Iceman From Marvel’s X-Men Officially Comes Out As Gay
The rumors have finally been put to rest. Iceman is gay and here’s how the X-Men comic book brilliantly tackled the issue of how and why he was living in the closet.Â
Earlier this year, the fan favorite X-Men character, Iceman (Bobby Drake), came out as gay… well sort of. The younger version of Iceman came out as gay in the All-New X-Men #40 while the older version of himself was dating Kitty Pryde, a female teammate. It seems like an interesting paradox, but Marvel writer Brian Michael Bendis tackles the issue well and circles back to clarify things in the closing chapter of Uncanny X-Men #600.
According to Vox, it was Bendis who back in 2012 introduced the idea of bringing the original X-Men (Beast, Iceman, Jean Grey, Cyclops, Angel) back to the present day. Time travel was used to bring the younger versions of the characters into the same timeline as the older versions of themselves.
In the All-New X-Men #40, Jean Grey read the younger Iceman’s mind and found out he was gay. Bobby had difficulty understanding how he could be gay if the older version of himself was still straight.
All-New X-Men #40 Image Credit: Marvel
The Uncanny X-Men #600 explains everything when the younger version of Bobby opens up to his older self. “I’m gay, it turns out. So that means you are too, right?â€
What makes this scene so interesting is that the younger version of Iceman is more comfortable with his feelings than the older Iceman is. The age-old question of “What would you tell the younger version of yourself?†is turned around because it’s the younger version that has it all together here, while the older version of Iceman is still struggling with his sexuality.
The older Iceman grew up in a time were it was a lot harder to be openly gay, so he hid his feelings and lived in the closet. The younger Iceman was pulled out of that time, and brought to the future (post equal marriage rights) where being gay is more accepting. The Advocate first reported the older Iceman coming out as gay.Â
Uncanny X-Men #600 Image Credit: Marvel
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Uncanny X-Men #600 Image Credit: Marvel
The X-Men comic book series has always run parallels with civil rights issues, most notably LGBT issues. The stories focus on mutants that are shunned by society. Those that can hide the fact that they’re mutants often do, similar to when LGBT people live their lives in the closet.
Marvel’s X-Men made history in 2012 when they became the first mainstream comic to include a same-sex marriage. A character by the name of Northstar married his boyfriend, Kyle Jinadu, in Astonishing X-Men #51.
The Uncanny X-Men #600 is out in comic book stores now. You can also buy it online at the Marvel store.
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Hat tip:Â The Advocate
Image Credits: Marvel
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