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Comic News: Alan Scott Revealed as DC’s Latest Gay Character

Written by Melissa Grey

Comic News

Alan Scott

Ever since last week’s announcement that DC would be reintroducing one of it’s more iconic characters as gay, the internet has been abuzz with fan speculation about the identity of the rebooted hero. This morning, DC confirmed the popular rumor that Alan Scott, the Golden Age Green Lantern, will be appearing in Earth 2 with a revamped sexual orientation.

Writer James Robinson and artist Nicola Scott will take to the pages of Earth 2 #2 with a story featuring the original Green Lantern in a same-sex relationship. Launched last month, Earth 2 is DC’s latest foray back into the multiverse, where characters like Huntress and Power Girl appear in an alternative universe set apart from the main Earth 1 continuity.

In a conversation with Newsarama, Robinson said, “I really believe in this idea of relaunching the Justice Society and making them younger. But I thought it was a shame that we lost Jade and Obsidian, who are Alan Scott's children. Obsidian has been in the comics for years and was a positive gay character. And then, in the way that one idea can spring forward to the next, I thought, well, let's make Alan Scott gay. And to DC and to Dan DiDio's credit, when I ran the idea past him, there wasn't a moment's hesitation. He was like, ‘Yeah, that's great. Let's do it.’”

Created in 1940 by writer Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell in All-American Comics #16, Alan Scott was the original leader of the JSA and has called Earth 2 home for decades. Once the Silver Age Green Lantern, Hal Jordan, was introduced in 1959, Scott took a backseat to Jordan’s inter-galactic adventures. The character has experienced something of a Renaissance since the late 90’s, featuring prominently in stories like Infinite Crisis and Brightest Day.

Alan Scott isn’t the only character to undergo a major change in Earth 2. Huntress, known to fans for years as schoolteacher Helena Bertinelli, was reintroduced in the first issue as Helena Wayne, former Robin and daughter of Bruce Wayne and Selena Kyle. DC has largely ignored its alternative worlds since its 2005 event, Infinite Crisis, and the New 52 has provided the perfect platform to explore the possibilities afforded by the multiverse.

Fans can follow the adventures of Alan Scott and the newly rebooted JSA when Earth 2 #2 hits newsstands June 6th.

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