Bobby Drake Goes to his First Gay Bar & Has His First Gay Kiss in ICEMAN #6!

I just read through ICEMAN #6. ICEMAN is an interesting title. It's primarily dealt with his coming out process as an older gay man, both to himself and to his already distant parents. Plus, it's explored the evolution of his powers -- which isn't new. Every so often, Iceman realizes that his powers have made him pretty much godlike. He learns that he can evaporate or shatter and then gather his essence back in one piece. Or he's realize that he can completely freeze the planet. Or he learns that he can create dozens of ice-golems. And then he reverts back to the jokey background character for a while before going through another period of evolution with his powers.

But the gay thing is pretty new. He finally came out to his parents in ICEMAN #5 and they really didn't take it that well. Actually, his father did okay with that information in a "I'm already uncomfortable with my son's life choices and this can't embarrass me more than I already am" sort of way. So Bobby is coping with his parents' generally negative reaction.

Fortunately, SECRET EMPIRE just wrapped up. But not before Natasha Romanov (AKA Black Widow) got killed by Captain "I'm a Nazi" America. You might not remember it, but Iceman and Black Widow were once team-members way back in the day. The team was called the Champions and its adventures happened between 1975 and 1978. Iceman decided to gather his old teammates (Angel, Hercules, Ghost Rider, and Darkstar) and toast to Natasha's memory.

And if rushing to Los Angeles succeeded in getting him far, far away from his disapproving parents... Well, more the better.

The team gathered for a drink and puzzled over the fact that most of them couldn't remember the first time that they each met Black Widow. That never went anywhere, but it came up twice so I'm guessing that it will prove important later on.

Then Bobby spent several pages running around Los Angeles in his civilian clothes buying books and shoes and flirting with some new guy named Judah. It was actually a pretty weird conversation, where they referenced the "hanky code" and kinks.

Don't get me wrong. I'm all about gay history and the hanky code is this often forgotten portion of gay history. I'm just not sure if referencing the hanky code in a potentially family-friendly Marvel Comics comic book is a great idea. I mean, kids know how to google. I'm not sure if I want them to learn that they can advertise their interest in S&M by sticking a black handkerchief in their back pocket. Or advertise their interest in watersports (yellow hanky), or anal sex (dark blue hanky), or scat (brown hanky), etc...

Anyway, Bobby and Judah decide to go on a date at a gay bar in West Hollywood -- and the surviving Champions decide to act as his wingmen. So this book features Bobby Drake's first gay bar, first gay date, first gay dance, and first gay kiss. And he almost had his first gay hook-up before getting interrupted by a small army of Sentinel robots! Fortunately, Iceman and the Champions of L.A. are nearby so I'm not expecting that the Sentinels will remain standing for long in ICEMAN #7.


Let's get this out of the way. I like ICEMAN and I like that Bobby Drake continues to explore what it means to be a gay man. But he really needs to find a romantic partner who appears different enough from him so that I'm not constantly having to figure out which guy is which. Or we need to find out that Judah is actually Anole wearing an image inducer. Something that helps me readily recognize the two men when they're running around in their civvies!

BTW, Hercules had this great throwaway line from when Bobby texted him. It totally made my month!


"Champions Reunited" Part 1 features writing by Sina Grace, art by Robert Gill, coloring by Rachelle Rosenberg, and lettering by VC's Joe Sabino.