via Comic Book Resources– Just weeks away from National Coming Out Month, DC Comics sticks to its commitment of creating a more
modern and diverse DC Universe with the New 52, and announces the introduction of a gay teenage superhero to Teen Titans.
Meet Miguel Jose Barragan, a queer teen from a small village in Mexico called El Chiar. Miguel, also known as Bunker, is a fun loving teenage boy who’s out to his family and entire village about both his powers and sexuality.
The new character is referred to as “The Wall” because of his ability to “create small force field that looks like bricks.” You can catch Bunker in the background of the cover of the first issue of the relaunched Teen Titans which premieres on September 28th, as well as on Teen Titans November issue where he is introduced to the series.
Some people may be on the fence about this one, but I think it’s awesome. There is something about looking at a picture frame and actually seeing your face in the photo. Bunker’s character isn’t about portraying heterosexual notions of masculinity or keeping his sexual identity hidden.
He’s out, he’s open, and I’m looking forward to reading up on him in the coming months.
About Being Latino Contributors
First off as a latino and a comic book etuhuisit I am all for latino hero. But this character is meant to fail, I am not even going to go into how much D.C. attempt to shove badly rehashed stories is going to fail for the most part. Whenever they (Comic book companies) try to show diversity paticuarly with sexuality they never use a “gringo” well known superhero. Not that I am saying a gay superhero is a fail in anyway. The most successful was marvels northstar from alpha flight books and later colossus in the ultimate marvel universe. Good stories by the way but one is a french man and the other is a russian. To the best of my knowledge I cant recall a “gringo” superhero coming out. Cause lord forbid one of the fully white ” A listers” be outted. Wouldent want the public to veiw the White heros as anything unmanily. This new latino character could be a hard enough sell to readers as is in a predomiantly white established genre. Without making him more diverse but what moved me to make a comment is the lame ass power they give him. It comes across as a half ass attempt to please the masses. Force fields that look like bricks how ironic that is the very solutions some politicains suggest to keep them out. And if I am coming across as focussing on just one aspect of the character I apoligize. It is not my intention. This is a character that is going to be phased as soon as sales look bleak and used as “well we tried”. They could have just made him one or the other and I am not against a depiction of a gay latino, I am against them trying too hard and knowing that the character isnt really going to resisenate with the majority of the demographic. Basically if you are not going to do it right dont do it at all. Again dont get me wrong I am a proud new yorker who believes socity thrives with the more diversity it has. But I know a lame ass attempt as comic book fan when i see one. I wish them success with the character none the less cuase if he succeced its going to demand more respect from its creators then they will really have to put their money where their mouths are.
The effort to get some sort of diversity out there, no matter what, whether we like it or not, is laughable and becoming really boring. Can’t we just focus on just being people instead of always having to be a special interest group yelling, “look at me! look at me!”? A comic book should be a comic book, not some sociology experiment on what’s trendy now.
I am the Latino male.