DC Comics proudly presents its DC Pride Month Special, a surprising departure from the regular anthology style. The DC Pride Special adopts an overarching narrative approach to the numerous stories it encompasses, highlighting various DC characters as they navigate their hopes, dreams, and fears. While the mileage of enjoyment may vary with each story, this anthology has a range greater than the sum of its parts. The story centers around the many tales of a safe space, a bar, and what it means to many characters.
The story in DC Pride that connects everyone revolves around Alan Scott and Ethan, a military veteran, enjoying drinks before the bar closes. Tim Sheridan, who previously wrote Alan’s solo series, handles this particular narrative thread as it weaves in and out of what’s happening in the bar’s basement. Alan’s continued exploration of his love with Vladimir Sokov powers the issue and is part of Alan’s journey with the bar. Sheridan and Emilio Pilliu act out the main story as everyone slowly realizes they are in a dream landscape. Pilliu draws each character coming back to reality wonderfully and effectively incorporates the increasing number of characters into every panel. As more characters populate and navigate their alternate realities, Sheridan injects playful banter among the queer characters as they meet one another, with Pilliu peppering the background with numerous others. This story unfolds as Alan’s journey of love, loss, and being a Lantern.
I didn’t read his solo story, but Sheridan gives enough background information about his love affair with someone who is now a renegade Red Lantern. It’s an emotional tether to all the short stories in the DC Pride Special, capped with Giulio Macaione’s gorgeous greens and splashes of red as he contemplates what it means to be a hero who has done his job. Alan’s specific trepidation about returning to being a superhero, despite a happy ending, is a practical question to pose, especially for a hero who has technically been working since the days of World War II. It’s a call to action of sorts and full of idealism. Renee says as much, with Sheridan making a strong case for these heroes, villains, and the people in between to keep going.
A problem with these DC Pride Specials is that the dialogue in certain areas feels like the writing is talking directly to me as a reader, and I’m learning lessons that my parents instilled in me since childhood. I know it’s a fine line to balance, as you have to write about these characters in a way that speaks to their issues and something higher, but the preachiness often lessens the impact. It varies from story to story, but the “on the nose” of it all is apparent from a mile away.
To dive into the stories of our spotlighted characters, Vita Ayala and Skylar Patridge’s illuminated club tale of Renee Montoya and her Gotham Central love and companionship is sweet. The colors by Jordie Bellaire paint a perfect picture of a nightclub bouncing in bright lights, ranging from warm to cool hues. Renee is attempting to enjoy herself, but something is nagging at her, even with her on-again/off-again love interest, Kate Kane, there. Patridge’s lingering looks of Renee’s doubt of her immediate surroundings were my favorite part of the story. Being surrounded by people she’s loved or lost, and even in the best of circumstances, she knows it’s wrong. They give the curious Question a cathartic experience with the people closest to her, fitting in line with the character.
Sadly, Connor Hawke’s story misses the mark. It’s a quick reminder that Connor once wanted to be like his father, the Green Arrow, but is now perfectly content with his life as his own person and the hero he’s turned out to be. Sevy makes the most of the two pages, but it’s Sam Maggs’ script that doesn’t make the most of Hawke’s point of view as a hero or speak to him being an asexual man. On the other hand, we have another connecting tale: Jude Ellison S. Doyle, Josh Trujillo, and A.L. Kaplan present Ethan’s journey through his past, present, and future in a story that finds him weaving his way through his community and origin. Someone more well-versed than I can speak to the subject, but Ethan’s role as a trans person who served in the military could be investigated more so, but we’re given just enough to paint a picture of Ethan’s life, all the same. Kaplan and Lucas Gattoni’s letters work together beautifully with the dreamscape of realities that Ethan dives through. Thoughts and characters bubbling and sifting through the air around him, the heat of the other side of this magical conundrum, the Crimson Flame confronting him, and his place in all this. Apollo and Midnighter are trapped in a Riverdale-style idealistic neighborhood whose nightmares stem from the neighbors who hate Midnighter and a meeting he crashes. Derek Cham’s art sets the usual bloody Super Couple in a non-violent, homophobic nightmare that contrasts with Midnighter’s smiling homicidal grin. Harley Quinn, one of DC’s most high-profile queer characters, gets in on the fun with Maya Houston and Max Sarin’s tale of her almost having an everyday life, but her one true love eludes her. Houston and Sarin work together to make Harley as eccentric and bubbly as she is in any media we’ve seen in the last few years. Sarin makes sure each reveal and shock from Houston’s writing shows on Harley’s face and emotes accordingly.
Another deeply moving character story led by Jo Mullein, which could be the first time these two characters have interacted. Houston and Ayala give one of the fresh-faced Green Lanterns a sapphic tale, brought to life by Vincent Cecil’s paint-like art. Jo isn’t feeling 100% and visits the one person who seemingly gets her, Nubia, Queen of the Amazons. One page in particular shows a tender moment between the two ladies, which is one of the more explicit moments in the DC Pride Special between two characters. Despite its shortened length, the story conveys Jo’s hopes and worries as a Lantern and a person. You can feel the yearning practically leaping off of Jo and the genuine love this pair shares. As for the Blue Snowman story, I understand the purpose of showing that even a villain can have an understanding of their identity. It’s just told so over the top that it detracts from the character, but that could be the point? Jude Ellison S. Doyle writes a parody-styled world for Blue Snowman, and Alex Moore’s art doubly rings on the style, with Wonder Woman coming under fire and Snowman turning it on her. Blue Snowman’s journey, centered explicitly around gender norms and how one can use them to their advantage, is apparent enough; I’m just not sure how one can take the story approach to Doyle’s exploration.
Bunker rejoins the limelight, with shades of Danny the Street, as Josh Trujillo and Don Aguillo present a world that is safe from hate. The watercolor pages show both a protective nature and hurt, as Bunker and Ethan know this type of world can’t last. We get a peek into Bunker’s past with a close friend, an ally who aided their community, and his actions now reflect his need to protect those who need it. It’s not an extensive explainer on who Bunker is, but it does inform readers why Bunker is a superhero.
There’s a bonus story by Jenny Blake, and it’s a genuinely moving tale about life, the feelings we keep buried, the thoughts we have, and how we choose to live. Everyone, not just reviewers, should read it; it’s an essential read that can help readers understand how this specific path of transness can inform their own, and as a resource, it reminds us that it’s never too late to live authentically and wholeheartedly. It’s a wonderful story all around.
Story: Vita Ayala, Jude Ellison S. Doyle, Maya Houston, Sam Maggs, Tim Sheridan, Josh Trujillo, and Jenny Blake.
Art: Don Aguillo, Vincent Cecil, Derek Charm, A.L. Kaplan, Giulio Macaione, Emilio Pilliu, Max Sarin, Philip Sevy, Sara Soler, Alex Moore, Skyler Patridge
Colors: Eren Angiolini, Jordie Bellaire, Triona Farrell, Marissa Louise
Letters: Aditya Bidikar, Frank Cvetkovic, Lucas Gattoni, Ariana Maher, Morgan Martinez, Jodie Troutman
