- Pre-Crisis
- Post-Crisis
- Sentinel
- New 52
- Current
Alan Scott first appeared in All-America Comics #16 in 1940 as a construction engineer (although he later switched professions and became a radio engineer). As Green Lantern, he was a founding member of the Justice Society of America and served with that team until it was disbanded in 1951. He came out of retirement, along with the rest of the team, in 1963.
With his first wife, Rose Canton, he fathered two children who grew up to become the heroes Jade and Obsidian of Infinity, Inc.
In 1985 he married his reformed former nemesis, Molly Mayne, a.k.a. the Harlequin.
Unlike Dick Grayson (Robin), there is not a great deal of difference between the Earth-2 and "New Earth" versions of Alan Scott, and unlike Jason Todd (also Robin), there is not a great deal of difference between the pre- and post-Crisis versions, either. In a certain offshoot of the DC Universe (the one in which Superman was killed, Batman had his back broken and the Hal Jordan version of Green Lantern became Parallax), Alan Scott became Sentinal, but AFAIAC, these events marked the end of post-Crisis "New Earth."
[NOTE: In comic books published on what was once called "Earth Prime," the "reset button" was eventually pushed, but it is my contention that Zero Hour triggered the creation of an entirely new and different universe (although, to be fair, in a truly infinite universe, there would be a reality in which the reset button was pushed. But I digress...]
The "New 52" introduced a younger Alan Scott Green Lanetern (who also happens to be gay).
Finally, the current version has been rebooted to have always been gay since the 1940s..
Replies
While I personally have no problem with any being, real or fictitious, who prefers their own gender romantically, I cannot see why DC felt it necessary to recon Alan Scott and totally scrap 70+ years of continuity in the process.
Other than the obligatory and dubious "c'mon, look at that outfit," jokes.... I don't know that his being gay, in and of itself, scraps continuity, in that a lot of queer folks from that era married, had children, and lived double lives (or in Scott's case, a triple life, I suppose), I think they considered him a safe choice because so few people with an interest in superheroes in the present era are invested in his history. Obviously on this, as on many points, the members of this august board are exceptional. Most people watching superhero movies and who have maybe read or read Batman or Spider-man, say, don't really care about or in some cases even know Alan Scott.
It is interesting that less has been said (in general) about the sheer number of female characters who have been revealed retroactively to be lesbian or (more often) bisexual: Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Cheetah, Catwoman, Big Barda, Holly Robinson, Shrinking Violet, Wonder Woman (depending on the writer), Etta Candy, Stephanie Brown (maybe), White Canary in the TV series, and nearly every female of significance in the alt-DC Bombshells Universe. Some of these retcons may no longer be in play. I exclude Batwoman, because the current version was a new character, introduced that way, and Renee Montoya, who was coded that way from her introduction and revealed to be a lesbian early in her history. Lucy Lane often makes these lists as well but, as near as I can determine, there has only been one implication of a past sexual/romantic relationship with a woman. I like the representation of diverse groups in media, but that list might be playing to something else.
At Marvel you also have Black Cat and Kitty Pryde.
I think that it is interesting to consider how much easier it is to reveal fictional women as LGBT+ as contrasted to men.
My best guess is that female readers are simply generally less bothered by LGBT+. It would be easy to create rationales for traditional male characters to be part of that group, going back to the 300 of Sparta if not Gilgamesh even. Almost too easy really. But there isn't a lot of confidence that putting that subtext on panel would not hurt readership acceptance.
But mostly it is just far too clearly a natural and relatable plot, and somewhat more so for female characters. It is likely and perhaps probable that William Mouton Marston always meant us to at least wonder if Wonder Woman and other Amazons were not LGBT+, for reasons relating both to the creator and the character. The second Earth-One Cheetah, Deborah Domaine, was never canonically shown to be LGBT+ far as I know, but it is by no means difficult to picture her as such - she is first seen bonding with Wonder Woman and chatting with her while Diana has a shower, all the while Deborah is wearing an open shirt, a hat and a black bikini. Later on she is a member of the SSoSV and her most significant traits are listening to Killer Frost and having a chip on her shoulder against Wonder Woman for supposedly leaving her behind when she was presumed dead.
It just makes sense that characters who happen to be proactive enough to regularly pursue potentially dangerous activities will be overall more assertive than others; that the women in that group will tend to be a bit more open about their own attractions and identities than women who take more tradicionally peripheric, accessory roles (often defined by relationships with specific men); and that they will often bond among themselves and explore the boundaries of those bonds if given enough time, opportunity and range of shared situations.
Personally I think that it is a bit more surprising that there are not nearly as many clear LGBT+ ties among male fictional heroes.
There is also the reality of learning that people were queer after the fact, because the fact was hidden in the past for social reasons. Alan Scott fits that pattern as a fictional example, as does Wonder Woman.
characters who happen to be proactive enough to regularly pursue potentially dangerous activities will be overall more assertive than others
Possibly why I was not remotely surprised to learn that Neal Cassady had some same-sex encounters.
Coincidentally, we saw a production of Piaf/Dietrich last night. About two-thirds drama and one-third cabaret, it speculates that the two women, in addition to being friends for much of their lives, may have also been lovers. We don't really have any clear indication that Edith Piaf was so inclined, but Dietrich's sexuality was an open secret during her career.
Great performances by the four-person cast (the script demands much of the actors), and a stunning guest-appearance by a fifth.
At a dramatic moment, a bat flew out from the stage, over the audience, and disappeared. People gasped at the very effective bit of improv. Happy to see one of the theatre's tenants doing a bit of work for their accommodations.
For a more nuanced take on this subject than can be found in Alan Scott: Green Lantern, see Captain America: Patriot #2. Here's what you need to know...
Jeff Mace is a reporter for the Daily Bugle in WWII-era New York City. His co-workers are Mary Morgan, another reporter, and Jack Casey, a photographer. Jeff Mace become the Patriot, Mary Morgan becomes Miss Patriot, and Jack Casey joins the Navy. Later, the Patriot becomes the third Captain America. One day in 1946, Miss Patriot pays a visit to inform him that Jack Casey is dead. He had been "blue ticketed" out of the serivice, was unable to find work, and ultimately committed suicide.
BETSY ROSS: Casey's discharge -- he was blue ticketed.
JEFF MACE: Well that... that can mean a lot of things.
BOB FRANK: Did he ever have a girlfriend?
Jeff Mace is prohibited from attend the funeral as Captain America, so he goes as the Patriot. From the Daily Bugle: "News of the Patriot's surprise appearance and speech spread quickly, and due to the questionable nature of Casey's discharge, was just as quickly denounced by numerous groups and individuals. Photos of the Patriot are now conspicuously absent from veterans' and political offices, and the city's usually boistrous 'Young Patriots' have quietly joined Captain America's 'Sentinels of Liberty.' The Patriot was unavailable for further comment."
Mace burned his Patriot costume at that poiont, and his speech even brought the career of Miss Patriot to an end.