Extraño

updated
15 Sep 2020
Extraño
Extraño
Archetype: 
Continuity: 
Extraño
(non-canonical emblem)
Status: 
Active
Variant: 

Queering the Legion

Extraño is noted for being the first openly gay superhero in DC Comics.

The character never said the word "gay" in the comic, but it was commonly understood that he was. One writer states, "Extraño embodied nearly every stereotype of a gay man. He was flamboyant and colorful, and he referred to himself in the third person, as 'Auntie'. Extraño was mainly used as comic relief, and he never had a boyfriend."

The character was controversial, both internally at DC Comics as well as with the readership. Englehart wanted to explore the character more, including a storyline about HIV, but Englehart later said that the editor, Andy Helfer, didn't want gay characters in his comics, and "he thought that Extraño was 'cured' at the end of Millennium."

Extraño was ultimately killed by HIV infection, but it was contracted from a fight with an "AIDS vampire" supervillain called the Hemo-Goblin. The character was briefly revisited in 2016/2017 in the post-DC Rebirth universe, as a supporting character in Midnighter and Apollo, a six-issue miniseries about two gay superheroes.

-Wikipedia

Alternate Versions

Appearances

Displaying 1 - 1 of 1
  • Justice League Dark #12
    2019 Aug