From 'Ambiguously Gay Duos' to Homosexual Superheroes

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In 1954, Fredric Wertham's description of Batman and Robin as a 'wish dream of two homosexuals living together'(Lendrum, 2004, p.70)represents one of the first known published queer readings of superhero characters. His reading saw the commencement of an intense interest in the way superheroes often portray 'camp' sensibilities representative of a queer performative identity. This is evident today within online comic book fan-communities where the sexual identity of popular superheroes are constantly explored and debated in discussion forums and expressed through the production of slash fiction and queer-themed fan art. The ambiguity inherent in superhero comics has allowed and encouraged fans to operate as 'textual poachers' (Jenkins, 1992) appropriating these texts for their own means. Today, however, there exist a new generation of comic book superheroes that are 'out'. This book examines the implications of these texts on the practice of comic book fandom by analyzing fan reactions and responses. The meaning of the shift from the 'implied' to 'actual' is examined in terms of fans' acceptance, resistance and desire to appropriate comic book texts.