Hate is a choice. Sexual orientation is not…
Comics and superheroes have taught me a lot over the years. Before we dive in let us clear the air, I’m from a homophobic culture and a homophobic family. My fans have taught me quite a bit about LGBTQIA+ culture especially the transgender issues and gender-specific identifiers.
But I have outgrown my culture of Homophobia thanks to superhero comics.
To this day I can still remember Green Lantern Issue #154 published November 1, 2002. It had a supporting character Terry Berg who was just coming to terms with his sexuality beaten to near death because he kissed his boyfriend outside a club. Expertly written by Judd Winnick and illustrated by Dale Eaglesham. It was a moment that really brought home the simple things denied to some human beings because they either don’t think or act the same way as the majority or have a different belief.
This month is LGBTQIA+ Pride month and Worldofblackheroes.com is celebrating with a list of our favorite LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, (questioning), intersex, asexual, and (agender) Black Comic characters.
UPDATED: JUNE 3, 2023
- Prodigy
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Christina Weir and Nunzio DeFilippis.
1st appearance: New Mutants vol.2 #4, 2003
Biography
David Alleyne is a former student of Xavier’s school for the gifted. While a student’s he lead the reformed New Mutant squad and had a rivalry with Hellion. After being depowered on M-Day he had all the knowledge and skills he had ever accessed, activated. Now one of the most brilliant minds on earth he sides with Cyclops during Schism. After Avengers vs. X-men, he defected from the X-men and joined the Young Avengers where it was revealed he was bi-sexual.
~DIG DEEPER INTO PRODIGY HERE~
- Thunder (Anissa Pierce)
Publisher: DC Comics
Created by Judd Winick and Tom Raney
1st appearance: Outsiders vol. 3 #1, August 2003
Biography
Anissa Pierce is the first daughter of Jefferson Pierce/Black Lightning and his wife. She has the ability to control her density. At the age of twenty-two, she graduated from pre-med at Tulane University. She was recruited by Arsenal and Nightwing into the Outsiders; they noted “she’ good, but she has a lot to learn”. She eventually started a relationship with the Amazon Grace Choi and is also made her debut on the CW’s Black Lightning!!
~DIG DEEPER INTO THUNDER HERE~
- Ninja G
Created by: Matt Kindt and Christos Gage
1st appearance: Ninjak (V3) #1 (March 2015)
Publisher: Valiant Entertainment
Biography
NINJA-G was a member of the super-secret British intelligence unit MI6 during the mid-1970s-early 1980s. A badass black woman, the first female Ninja agent, and one of the best. Seeing that her trajectory was leading nowhere good, she faked her death and started a new life. She’s still around and still deadly. If Cleopatra Jones or Foxy Brown was a ninja she would be Ninja G!
~DIG DEEPER INTO NINJA G HERE~
- Fifty
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Garth Enis
1st appearance: Punisher presents: Barracuda #2
Brief Biography
Fifty was a general in the United States Army and an old friend of Barracuda. They met while they were both serving in the United States Army. When Barracuda planned a coup of Leopoldo Luna’s crime operation, he was contacted so he left his army post to be with him. Once in Santa Morricone, he started a relationship with Leopoldo Luna. He was forced to defend the compound when they were attacked by an opposing army. The next day while on a helicopter ride with Barracuda and Leopoldo, the latter tried to have them killed. When fifty showed the homophobic Leopoldo his genitalia the villain was driven mad by what he had done. Along with Baraccuda, they faced down an impending army. In the battle, fifty was killed. Fifty was also a cross-dressing bisexual that was in love with violence and combat!
- Bilquis
Created by: Neil Gaiman
1st appearance: American Gods, 2001
Portrayed by: Yetide Badak
Biography
Bilquis—also called Bilqis or Balkis or Makeda—was the legendarily beautiful and uncommonly wise Queen of Sheba. Legend has it she is at least half djinn (or genie). In both the Bible and the Koran, she meets with—and is not outwitted by—King Solomon of Israel.
Bilquis is one of the old gods and is considered a goddess of love. In the modern age, she seduces men and women and engages in sexual intercourse with them. She then places them in a trance and has them worship her. She then consumes them body and soul with her Vagina thus rejuvenating some of her power.
~DIG DEEPER INTO BILQUIS HERE~
- Rococo
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Peter David & Emanuela Lupacchino
1st appearance: X-Factor #216 (May 2011)
Biography
Her real name is unknown as is her past before she became a test subject in the S.C.A.R.s project founded by General Sam Ryan, Dr. Young Soo Pock, and J. Jonah Jameson. As a potential new super soldier she and Ballistique were given cybernetic upgrades to grant them superpowers, unfortunately, a side effect was mental instability. On test missions, they relished killing and as a result went outside protocol becoming mercenaries to indulge their homicidal tendencies. Deemed a failure her memories were wiped and they became civilians.
She lived as nurse Cocoa for many years before Ballistique regained her memories and attacked her with a flamethrower which revealed her metallic epidermis once she was set ablaze. This caused her to regain her memories and the two journeyed to New York to kill mayor J. Jonah Jameson. During a fight with X-Factor investigations, she took down the cat she noted “She had the Sweetest little rump” suggesting she was either Gay or Bisexual.
- Aqualad (Reboot)
Publisher: DC Comics
Created by: Greg Weisman, Brandon Vietti, and Phil Bourassa
1st appearance: Brightest Day #4, 2010
Biography
(Jackson Hyde) is the son of Black Manta and the successor to the Aqualad mantle. He grew up a gay teenager with a homophobic mother who kept his father’s identity from her son. His hydrokinetic power developed early in his life but was forbidden from using them even when alone by his mother. When he was all but rejected by his boyfriend he left New Mexico to join the Teen Titans. After saving the team from King Shark he was inducted into their ranks. He would later learn his father’s identity, the reason he had powers and was finally gifted with the name Aqualad by the previous holder, now tempest.
~DIG DEEPER INTO AQUALAD HERE~
- Aneka
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Jonathan Maberry and Will Conrad
1st appearance: Black Panther Vol.5 #8, 2005
Biography
Her childhood is shrouded in mystery.
Aneka was one of the Captains of the Dora Milaje who trained young recruits at Upanga under the watchful eyes of Mistress Zola [Black Panther- World of Wakanda #1, 2016]. Aneka was an integral part of the Dora Milaje during the reign of Queen Shuri after T’challa abdicated the throne. She was also instrumental in training the Dora Milaje when Dr. Doom allied with the Desturi and staged a major coup. She was tasked by T’challa to create a new fighting style to combat Doom’s Doombots.
After the battle, she remained loyal to the crown despite the doubts that lingered in her mind. It was during this recuperation time that she met a young recruit named Ayo who reminded her of herself and who she was drawn to. The young woman would test her boundaries and skills constantly but she resisted yielding to their attraction. They eventually rebel against the crown as she and Ayo, became lovers.
- Domino Swift
Publisher: Image Comics
Created by: Brenden Fletcher, Cameron Stewart, and Babs Tarr
1st appearance: Motor Crush #1, 2016
Biography
Domino Swift competes for fame and fortune in a worldwide motorcycle racing league. By night, she cracks heads of rival gangs in brutal bike wars to gain possession of rare, valuable contraband: an engine-boosting “machine narcotic” known as Crush. Unique physiology allows her to ingest the “machine narcotic” known as Crush which kills a normal human but instead grants her superhuman speed.
~DIG DEEPER INT DOMINO SWIFT HERE~
- Bling
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Peter Milligan and Salvador Larroca
1st appearance: X-Men, vol. 2 #171
Brief Biography
The celebrity daughter of hip hop stars Roy “Daddy Libido” Washington and Angel “Sexy Mutha” Depres, Roxy was dancing in her parent’s music videos from an early age. During puberty her powers manifested and she turned her back on the music industry to enroll in Xavier’s institute. On M-day, she retained her powers but lost in Emma Frost’s showdown in the Danger room resulting in her not being trained as an x-man. This however doesn’t stop her from being taken to Limbo and tortured when Illyana Rasputin is returned to life. When Apocalypse returns she is given front line duty and was highly recommended by Rogue and Havok to join the jr X-men team. Roxy however wasn’t interested and was even contemplating leaving the x-men when the government started treating Xavier’s as an internment camp. She accompanies the x-men when they go to San Francisco and establish Utopia. Along with Frenzy and Nekra, she took on Ms. Marvel. Later on, she is captured by Emplate who uses her as food. She has admitted to being attracted to women.
- Josiah Power
Publisher: DC Comics
Created by: Kurt Busiek and Tom Grummett
1st appearance: JLA #61 (February 2002)
Biography
Josiah was an openly gay top-class lawyer based in Metropolis home to Superman. Some would argue he was one of the best lawyers in the world until his meta-gene was activated during the Thanagarian invasion. Because his powers manifested in court he was let go by his firm despite having no interest in being a superhero.
Working through depression and motivated by Superman he combined his knowledge and his profile as a public meta-human to create a business with partners and associates based around “Superheroes for Hire”. He lived with his life partner Rupert. Josiah and his team were defeated by Dr. Impossible and villains using god tech from New Genisis. When they were found by the Justice League the team was much shaken when they found Josiah near death since according to Superman he was one of the most powerful Meta-humans ever.
~DIG DEEPER INTO JOSIAH POWER HERE~
12. Baal
Publisher: Image Comics
Created by: Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie
First Appearance: The Wicked+The Divine #1, 2014
Brief Biography
Baal can refer to a number of gods from the Middle East that are roughly contemporary to the Old Testament – Baal (meaning “Lord”) in most cases refers to the god of the Canaanite tribes around Carthage (known as Baal-Hamon), and the Baal-Hadad version that appears in The Wicked and the Divine is the god of the Phoenicians – a people who are believed to have originated from the Canaanites. In Wicked +Divine Baal is a new age god modeled after Kanye West who also happens to be bisexual, a member of the pantheon, and able to control electricity and fire. He has been intimate with many of the other gods most notably Inanna and Laura.
- Catastrophe Jen
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Ron Zimmerman, John Severin
1st appearance: Rawhide Kid Vol 3 #2 (May 2003)
Biography
Lesbian member of the Cisco Pike Gang. Nothing is known of her past before she joined them. She had a compulsion to kill men that often put her at odds with Cisco Pike as she killed not just enemy or random men but also her male gang members. Unlike the other gang members, she survived the battle with Rawhide Kid.
She was last seen attending the sheriff’s wedding with her girlfriend apparently now the deputy sheriff.
~DIG DEEPER INTO CATASTROPHE HERE~
- Persephone
Publisher: Image Comics
Created by: Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie
First Appearance: The Wicked+The Divine #1,2014
Biography
Born to a black father and White mother in London, England, Laura was a teenager who always knew she was meant for so much more. When the Pantheon make their debut she is instantly smitten and becomes their “fangirl”. Laura Wilson, currently known as Persephone, the Greek Goddess of springtime, vegetation, flowers, fertility, death, rebirth, and the underworld, is a teenage girl who became embroiled in the Recurrence when she befriended the god Lucifer. Obsessed with the Pantheon, she eventually achieved her dream of becoming a god herself. She also appeared in the 1920’s Recurrence, and presumably in all Recurrences, although unseen. Persephone is the God that Ananke’s sister claims would appear last during each Recurrence.
~DIG DEEPER INTO PERSEPHONE HERE~
- Kyle Jinadu
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Matt Fraction and Greg Land
1st appearance: Uncanny X-men #508, 2009
Biography
Kyle has been a long-time friend of Aurora for years and through her, he met her brother Northstar. Years later after Northstar had written books, taught of the Xavier Institute for higher learning, been outed as Gay and become world-renowned as the first gay superhero, Kyle was asked by Northstars sister to keep an eye on her brother and manage ” Team Northstar Extreme Snowsports” which included public appearances and schedule as a celebrity. This lead to a relationship between the two which continued after Northstar rejoined the X-men. Kyle has been very supportive of his boyfriend’s career despite the danger. They later got married.
- Voodoo (clone)
Publisher: Wildstorm Comics
Created by: Ron Marz and Sami Basri based on the original created by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi
1st appearance: Voodoo #1, 2011
Brief Biography
Cloned from the cells of Priscilla Kitaen a human Daemonite hybrid who had been experimented on but escaped, she was implanted with training, memories, and an inherent almost fanatical belief in the Daemonite prophecy. Sent to earth after her programming had been checked she became a sleeper agent to gather information on earth’s heroes. She started out as a stripper located next to a military base but eventually went rogue. When her true nature as a clone was revealed to her she confronted her Daemonite handlers and after killing all who opposed her she was granted the rank of “Commander of Earth’s Hybrids”. Returning to Earth she confronted her template. On Saturn she rose to the rank of leader of the abandoned Daemonites and was now hellbent on destroying all who opposed her claim as the new leader of the Daemonites; Hellspont, Priscilla, and the Daemonite lords. She was classified as a black bi-sexual superhero by DC Comics.
~DIG DEEPER INTO VOODOO (CLONE) HERE~
- Dale Gun
Publisher: DC Comics
Created by: Gerry Conway and Chuck Patton
1st appearance: Justice League of America Annual #2, 1984
Brief Biography
In the New 52, Dale appears in Justice League of America’s Vibe #1, as an agent of the government agency, A.R.G.U.S. He is given the task of bringing in Vibe and getting him to join the new Justice League of America. In issue #4 of Justice League of America’s Vibe, it is revealed that this new version of Gunn is gay and married to another man named Casey, though he’s been hiding their marriage from his superiors at A.R.G.U.S. so as to prevent any of their enemies from exploiting it.
- Fade
Publisher: Milestone Comics
First Appearance: Blood Syndicate #1, April 1993
Created by: Dwayne McDuffie and Denys Cowan
Biography
Carlos Quinones joined the force syndicate with his sister Flashback in order to help them assimilate after moving to the U.S. from Dominica. He knew from early on that he was gay. While in the force syndicate, he fell in love with Tech-9, one of the founding members of Force Syndicate, though Tech-9 had no idea of Carlos’s true feelings. His gang-banger lifestyle left a strained relationship between him and his father. On the night of the Big Bang event, he was one of many gang members to attend. Unlike most of those present, however, he was changed by the event into a super-powered being. Stretched over a three-second time span, he would remain incorporeal and almost unseen forever. Luckily, his sister Flashback‘s power anchored him in whichever time she was in. He lost the man he loved eventually and was blackmailed due to his sexuality by teammate Masquerade. It’s unknown if he is still “in the closet” to this day.
- Masquerade
Publisher: Milestone Media Llc.
Created by: Dwayne McDuffie, Ivan Velez Jr., and Denys Cowan
1st appearance: Blood Syndicate #1, 1993
Brief Biography
Born biologically a woman, most of his past is shrouded in mystery. From an early age he realized that his gender identity did not fit with his biological makeup, he was a man trapped in a woman’s body. He joined Holocaust‘s gang the Paris Bloods along with his older brother who accepted his lifestyle. Only his brother knew he was a biological female dressed as a man in the gang. On Paris island, during the Big Bang his brother was killed and he gained the power to shapeshift and immediately used his powers to make his body reflect what’s always been in his mind, he changed his biology to match his gender identity, becoming a man.
As Masquerade he joined the Blood Syndicate. He was eventually ousted and was kicked off the team and later became their enemy.
~DIG DEEPER INTO MASQUERADE HERE~
- Hero Cruz
Publisher: DC Comics
Created by: Karl Kesel & Steve Mattsson
1st appearance: Superboy and the Ravers #1, (September 1996)
Biography
Hero is the first child of Bill and Hera Cruz a black couple of African and Latino heritage. Before joining the Ravers he managed to steal the Achilles vest from the lair of a scavenger who had a stockpile of such items. Cruz then became a regular at the event horizon; an intergalactic rave featuring people from across the universe. Here he met Superboy and those who would become his teammates in the ravers. After losing the Achilles Vest he found the H-Dial and realized he could use it to become a real superhero. As a member of Superboy and the Ravers one of his persona’s “Titanic” shares a kiss and flirtation with teammates Sparx. She assumed this meant they would be in a relationship but Hero in his real persona confessed to her that he was gay. This put a strain on their relationship as she saw this as ungodly and wrong despite him never having actually acted upon these impulses.
- Big Thunder
Publisher: Dc Comics
Created by: Grant Morrison
1st appearance: Seven Soldiers: Bulleteer #3, 2006
Biography
Big Thunder was a superhuman bodyguard hired to protect a mermaid during the Seven Soldiers’ situation. He was teamed with Bulletteer for guarding the mermaid where he met a “wannabe a superhero” who was pretending to be gay. During their exchange, Big Thunder said they played for the same “team”.
~DIG DEEPER INTO BIG THUNDER HERE~
- Virtue
Publisher: DC Comics
Created by: Gail Simone and Freddie E. Williams
1st appearance: The Movement #1, July 2013
Biography
She is a metahuman with the power to ride one’s emotions. She can use this to see the emotional connections that one has with those around them. She can also use these connections to astral project herself into their vicinity. She can also sense the emotional state of others and shift into a state-related to emotions in this state she is intangible and can fly. She can also induce emotional states in others and even enhance them so they can be used as an effective weapon. Born into an unnamed family with the ability to access the emotional spectrum, the same accessed by the Lantern corps of the universe. When her powers manifested she accidentally put her father in a hospital He did not recover for weeks. Her mother in fear sent her away to her aunt and told her father she was dead. She would eventually create the Movement and battle Batgirl as an openly Gay woman.
22. Shout Out
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Created by: Garth Ennis
1st appearance: The Boys #4, 2006
Biography
Shout out was a member of the superhero team, Teenage Kix who were known for their edgy alternative attitudes and appearance which contrasted with the conservative “Young Americans”. Like his friends they were very immoral and unethical reveling in group sex with prostitutes, scamming hospitals, etc. This behavior made them targets of “The Boys” who caught them having an orgy after defeating the villains “fearsome foursome”.
Shout Out later came out as gay to the public to garner sympathy and public appeal as they tried to climb the heroic social ladder and maintain face when the team was “blackmailed”. Informed of their blackmailers and not knowing of their reputation they engaged in a street fight and the team was severely injured and defeated.
~DIG DEEPER INTO SHOUT OUT HERE~
23. Inanna
Publisher: Image Comics
Created by: Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie
1st appearance: The Wicked + The Divine, December 17, 2014
Biography
Inanna is the Sumerian Goddess of love, beauty, sex, desire, fertility, war, combat, justice, and political power, and is one of the gods of the Recurrence, symbolized by an eight-pointed star. He is known to have appeared in the 450s, the 1830s, and 2010s Recurrences.
Inanna’s original name was Zahid. Even before the 2010s Recurrence, he was a fan of the Pantheon. He attended Ragnarock 2013 and witnessed Laura arguing with David Blake. He also liked Cassandra’s writing and videos. Before his incarnation, Zahid was very shy and afraid of many things about himself. His “go-to cosplay was wallpaper”. His incarnation in late 2013 freed him of fear and enabled him to be whoever he wanted to be. He has had lovers of both genders over the years, most notably Baal. He’s modeled after the singer Prince.
24. Ayo
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Al Ewing and Keneth Rocforte
1st appearance: Ultimates #2, 2016
Biography
Ayo is the brash and young Dora Milaje who fell in love with her Captain Aneka. When Aneka was to be executed she stole two proto-type armors and rescued her lover. Together they rebelled against the Monarchy and started a coup to aid those they felt were neglected by the crown. They eventually take control of the Jabari Region after killing M’Baku’s brother Mandala who had started raping and killing the women on the outskirts of Wakanda.
Together they inspired other Dora Milaje to rebel against the Monarchy and those who disagreed with his methods. They eventually allied with rebels Tetu and Zenzi after they are rescued by them from the Hatut Zeraze.
25. Lafayette Reynolds
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Created by: David Tishchman and Mariah Huehner
1st appearance: True Blood #1- part 1, July 2010
Biography
Lafayette Reynolds is a short-order cook, a medium, and a major character on the HBO original series True Blood. Played by actor Nelsan Ellis on the HB series True Blood, Lafayette debuts on the episode “Strange Love” in the series’ first season, and has remained a prominent character through the series’ second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh seasons. A short-order cook at his local hometown restaurant Bellefleur’s Bar and Grill, a popular local hangout formerly known as Merlotte’s Bar and Grill, Lafayette spends most of his time located in his hometown of Bon Temps, Louisiana.
~DIG DEEPER INTO LAFAYETTE HERE~
26. Sakhmet
Publisher: Image Comics
Created by: Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie
1st appearance: The Wicked + The Divine #1, December 17, 2014
Biography
Sakhmet is the Egyptian Goddess of the sun, wrath, war, destruction, plagues, sex, healing, protection, and kingship, and is one of the gods of the Recurrence and is symbolized by the head of a lioness. She appeared as part of the 2010s Recurrence.
On 13 January 2010, a pre-godhood Sakhmet went on a school trip to the British Museum. A classmate accused her of crying, which she flatly denied. They both viewed a statue of the Egyptian goddess Sakhmet, and when her classmate observed that she looked sad, she responded that she was made of stone and therefore didn’t feel anything. It is implied that her father was abusive and she had some kind of trauma in her past.
Sakhmet’s incarnation was in 2013 and she was the second god to emerge. Sakhmet’s design is based primarily upon Rihanna and she is bisexual.
~DIG DEEPER INTO SAKHMET HERE~
27. Fuse
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Kelly Thompson and Stefano Caselli
1st appearance: West Coast Avengers #1, 2018
Biography
His mother Zobae was a Dora-Milaje the events surrounding her departure from Wakanda are shrouded in mystery. At fifteen his powers kicked in and he wore the Vibranium rings in his ears and nose because he knew he needed them. With them, he became capable of altering the density of his body to mimic any substance he came into contact with. When he joined the West Coast Avengers he dated Hawkeye/Kate Bishop and confessed to being attracted to her ex-boyfriend Marvel Boy upon his return. He is portrayed as sexually fluid.
28. Curtis Holt
Publisher: DC Comics
Created by: David Tishchman and Mariah Huehner
1st appearance: True Blood #1- part 1, July 2010
Biography
Curtis Holt (born c. 1986) is a bronze medal Olympic athlete and a former employee of Palmer Technologies who worked alongside then-CEO Felicity Smoak in the Design Innovations department. He is the ex-husband of Paul Holt. After learning of Green Arrow’s secret identity and the location of the Arrowcave, he joined Team Arrow as maintenance and tech support. While searching for Rene Ramirez to have him join the team, he took a beating from a group of street thugs. This inspired him to be trained and go out on the field, not wanting to feel helpless again. After discovering that Oliver Queen, John Diggle, and Felicity Smoak respectively had violated his privacy, he left the team, along with Rene and Dinah Drake to formed their own team known as New Team Arrow, until he rejoined Team Arrow to help Oliver battle, Diaz, along with Rene and Dinah. Curtis is openly homosexual having once been married to Paul Holt before their divorce.
~DIG DEEPER INTO CURTIS HERE~
29. Lando Calrissian
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: John Lucas
1st appearance: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Biography
Lando Calrissian was a human male pansexual smuggler, gambler, and card player who became Baron Administrator of Cloud City and, later, a general in the Rebel Alliance. He was the owner of the Millennium Falcon before losing it to Han Solo in a game of sabacc. After losing the Falcon, Calrissian put an end to his days as a smuggler and became an entrepreneur, setting up a small mining operation on the planet Lothal before eventually becoming the leader of Cloud City in the skies of the planet Bespin.
He is portrayed by Billy Dee Williams in The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983), while Donald Glover portrays a younger Lando in the 2018 standalone film Solo: A Star Wars Story. Lando also appears frequently in the Star Wars expanded universe of novels, comic books, and video games, including a series of Legends novels in which he is the protagonist.
30. Darkveil
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Sina Grace, Nathan Stockman
1st appearance: Iceman Vol 4 #4(February 2019)
Biography
Darkveil possesses the mutant ability to manipulate/control darkness and shadow, due to her connection to the Darkforce, powerful extra dimension energy. This includes the teleportation of self and others through this dimension. Born in Brooklyn, Darnell Wade was raised in multiple foster homes throughout his childhood. His only comfort was found in reading about the many superheroes based in New York City.
By his mid-20s, while working days at a second-hand clothing store, he began moonlighting as the drag queen Shade, inspired by New York superheroes. Excited by her new powers, Shade agreed to emcee New York’s first Mutant Pride Parade. She also helped the X-Men fend off Mister Sinister’s mutant-Iceman-golems. Vowing to now only use her powers to bring light and joy into the world, Darnell has rebranded his drag/hero persona as Darkveil.
~DIG DEEPER INTO DARKVEIL HERE~
31. & .32 Snowflake and Safespace
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Daniel Kibblesmith and Luciano Vecchio
1st appearance: New Warriors Vol 6 #1 (2020)
Biography
As psychic twins, Snowflake, a cryokinetic, can materialize snowflake-shaped shuriken projectiles for throwing. Safespace can materialize pink forcefields, but he can’t inhabit them himself, the reflex only works if he’s protecting others. They’re hyper-aware of modern culture and optics, and they see their Super Heroics as “a post-ironic meditation on using violence to combat bullying.”
~DIG DEEPER INTO Snowflake and Safespace HERE~
33. Genie
Created by: Aza Comics/Aza Entertainment/Jazmin Truesdale
1st appearance: The Keeper’s: Origins
Biography
Raised in the Bronx by a Puerto Rican mother and Afro-Brazilian father, she moved to Charleston, SC as a teen. On a dare, she rowed a boat to what the locals called the ‘haunted’ island of the Gullahs, not knowing that it was already inhabited by Kala and her two aunts. The two girls met and have been best friends ever since. She’s a lesbian and the girlfriend of Jase, a realm hustler of the Aza Universe.
34. Blamazon
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Created by: Jai Nitz and Jethro Morales
1st appearance: Green Hornet Legacy #40, (August 2013)
Biography
Blamazon was formerly an Olympic athlete participating in the London Olympics. After competing, Blamazon underwent a sex change operation, becoming the woman he always felt like on the inside.
Donning the superhero identity of Blamazon, she went to Century City to team up with the Green Hornet.
~DIG DEEPER INTO BLAMAZON HERE~
35. Valkyrie
Publisher: Marvel comics
Created by: Saladin Ahmed, Javier Rodriguez
1st appearance: Exiles Vol 3 #2 (June 2018)
Biography
Seven infant girls were born when Odin struck the ground of Asgard with a lightning bolt. The girls were trained in the art of combat throughout their entire lives until one of them had earned the title of Valkyrie, the lone defender of Asgard. Surtur attempted to destroy Asgard but was held back by Valkyrie, who was joined by the Exiles who stopped Surtur and drove him back to his realm. Valkyrie then agreed to join the Exiles just before the Time-Eater arrived and consumed her reality.
36. Hooded Justice
Publisher: Dc Comics
Biography
Hooded Justice, whose real identity is Will Reeves, was the first-ever masked adventurer and the lead influence for Nite Owl (Hollis Mason) and the rest of the early costumed heroes. He wore a hood and a noose, had the body of a wrestler, and was a charter member of the Minutemen.
Although the press and many members of the public believed the Hooded Justice was in a relationship with fellow crime fighter Silk Spectre/Sally Jupiter, in fact, he was a homosexual who was involved with Captain Metropolis. He also had sadomasochistic tendencies.
37. Alloy
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Kelly Thompson and Stefano Caselli
1st appearance: West Coast Avengers #1, 2018
Biography
Her mother Zobae was a Dora-Milaje the events surrounding her departure from Wakanda are shrouded in mystery. She was either exiled or ran away and made her way to California, USA after becoming pregnant. It is alluded to that her father is Atlantian. Before her mother’s death, she left her children a handmade Bureau which contained her Dora Milaje Spear, her clothes, her cloak, and some Vibranium artifacts’.
Ramone was the older of the two siblings and she went on to become a surfing champion who owns and operates a successful small business. After her brother was captured she confided her history before bonding with her keepsake Vibranium ring and emerged as a superhero. She used her new powers to save her brother and the West Coast Avengers.
38. Flash
Publisher: DC Comics
Created by: Ethan Cohen and artist Eleonora Carlini.
1st appearance: DC’s Very Merry Multiverse anthology one-shot, 2020
Biography
Jess Chambers is a non-binary genderfluid speedster, the current Flash in Future state’s Justice League, and former sidekick to Jesse Quick, the original super-speedster of Earth-11’s Justice Guild. In Jess’s world, the heroes are all gender-swapped.
39. Stronghold
Created by: Jason Reeves, Greg Elysée
1st appearance: Stronghold #1, 2021
All his life Damion was always taught to hide. As a kid, he hid from his older brothers’ wrathful hazing because he was the youngest boy. Living in a small bigoted town as a mixed-race kid where he and Daisy were forced by their parents to straighten their kinky hair so they could pass for white, Damian was raised to hide his Blackness. He hid his growing Keramat abilities from his family fearing that it would hurt his family’s image and as a young man coming into his own, hiding from his own sexuality.
DIG DEEPER INTO STRONGHOLD HERE
40. DJINN
Created by: Adam Glass and Robson Rocha
1st appearance: Teen Titans Special #1 (August 2018)
A 4000-year-old Bi-sexual genie who has seemingly limitless magical potential limited only by her willingness or the desires of her master. She kissed both Robin/Damian Wayne and Lob’s daughter while a member of the Teen Titans.
41. Nocturne
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: J M Dematteis. Art by Jerry Bingham
First Appearance: The Spectacular Spider-Man #190, 1992
Angela Cairn was your typical New York cop until her ‘partner’ Jackie Kessler was killed by the creature known as Vermin. Following his death, she became bitter and reckless. After following a series of leads she was ambushed, mutilated, and mutated by one of Baron Zemo’s mutates. Though she apparently died in the process and was buried. A few Nights later she rose from the grave as the creature known as Nocturne.
Though never explicitly stated the pictures and the nature of her relationship with her “partner” implies that she was a lesbian, at a time when comics could only portray homosexuality could not be displayed openly.
42. Taku
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Roy Thomas, John Buscema
1st appearance: Avengers #68 (September 1969)
Taku served as Chief Advisor to the Black Panther. Taku has been described as an “eloquent” and somewhat poetic officer for Wakanda. Taku was often seen as a part of the Panther’s inner circle. Taku contacted the Fantastic Four when T’Challa was once captured and imprisoned in Rudyarda. He often traveled with the Prince outside of Wakanda. Taku spent time in residence at the Wakandan Embassy in New York. Taku is gay and in a relationship with Venom.
43. Athens Ophelia The Partitioner
Publisher: Amazon/iuniverse
Created by: Zachary Aneiress
1st appearance: Athens Ophelia The Partitioner
Created By the Goddess Of Wisdom Athena, Aneiress Torian is the reincarnated Partitioner Athens Ophelia, guardian of balance between life, death, and other dimensions. Born in present-day to Artemis Torian and Willie Jean Wolf, Aneiress grew up in upper-middle-class society excelling at school and other curricular until life took a turn with him ending up living with his aunt & uncle in a small predominately white southern town on the outskirts of a thriving city called Yonzaba Heights, GA. Always questioning his sexuality but never acting upon it Aneiress took a chance and decided he would place his trust in someone only to be betrayed, beaten, and left for dead at a gathering of schoolmates.
- Gimmick
Publisher: Marvel comics
Created by: Vita Ayala, Bernard Chang
1st appearance: Marvel’s Voices #1 (February 2020) (Cameo)/Children of the Atom #1 (March 2021)(Full)
Carmen Maria Cruz is a Puerto-Rican, lesbian High school student and member of the mutant obsessed teens who has used technology to mimic the powers of the X-men. She is styled after Gambit. After it was revealed that she was the only true mutant on the team, she was personally invited to the Hellfire Gala by Storm. She attended the Hellfire Gala and met Eye-Boy and Mystique. Carmen is a lesbian currently dating her teammate ‘Buddy’/Cyclops-Lass
- Rūna
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Created by: Jason Aaron, Torunn Grønbekk, Nina Vakueva
1st appearance: King in Black: Return of the Valkyries #1 (January 2021)
Rūna is one of the original nine Valkyries and the original wielder of Jarnbjorn. A vassal of All-Father Bor, she entered into a romantic relationship with her comrade Alta. One of the few survivors of a battle against a dark god, Rūna was escorting Alta’s soul through the Realm Between when they were attacked and trapped inside an un-dead Celestial bound to Knull by All-Black. For untold millennia, Rūna was trapped within a loop of memories to the point that she forgot even her own name. During Knull’s attack on Midgard, Rūna was freed.
- Nubia
Created by: Robert Kanigher and Don Heck.
1st appearance: Wonder Woman #204 (May 1973)
Nubia was the last soul for a century to be born from the “Well of souls” located on “Themyscira”. Over the years she became the solitary guardian of Doom’s Doorway in the underground caves of Themyscira.
With Diana’s departure at the end of the great battle that redefined the Multiverse, some Amazons fought each other for the title of Wonder Woman. Queen Hippolyta wisely imposed a test of courage, saying that the next Wonder Woman would be the one who dared to look at the head of the Gorgon Medusa inside a bin, and only the one whose heart is just and whose mind is not clouded by ambition would survive the petrifying gaze of the monster. Only Nubia, without hesitation, agreed to undergo the test, but inside the bin instead of Medusa’s head she found a golden crown. Hippolyta made her the new Queen of the Amazons while she herself would go to the World of Men instead of any other. The other Amazons were pleased by Hippolyta’s choice, who also passed the royal scepter to the new queen. She is a confirmed Lesbian.
- Steel/Natasha Irons
Created by: Louise Simonson, Chris Batista, Jon Bogdanove
1st appearance: as Natasha Irons- Steel (Vol 2) #1, February 1994; as Steel- Action Comics #806, October 2003; as Starlight- 52 #21, September 2006; as Vaporlock- Infinity Inc. (Vol 2) #8, June 2008
A queer superhero, also known as Natasha Irons, first appearing in Steel Volume 2 #1 (February 1994). She uses highly advanced armor and technology made from sentient metal.
- Connor Hawke
Created by: Kelley Puckett and Jim Aparo
1st appearance: Green Arrow #0, 1994
Biography
Connor is the son of Green Arrow/Oliver Queen and Sandra Hawke. Connor was the result of a one-night stand between the two. His father only learned of his birth moments before he was born. He grew up unaware of who his father was. As a young man, he was bullied often because of his mixed-race background and unique look. He grew to have quite the temper as well. His mother not knowing what to do with him confided that he was the son of Superhero Oliver Queen. Connor then feverishly gathered and read everything he could about his dad until finally, his mother agreed to send him to the same ashram that Oliver had trained before becoming Green Arrow. For five years he trained as a kyudo archer, martial artist, and Zen-Buddist. His greatest test came however when he defeated the paper Monkey which leads to the monkey fist cult attacking all martial artists worldwide to regain their honor. He also defeated the Bamboo Monkey who had single-handedly defeated both Dick Grayson/Nightwing and Tim Drake/Robin at once. He then met Lady Shiva in combat and fought her almost to a standstill a feat not even batman can boast. In The DC Pride 2022 anthology is was confirmed that Connor is asexual.
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There you have it!
Our TOP LGBTQIA+ Black Superheroes!
What did you think of our list, did we miss anyone?
Be sure to leave a comment below!
If you enjoyed this list be sure to check out
the Top 30 Black Superheroes- Traffic Edition,
the Top 30 Black Superheroes-Fan Edition,
the Top 20 Black Superheroes-Milestone Comics editions.
and
I don’t usually comment on anything online but as a queer black man who loves comics, this post really touched my heart. Our community needs to support & love each other. It’s still very hard out there for us so every word of your intro was such an awesome change. We appreciate knowing our allies have our backs. Thanks for making sure our heroes are visible too! Peace.
I don’t usually comment on anything online but as a queer black man who loves comics, this post really touched my heart. Our community needs to support & love each other. It’s still very hard out there for us so every word of your intro was such an awesome change. We appreciate our black and brown allies being vocal and standing up for us. Thanks for making sure our heroes are visible too! Peace.
Thanks for the kind words G.Smith! We will continue to do our part!
Bishop of the X-Men should have been a Gay character! His early characterization pointed in that direction. I always thought he was Gay and wrote letters to Marvel urging them to bring him out. That never happened, and much to my displeasure they just kept diluting his uniqueness. His long, flowing hair became dreadlocks and then they shaved his head completely. I stopped following X-Men around that time; I later heard Bishop had been turned into a villain.