Iceman, aka Bobby Drake, outed as gay by Jean Grey
X-MEN’S resident mind-reader Jean Grey has outed one of the characters as gay in leaked pages of this week’s issue of the comic book.
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X-MEN’S resident mind-reader Jean Grey has outed Iceman as gay in leaked pages of this week’s issue of the comic book.
Bobby Drake aka Iceman has the power to turn things around him into ice, including himself. He was one of the original X-Men and the youngest of the mutants.
In the latest issue of All-New X-Men, Jean Grey tells Iceman that he is gay. While initially denying it, he later admits that it is true.
The news has caused much debate with X-Men fans.
Firstly, was Jean Grey was right to “out” Iceman?
As he tries to come to terms with his sexuality he says to her “maybe I am bi”, to which she replies “they say everybody is.”
Secondly, the future version of Iceman has always been presented as straight and has had relationships with several women, further clouding the latest revelation.
“There are thousands if not millions of stories of people who, for many different reasons, felt the need to hide their sexuality,” Brian Michael Bendis, who wrote the issue, said in a statement to CNN. “The X-Men, with the conceit of time travel, give us a fascinating platform in which to examine such personal journeys. This is just the first little chapter of a much larger story that will be told.”
X-Men has long been progressive in terms of presenting diversified characters. Storm, a black female mutant was introduced in the 70s, and Northstar was the first gay mainstream comic book character.
Other LGBT comic book characters include Batwoman and the original Green Lantern, who are both gay, and Catwoman and Harley Quinn, who both identify as bisexual.
It is not clear whether the revelation regarding Iceman, who is played by Shaun Ashmore in the X-Men movies, will be included in the big screen adaptations.
Originally published as Iceman, aka Bobby Drake, outed as gay by Jean Grey