legionnaires in-training, continue! Basically Grav Kid and the freshmen are being schooled by the villains who took out Chemical Kid's family while Power Boy and the upperclassmen are dispatched to check up on them (if I remember correctly...). ANYWAY, FINGERS CROSSED FOR BOY KISSES!!!

Daken: Dark Wolverine #8

So the big Wolvie-spin-off-character fight went down last issue of X-23 and this week X-23 and Daken are teaming up! Of course, I'm sure Daken has some nefarious ulterior motive, because he's Daken and that's why we love 'im. Gambit guest stars as well, so FINGERS CROSSED FOR ("The-guards-are-coming-quick-kiss-me-so-they-don't-recognize-us,-Gambit!"-whispered-Daken) BOY KISSES!

The New Avengers #11

Victoria! I apologize for not remembering to include your exploits as an honest-to-goodness superqueero! You are patently awesome, especially due to your forward-thinking highlights!!! Anyway, I hear Mockingbird got stomped by "Superia" or something? Anyway, you should probably go save her or whatever, which shouldn't be a problem because you are LEZ-CREDIBLE. #ladykisses

X-Men: Legacy #247

Karma cameos, so it counts! Since Legion has a big role this issue/reality, maybe she'll help calm him again...? Anyway, we finally find out who X is (if not how) and Kitty gets to be super bad-@$$:

~~Which makes up for her being SO CRAP in the Uncanny X-Men issue this week:~~

~~YOU CAN'T THROW SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN'T TOUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!~~

CORRECTION: Kitty Pryde is never crap? Sure she has a bubble suit that adheres to her intagible body (WTF?) BUT she can't phase it! She can phase THROUGH it (see this week's issue of UXM), but this is not the "Let's give Arsenal a robot arm" of convenient comic book fixes! It's more like the "Let's give Arsenal a prosthetic arm" of convenient comic book fixes; there is still the potential for realistic angst!!!!!! #IAmStillAHappyCamper

George Takei's Spiderman Audition Causes Confluence of Massive Nerd and Gay Singularity

2011-04-06T11:29:00.000-04:00

There are only a few celebrities which have my undying and boundless devotion. One of them is George Takei. The openly gay, groundbreaking and path paving actor who starred in the original Star Trek series as Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu has made an indelible mark on American culture. His coming out only further endeared him in my heart. And having met George in person, I can say that he is the most amiable celebrity that I have met.

This recent video which includes some obvious musical plugging is nothing but utter joy and hilarity. My favorite part is when George defeats Venom with a "KABUKI!" sound effect. GOLD.

Superqueeros! for April 6th, 2011

2011-04-05T20:06:00.009-04:00

Secret Six #32

The story you've been waiting for continues! Ever since issue #6 we've been waiting for Scandal Savage to use her "Get Out of Hell Free" card to bust her sweetie out of the afterlife. But things have gotten a wee bit complicated: Ragdoll stole the card and proceeded to get himself killed, so now, in order to resuscitate Knockout, Scandal and the rest of the Six are going to have to fight a vengeful Ragdoll and an equally irritated demon army! I'm hoping that being in Hell means that the usual consequences to gratuitous violence are suspended and that this will liberate the pen of Gail Simone so that our favorite dastardly villains can be as cruel and inhuman as they brag they are. And that we'll end the story with a hot lesbian kiss over a mountain of corpses! #dreamitbeit

Avengers: The Children's Crusade #5

OMG, it's been 8 months since this story started! Remember when Magneto kidnapped our heroes from the Avengers mansion? Yeah, me neither. This book is like the anti-Brightest Day! It has characters who are not straight white men but it is NEVER published! Come on, Marvel. Jim? Allan? Can't you think of adding some tie-ins at least? That Iron Lad-centric one shot last month was AMAZING! Why can't we get a "Generation Lost"-type story to run parallel to this one? Seriously, just publish one shots of Billy and Teddy's dates every other month and my pay check is ALL YOURS. But until you get to publishing that certain-to-be-GLAAD award-winning series I'll just have to stick to re-reading Children's Crusade over and over again and then googling up some fanfiction... sigh... #BOOKOFTHEMONTH!!!

House of Mystery #36

A lot of cool stuff is happening with Fig and Cain, but they're lost in comic-book-space-time and in need of rescuing. I'm predicting that Tursig will be rallying Fig's friends this month to form a rescue party! 'Cause he's like this rockin' general and stuff now! And maybe he'll find a hulking gay ogre friend! #fingerscrossed Anyway, it's a good title on its own merits too, so even if it's gay-goblin-deficient this month it's still a good buy!

Scarlet Betch Episode 41: Wonder Woman (W)Rants

2011-04-05T10:30:00.000-04:00

Hey Betches!

We're back with part 3 of our podcast triad we recorded last week. With all the hubbub that has been drummed up recently regarding Wonder ~~Stripper~~ Woman and her revamped, less cheap outfit for the Titanic-reminiscent NBC series, we thought it would be good to recap some of what's going on with our favorite Amazon in the DC Universe. Recap... rant... it's all the same thing right?

Let us know what you think! Plus, any comics you think we missed in our coverage let us know! Send us a tweet @ScarletBetch or by email at scarletbetch@gmail.com

Thundercats, Thundercats, Thundercats HOOOOOOOO(mo)!!

2011-04-04T12:21:00.005-04:00

The Thundercats trailer is up and it looks AMAZING!

I'm very excited! Are you very excited? Tygra was one of my first crushes! I loved his style, his stoicism, and his bolas (TWHS), but I was always miffed by the gender confusion created by giving a male ~~anthropomorphized tiger~~ character a first declension name. Of course, now I just think that Tygra's subversive and hip. Can you tell I'm still crushing? ;)

THUNDERCATS!

Scarlet Betch Episode 40: I'm a Stupid Betch

2011-03-31T10:26:00.000-04:00

Hey Betches!

We're back with part 2 of our podcast triad we recorded last week. We talk about our fake sponsors, e-stalking Marvel/DC employees, Adventure Comics (and Chemical Kid's weird costume), Birds of Prey (and its terrible artwork), Avengers: Children's Crusade: Young Avengers #1 (and Marvel's obsession with colons), Batman Inc. (and Batwomen cameo, both Kat Kane and Kathy Kane), Knight and Squire (and repping the queer characters).

Stay tuned for part three later this week!

Let us know what you think! Plus, any comics you think we missed in our coverage let us know! Send us a tweet @ScarletBetch or by email at scarletbetch@gmail.com

SuperQueeros! for March 30th, 2011

2011-03-30T08:30:00.012-04:00

It's Wednesday already?! When did this happen??? Sorry for the late update, but this week is just disappearing on me! So let's talk queers in comic books before our time evaporates completely:

Dollhouse Epitaphs

Did you know that Felica Day's character in Epitaphs One and Two was queer?! I didn't, but in this sure-to-be-awesome one-shot we find out that Mag's coming out did not get quite the reaction she was hoping for... But don't worry, any-character-portrayed-by-Felicia-Day, we still love you!!! Also, we get everyone else's origin story too! #mustbuy

True Blood: Tainted Love #2

Lafayette is on the cover! I haven't been picking up this series, but I might have to grab this issue just for the cover... The solicit says Jessica is poisoned and Sookie wants to save her. So the central conflict is that a redhead is in trouble... looks like we're developing a theme this week...

X-23 #8

WOLVIE FIGHT!!! It's X-23 vs Daken in the Wolverine-spin-off crossover-showdown event of the season! Wolverine's clone, with Gambit in tow, ventures onto the island nation that Daken now controls and her kin ain't havin' none of that sort of family familiarity! I don't know if these two have interacted in the comics yet, but it'll be interesting to see how X reacts to Daken's manipulative personality. Will she see through him or fall for his act? Only two things are guaranteed: Daken flirting with the ragin' Cajun and CLAWS!

Other comics of interest this week:

Caligula #1 looks to be more bloody than queer, but it's set in Ancient Rome so there are NO RULES; Wonder Woman #609 has Dr. Psycho "saving" Diana; Gotham City Sirens #21 sees Ivy and Selina busting Harley out of Arkham - but will they be able to bust her out of the clutches of the Joker?; JLA: The 99 #6 marks the end of this historic cultural crossover event; Butcher Baker: The Righteous Maker #1 is the first issue of the over-hyped, and certainly explicitly-sexed, new Image series; the first issue of Age of X: Universe is out today, and who knows who's queer in this alternate reality; and finally, Jack of Fables #50 bows out the popular Fables spin-off series (and this blog post).

Scarlet Betch Episode 39: Mutants Galore

2011-03-25T12:39:00.000-04:00

Hey Betches!

We're back this week bringing you the latest queer comic book news! Apologies for the three weeks of down time. So to make up for it, we're recording THREE episodes for you that we'll release throughout the week. So STAY TUNED!

There was a plethora of X-titles that were released since we last 'casted and so for part 1 of our conversation we talk about all the mutants you could ever want. Well... mostly speculate about Age of X because there's a whole lot of questions that need to be answered.

Let us know what you think! Plus, any comics you think we missed in our coverage let us know! Send us a tweet @ScarletBetch or by email at scarletbetch@gmail.com

SuperQueeros! for March 23rd, 2011

2011-03-22T08:44:00.004-04:00

I think the only queer character in comics this week is Daken! Northstar might make a cameo in Uncanny X-men #534 or alongside Anole's unconscious form in New Mutants #23, but we have no way of knowing until Wednesday. ;-P

Daken: Dark Wolverine #7

Daken vs. X-23 starts here! With Lara traipsing around Daken's newly acquired kingdom in search of revenge, how will our eponymous sociopath react to the presence of his lady-dad??? Will they refer to each other as "sibling", or using technical terms like "clone of my hated father" and "estranged, villainous offspring of my genetic template"? These are the questions that MAY or MAY NOT be answered! And this is the only queer comic this week, so #GETIT.

Wonder Woman Promo Pics Verify Oncoming Trainwreck

2011-03-18T17:19:00.004-04:00

There isn't much to be said that hasn't already been said on the upcoming NBC Wonder Woman series scheduled to drop into our televisions (or tablets or computer screens) come Fall 2011. From the terribly confused plot synopsis to the unfortunate decision to give creative direction over to the creator of Ally MacBeal, everything points to Wonder Woman being a failure of epic proportions. And if NBC's The Cape was anything, it should be a cautionary warning.

A) Don't cast Summer Glau... she's talented but by now... after Firefly, Sarah Connors Chronicles, and The Cape... she's cursed.

B) Don't give us shit wrapped in comic book wrapping paper.

And ladies and gentlemen, the latest promo pics of Wonder Woman's costume is exactly that.

Nothing says cheap stripper like a lycra boustier and spandex pants. It's incredible how cheap this costume looks. As a costumer, I understand that these kinds of garments need to be stretchy to get the desired silhouette, but god almighty, there's no excuse for reflective spandex. None, whatsoever.

One can only hope that the NBC producers get enough internet hate to tweak the design a bit before production. Oh, and fire your show lead. He's ruining everything.

Fan-Art Friday: Future Billy and Teddy

2011-03-18T13:39:00.000-04:00

If you're a faithful reader than you'll know we're big fans of Chilean artist, Cris-art and her fabulous Billy/Teddy fan art. Cris_art put out a fantastic portrait inspired by this week's Avengers Children's Crusade: The Young Avengers #1. It's a little spoilery so I'll post it after the jump. But it's still faboo!

In other news, I'm going to shamelessly self-promote and squeel because a few weeks ago, Cris-art saw some fan-art I had done a while ago of a Final Fantasy versions of Billy and Teddy, and liked it so much she drew her own version:

Head to after the jump for Cris-art's fab portrait!

SuperQueeros! for March 16th, 2011

2011-03-15T07:53:00.006-04:00

Superqueeros! is a list of comics published this week that feature LGBTetc. characters. As always, let me know if I've missed anybody!

Knight and Squire #6 (of 6)

For a series in love with Birtish culture and word play, this series is getting very dark in its last two issues! Jarvis Poker, the British (and gay and non-murdering) Joker, is terminally ill. Last issue Knight and Squire, the British arm of the Bat Family, decided that it would be sporting to convince the world that Poker's not more of a joke than a Joker and help him pull off one final, grand crime spree by giving chase (and therefore legitimacy) to his watered down crimes. But with celebrity comes company, and when The (American) Joker takes notice he decides that what Jarvis needs is a lesson in homicide, whether the British buffoon wants it or not! The first victim is Squire's new boyfriend (come out of the fridge, ladies!), and the stakes are sure to get higher before this issue, and this limited series, is over! #pickoftheweek

X-Factor #217

Felicia Hardy: Blackcat and bodyguard to New York's mayor, J. Jonah Jameson. Balistique: formerly brainwashed killer, gathering associates and gunning for the head of JJJ ever since her brainwashing was unraveled by X-Factor's resident telepath. X-Factor and guest star Spider-man: caught in the middle! Peter David is sure to deliver, and Shatterstar is sure to make a cameo, as all sides convene in what will surely be the Mexican stand-off of cross-over comics!

Avengers: The Children's Crusade - Young Avengers #1

So we all remember the last page of the most recent issue of Children's Crusade, right? Well it's time to see the making of that dramatic reveal! In this one shot we get: the origin of the Young Avengers, the impetus of Iron Lad, and a possible future of our favorite amateur Avengers! With Heinberg writing this is gonna be good (or at least as legitimately canon as possible)! Also: why is Wiccan missing from the Future Young Avengers????

Adventure Comics #524

I am in love with this comic: Gravity Kid (teh hottness) and his (subtly purple) boyfriend Power Boy are the hottest couple in comics, and Legion Academy teacher Night Girl has always been the campest superhero ever created! AND Phil Jimenez, out artist extraordinaire, is on pencils! This book literally could be more awesome! #getit

PREVIEW: Batwoman #1 and J. H. Williams' Art!

2011-03-09T18:00:00.001-05:00

If you've been following our coverage of queer comic book news, it will come of no shock to learn that we, here at Scarlet Betch, are HUGE fans of Batwoman and J. H. Williams' iconic artwork that has accompanied her much lauded stint on Detective Comics in Batman's absence. We have been eagerly awaiting Batwoman's return in her very own series. We got a prelude to the series with Batwoman #0, but Newsarama has our very first glimpses of Batwoman #1, which was delayed from February of this year to April.

While we still have to wait until April for the sweet return of the "Dark Red Angel of the Night," check out the 5 page preview! The art is, no shock, amazing. [newsarama]

SuperQueeros! for March 9th, 2011

2011-03-07T10:12:00.004-05:00

Superqueeros! is a list of comics published this week that feature LGBTetc. characters. As always, let me know if I've missed anybody!

But first a note: evidently, Veronica #205 is shipping this week, not last week. Kevin Keller!

X-Men: Legacy #246

Age of X Karma (who looks like a silver version of Ruby Rose) is back as she and her fellow killers, the New Mutants Moonstar, Warlock, Sunspot, Magma, and Dust, work to track down Legacy a.k.a. Reaper a.k.a. Rogue. Hopefully we'll get some epic battling on her part, given that this version of Karma evidently has no ethical qualms with unleashing her abilities. Also, Anole appears as an unconscious body on page two so... yay?

Wonder Woman #608

Wonder Woman takes on Cheetah and Silver Swan! Jason and I have talked about how much we LOVE this reimagining of the WW rogues gallery, and Silver Swan seems like she would make an AWESOME addition, but she wasn't one of the three recreated villains from two issues ago. Still, the solicit says she'll be in the book fighting Wonder Woman, so it looks like were getting Silver Swan's origin this issue too!

Scarlet Betch Episode 38

2011-03-06T17:24:00.000-05:00

Hey Betches!

We're back this week bringing you the latest queer comic book news! This week we talk about the neew Daken: Dark Wolverine, X-Factor (and Shatterstar's increasingly nuanced sexuality), House of Mysteries, Astonishing X-men, No Ordinary Family (and it's BSG reunion), and much more!

Plus you lucky betches get Anthony in a tank top. Damn Floridians and your 70 degree weather in March. #notjealous

Let us know what you think! Plus, any comics you think we missed in our coverage let us know! Send us a tweet @ScarletBetch or by email at scarletbetch@gmail.com

Dr. Who's Matt Smith to Play Gay in UK TV Movie

2011-03-02T16:47:00.000-05:00

Evidently this is old new, but it's new news to me. Matt Smith, star of the iconic British Sci-Fi television series Doctor Who, is slated to star in a titillating new docu-drama focusing on the life of British author, Christopher Isherwood; titled Christopher and His Kind. SoSoGay.com writes:

Doctor Who star Matt Smith is set to play gay author Christopher Isherwood in a television adaptation of the writer’s autobiography, Christopher And His Kind. Written by playwright Kevin Elyot and directed by Geoffrey Sax, the one-off drama chronicles the formative years of Isherwood and also stars Lindsay Duncan, Imogen Poots, Toby Jones and Burberry model Douglas Booth.

The drama tells the story of Isherwood’s escape from repressive 1930s England and his suffocating relationship with his mother to the decadent world of Berlin, and his struggles to save his companion, a German man named Heinz, from the Nazis. It is due to be screened on BBC 2 within the next few months.

I can't wait to see Matt Smith stretch in theatrical muscles and play for our team for a bit. His asexual depiction of the Doctor is a refreshing change from Tennant's frequently (hetero)sexualized version, but I am hankering to see Smith get his twink on!

Christopher
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SuperQueeros! for March 2nd, 2011

2011-02-28T10:53:00.011-05:00

WHAAAAT!!!!! KEVIN KELLER IS BAAAACK!!!! (Let's talk about LGBTetc. people in comics:)

Veronica #205

KEVIN KELLER APPEARANCE NUMBER TWOOOO! Evidently V and K are super besties who talk on the phone aaaaalllllllllllllll the time about the Bieb and the acne and the tween stuff but this is not the Best Thing Ever? Because sometimes you (Veronica) should stop talking on the phone and look around and remember important dates and take Betty's calls and stuff? But don't worry because the gang (whose calls you are not taking ["Why is my phone beeping in the middle of my sentence?" - Veronica]) and Kevin (who you must be talking over because the solicit says he is also trying to help you "remember one very important date" ["Gurrrrrl!" - Kevin]) will make sure you get to your college interview/pedicure/date with Archie/date with DESTINY with TIME. TO. SPARE. All of which we will be reading about in Veronica #205, the must-read comic of the week co-starring ~~an Aryan gay~~ KEVIN KELLER!!!!!!!! #buyit

Secret Six #31

GUYS IT IS FINALLY HAPPENING: Scandal is going to try and bring back Knockout!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Evidently it's a little more complicated than a simple "Please, Hell, thank you kindly"-type deal, and the solicit is TECHNICALLY vague about who's bringing what back, but I think we can all read between the lines:

"A member of the Secret Six (team stalwart and hot butchie Scandal Savage) attempts to bring back a fallen loved one (her sexy-as girlfriend the fan-fav Female Fury KNOCKOUT) by using the demonic 'Get Out of Hell Free' card stolen (Oh, right, they're villains...) back in the first arc of the series (Yes, you have been waiting over two years for this.)"

See, what'd I tell you? Clear as day! Also, ABOUT DANG TIME!

Daken: Dark Wolverine #6

It's the conclusion of the Daken's bid to take over the corrupt island of Madripoor! Will he bed Tiger Tyger? Will he murder that police office/dad character with the super-cute and super-defenseless family at home? Or will he sleep with the police officer and kill Tyger? Or sleep with both and then kill everyone else? With this anti-heroic sociopath you never know! And that's why we luv 'im!

But seriously, I hope the policeman's daughter makes it out okay and with a full ride scholarship to that awesome private school she just got into. #invested

X-Factor #216

So evidently Spider-Man and Black Cat and J Jonah Jameson are in this issue? Because "JJJ hates superheroes so how is XFI still operating, oh let's say they do him favors and make it a crossover with Spider-Man!" - The pitch for this issue (Just kidding, Peter David doesn't make pitches! He just CC's his editors when he e-mails his scripts to the artist!) ANYWAY, the previews show Shatterstar being all mysteriously bisexual (or omni-sexual????) and STILL sexually frustrated (b/c dealing with a pregnant Rahne is going to make Rictor LESS totally gay for Shatterstar), so expect some a) shirtless drama, b) sword-fighting, and c) hot queer guys talking about their relationships. A.k.a., what dreams are made of!

House of Mystery #35

The conclusion to Fig's big over-arching storyline about the Conception. Should be a hoot. We might even get some Tursig cameo-ing but that seems like a bit of a stretch for the plot to accomodate. And he certainly won't be shirtless on a New York rooftop, horny, brooding, and playing chess. See, what'd I tell you? Dreams!!!!

Scarlet Betch Episode 37

2011-02-28T10:11:00.000-05:00

Hey Betches!

We're back this week bringing you the latest queer comic book news! We got inundated with X-books this week. Something like four X-titles all came out on the same day! As much as we love our muties, I can't justify buying that many X-books on one go. We also talk about the latest Wonder Woman, some queer developments in Adventure Comics, and much much more!

Oh, and due to me being silly and forgetting to plug in my earphones, Anthony has been imbued with the Power Cosmic... at least for the first minute or so of the vid. Hope he likes being the herald of Galactus!

Let us know what you think! Plus, any comics you think we missed in our coverage let us know! Send us a tweet @ScarletBetch or by email at scarletbetch@gmail.com

SuperQueeros! for February 23rd, 2011

2011-02-21T11:39:00.009-05:00

Well after last week's drought it's nice to have some comic books to write about! This week we've got two X-titles and two possibly LGBT-related titles:

X-Men: To Serve and Protect #4

My favorite Anole storyline to date is coming to a close with the final issue of To Serve and Protect, the X-men's push to toe the line of the Heroic Age. The solicit has some grandiose teasers: "Friends become lovers! Lovers become enemies!" I don't know which relationships they're talking about and, worse, I don't have any hopeful hypotheses, but the conclusion to Anole's "X-Dudes!" is enough to make me buy any comic! #pickoftheweek

Uncanny X-Men #533

"Quarantine" enters it's fourth issue this week, which means Northstar's tenure on the premiere X-team is waning. Of course, with the threats of the Collective Man and Sublime's X-men both handily dispatched last month, the only thing on Northstar's "To Do" list may be his boyfriend Kyle. Now that's a comic worth $4!

Gotham City Sirens #20

The Joker is back, and Harley's out for revenge! The solicit is pretty adamant that Harley Quinn's one true love is the Joker, but I'm still hoping for an eleventh hour confession of love from a Ms. Poison Ivy. Also, Harley and Catwoman deal with the implications of their romantic allegiances, so... girl fight? #IHearThoseAreSexy!

True Blood: Tainted #1

True Blood is back, which means we probably get more Lafayette somewhere in this series... He's not mentioned in the solicits, so who knows if we see him this week!

Breaking News: Alpha Flight is Back!

2011-02-15T15:09:00.002-05:00

It's been revealed, as I type on a conference call with the new creative team (including Greg Pak, Fred Van Lente, and Dale Eaglesham) that the iconic Canadian superhero team, Alpha Flight will be getting its very own series. Pak (of Incredible Hercules, Chaos War, and World War Hulk fame) and Van Lente will be penning the script with Eaglesham taking up art duties on the book. The team was brought back from the dead during the recent Chaos War event, re-uniting surviving teammates (Northstar, Aurora, Sasquatch, and Snowbird), with their deceased colleagues (Shaman, Guardian, Vindicator, and Marrina).

Pak & Co. have revealed that the team will be back with its own limited series which will run for a scheduled 8 issues (hinting that a 9th would be possible with strong sales support). The team will still work for Department H although the major source of conflict will occur when the government which they work for suddenly changes hands (a feeling many Canadians experienced when the Harper-led conservative government shocked many on the left with a strong show in elections leading to the first right-wing control of the Canadian Parliament in decades). Pak & Co. confirmed the inclusion of our favorite queer crusader, Northstar on the team and Northstar's boyfriend, Kyle.

I'm ecstatic to hear that Alpha Flight is getting another series. Especially after that decidedly unpopular re-imagining, Omega Flight, which featured a terribly random and mismatched cast of characters. The greatest and most iconic feature of Alpha Flight, as Pak points out during his call:

"They're a very interesting team because they are protectors of a nation," Pak said. "It's like a team of Captain Americas in a way. That's a very interesting thing to play with."

Omega Flight consisted of a series of heroes who had only passing allegiance to Canada, but this new classic line-up is sure to bring back some of those nostalgic feelings of the original Alpha Flight run. Bravo.

Check out Newsarama's coverage of the call [link]