In a push for better and genuine representation, DC comics has steadily developed many LGBTQ+ characters, and some are ready to join the DCEU.
DCEU fans will be waiting a while longer for the next installment now that Black Adam has been delayed to October 21st. At this point, with delays and consistently mixed reception, it’s anyone’s guess where the DCEU will be headed. Some peoples’ frustrations actually stem from an even deeper issue than movie quality, but to a lack of representation apropos to sexuality and gender expression.
Unfortunately, this has been a pervasive problem in comics throughout history. However, over the past several years, more and more DC LGBTQ+ characters have been introduced while existing ones have come out. As such, there are hopes that some of these heroes will crossover to live-action soon.
It may come as a surprise to the casual fan that Diana of Themyscira aka Wonder Woman is actually bisexual. This hasn’t been completely adopted into the DCEU yet, though Gal Gadot embraces Diana’s identity as a woman not limited by heteronormativity. This speaks true for other Amazons too, including Nubia who has worn the mantle of Wonder Woman before too.
Nubia was introduced in 1973 and is actually DC Comics’ first Black woman superhero. Recently, in a reboot, she takes over from Hippolyta as Queen of Themyscira. However, Nubia hasn't appeared in any other media, TV or film. Within the DCEU, her options are limited to the Wonder Woman 3, whenever that happens, or the still unconfirmed HBO Max series centered on the Amazons. Nevertheless, Nubia would be a welcome sight on-screen not only as a queer woman of color but also as a genuinely powerful and complex hero.
In 2016 DC’s main continuity was rebooted and with it, some characters like Wonder Woman had their sexuality formally defined. However, one popular character, John Constantine, had this happen all the way back in 1992. Constantine is associated with the occult and mystical sphere in DC Comics but is probably better known for his snarky cynicism. Not only is he an expert in magic, but he can hold his own in a physical fight too if necessary.
Constantine has already had a few on-screen adaptations – most notably by Keanu Reeves in 2005’s Constantine and by Matt Ryan as part of the Arrowverse and the DC Animated Universe. However, it seems likely that he will soon be part of the DCEU as several HBO Max shows are in development centered on Constantine, Justice League Dark, and other aspects of the occult in DC Comics.
One of the most remarkable things Young Justice did upon its creation was launch an entirely new character into the comics. For years Aquaman’s trusty sidekick, Aqualad, was Garth – though he eventually becomes Tempest – but now Kaldur’ahm uses that moniker. Introduced as Jackson Hyde, he is a young, black, gay superhero and the son of Aquaman’s fiercest foe, Black Manta.
It would certainly be exciting to see Aqualad cross over into live-action in the DCEU and it could be happening sooner than expected. Supposedly Charlize Theron is producing an HBO Max series centered on Jackson Hyde’s Aqualad, though no information has been made on whether this is actually part of the DCEU. Fans can hope so, though they’ll likely have to wait several more years till it comes to fruition, at which point there could be an Aquaman 3 introducing the character.
One of the earliest superheroes from DC comics is also retroactively their first gay superhero. The first Green Lantern, Alan Scott was created in the 1940s and became a founding member of the Justice Society of America, the precursor to the more popular Justice League. He is not the only queer Green Lantern, sharing that with Jo Mullein – nor is he the only one even in his family since his son Todd Rice aka Obsidian is also gay.
Green Lanterns are already part of the DCEU as shown in Zach Snyder’s Justice League and Black Adam is bringing in the JSA, so possibilities abound over when and where Alan Scott could also pop up. For some time a Green Lantern film, likely featuring John Stewart and/or Hal Jordan, was in the works, but that seems to have transitioned into an HBO Max series. Supposedly, actor Jeremy Irvine will be taking on the role, but nothing more is known.
Among the recent characters that have come out of the closet, one of the most high-profile heroes is Tim Drake, the third Robin. He has been a staple in DC comics since his introduction in 1989 following the “death” of Jason Todd, the previous Robin. He’s been part of the Teen Titans and Young Justice, and further following in Dick Grayson’s footsteps, he went out on his own as Red Robin.
He came out in 2021 as bisexual – like fellow young hero Superman (John Kent) – he has started dating a boy named Bernard Dowd. Tim Drake already has a presence in live-action, being played by Jay Lycurgo in Titans, who also played a role in The Batman. However, if Robin were to show up in the DCEU, it would likely be Tim Drake since Dick Grayson was supposedly killed by the Joker.
Another member of the Bat-Family is also a prominent member of the LGBTQ+ community in the comics. Batwoman was reintroduced in 2006, this time as Bruce Wayne’s cousin named Kate Kane and as a lesbian. Interestingly, the original Batwoman, Kathy Kane, was allegedly introduced as Batman’s love interest to stave off allegations that he was gay. Despite that murky history, this revitalized hero quickly grabbed readers' attention, and she's not let it go since.
While the Arrowverse tv show, Batwoman could complicate a live-action film debut in the DCEU, it doesn’t fully limit it. She is obviously connected to Bruce Wayne, but she is also linked to Batgirl through Alysia Yeoh, the first major transgender character in a DC film. Furthermore, the multiverse will soon be embraced in The Flash, with both Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck’s Batmans being featured, so perhaps this could open the door for Batwoman too.
The Flash will likely be an incredibly consequential film for the DCEU based on its source material Flashpoint, which rebooted the comics’ main continuity. In one of the trailers, for a brief moment, two Flashes are seen on-screen, proving that the show will incorporate the multiverse. As such this could mean that other characters besides Michael Keaton’s Batman could also join the DCEU.
This would include Earth-11’s speedster, Jess Chambers aka Kid Quick, this world’s variant of Kid Flash. In a parallel world with gender-swapped characters, Kid Quick stands apart from the crowd as a gender-fluid hero. Compared to other parts of the LGBTQ+ spectrum, these characters are severely underrepresented, so Kid Quick provides a refreshing change of pace. Depending on how The Flash plays out, they could easily play a role in the DCEU.
In the comics, Wonder Woman (Diana) is not an only child. In fact, she has a twin brother, Jason. Nubia was actually also introduced as a twin sibling to Diana, though that was later retconned. Typically male babies are abandoned at birth on Themyscira since it is a matriarchy. Jason, however, was sent off the island to be raised in the known world.
Though they grew up differently – which led to severe jealousy on Jason’s part with him betraying Diana at one point – they are still quite similar as he is also bisexual. He eventually changes course and becomes a heroic figure, fighting against Darkseid with his sister. Jason would certainly add a fascinating element to Wonder Woman’s story in the DCEU so it would be exciting to see him featured in Wonder Woman 3.
