June is LGBT+ Pride Month, a time for queer people to stand up for equal rights and celebrate sexual diversity, so it’s no surprise that Marvel Comics chose this month to launch its comic book starring gay X-Men member Iceman (check out our review of Iceman #1). From gay writer Sina Grace and artist Alessandro Vitti, the series shows what Bobby Drake is up to in his personal life when he’s not out saving the world as an X-Man. So far, it’s been a lot of combating stigma against mutants, beating up bad guys, and enduring the arduous struggle that is online dating.
While that last one might seem the most treacherous of all, we think Bobby shouldn’t have anything to worry about. In the world of gay dating, he's someone any guy would be lucky to have. Here’s why Iceman would be the perfect gay boyfriend.
Iceman has the power of ice (duh), meaning he can turn the water vapor around him into ice to use in a variety of ways. This is extremely useful in combat, allowing him to fire icicle projectiles, build ice sheet shields, and incapacitate foes in blocks of ice. But in a more practical sense, having a guy around the house with ice powers means you’ll save a fortune on AC and will never drink a lukewarm beverage again.
His power will also come in handy when it’s bedtime. Snuggling is always good in theory, but sometimes the combined body heat of two people turns your bed into an unbearable sweat lodge. With Iceman, he’ll keep things chill enough to keep the cuddles going all night long.
Bobby is handsome enough in his human form, but he really turns up (down?) the heat when he goes into ice mode. While he does have a more modest costume in his new solo series, his classic look is nothing but an X-Men branded speedo that puts his ice-abs, ice-biceps, ice-everything on glistening display. Some guys work out so much that it looks like they’re chiseled from stone, but Iceman literally sculpts his bod every time he powers up… and he doesn’t miss a thing.
You can tell a lot about a guy by who his friends are, and Bobby pals around with the X-Men. They’re a self-sacrificing group of superheroes that defend both mutantkind and those who hate and fear them.
Yes, Jean Grey can be a bit nosy, Cyclops is too bossy, Beast sheds on the couch, and Kitty Pryde can be pretty shifty. And sure, some of them can go off the philosophical deep end and emotionally devastate the team every now and then. But at the end of the day, they’ve got Bobby’s back because they’re not just a superhero team, they’re a big family.
Many people who come out as gay are abandoned by their families, so they make a new family out of the gay community; the same could be said for mutantkind and the X-Men. Bobby took quickly to his powers and fighting proudly as a mutant hero, but it took years of hiding in the closet (and a visit from his time-traveling younger self) before he was able to come to grips with his sexuality. There’s little doubt that a life spent amongst the X-Men, a dedicated group that prides themselves on doing the right thing, has helped Bobby in his journey by teaching him how to rely on his family and team. As far as a relationship goes, teamwork is what it’s all about.
A good partner is one who you trust wholeheartedly yet still always manages to surprise you.
And Iceman can surprise you with what everyone truly, deeply desires: a snow day!
On a whim, he can turn a sweltering summer day into a winter wonderland of snow forts, ice-skating, and sledding. Plus when he’s on your side, you’ll enjoy a never-ending supply of ammo during snowball fights. And not the overly dry kind that falls apart midair. The good kind where the snow sticks together into a firm, compact sphere that explodes into powder when you nail your target.
Iceman is labeled as an Omega-level mutant, meaning he has an exceptional level of power on par with Magneto and Phoenix, but from the way he uses his abilities, you’d never know that. Bobby often gets a lot of flack from fans because he has the potential to be one of the most deadly, unstoppable characters in the Marvel Universe, but he never reaches that level. And that’s precisely why we find Bobby so endearing.
Bobby isn’t out to be the biggest, baddest guy around. He’s a more grounded and relatable guy, and while he often broadcasts his cocky attitude and wisecracking humor during battle, he’s proven time and time again that his heart is in the right place when it comes to being there for his teammates. There’s something incredibly charming about a guy who could become the Indomitable Iceman, laying waste to enemies with his icy wrath, yet he chooses to stay boy-next-door Bobby Drake, a funny, self-sacrificing guy who values being a friend and hero over becoming the most powerful guy in the room.
Being gay has a lot in common with being a mutant, as excellently displayed during Iceman’s “coming out” scene in X2: X-Men United. You’re born that way, you will face bullying and discrimination for it, and those who claim to be your friends and family may turn their backs on you because of it. Bobby’s experiences as both a mutant and an out gay man would make him an incredibly empathetic and understanding partner, one who would share his feelings and be there to help with yours. So even though he may not be the strongest mutant around, he’d be a hero to you in every way that counts.
And did we mention ice-abs?
Joshua is IGN’s Comics Editor. If Pokemon, Green Lantern, or Game of Thrones are frequently used words in your vocabulary, you’ll want to follow him on Twitter @JoshuaYehl and IGN.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire