A podcast for comic book gays!!! Listen in for all things GAY in comics and more, but mostly COMICS! This fun, in-depth, critical and cute conversation covers the queer -- whether canonical or subtextual -- in super hero comics, animation and geek culture. Starring Johnnie "JungleGuts" Martin and…
Johnnie JungleGuts and Professor Xtra
Welcome to the 50th - and LAST - episode of Supergay! The co-hosts declare “Mission: Accomplished!” as both Marvel and DC release LGBTQ Pride Month anthologies this June. For their final deep dive into queer super heroes, Johnny and Alex explore the D-List: Marvel's smelly wrestling sensation D-Man, and the iconic X-Men pop star who can convert sound into light, Dazzler! And finally, in a fond farewell to one another, the Super Gay duo discuss what they learned. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
In this penultimate episode of Super Gay, Johnnie and Alex have a ball breaking down two gay background characters, Anole and Living Lightning. After hovering in their collective comics subconscious for years, Johnnie and Alex find relief in mulling over the meaning behind these two different gay heroes.
THE END, PART 1: VENOM VS. OBSIDIAN Welcome to 'Gaydark,' the queer cousin of 'Grimdark,' characterized by oozing black ink and masculinity issues. In the first of the three-part, all-time Supergay finale, Johnnie and Alex explore the shadowy crevices of Todd MacFarlane's work on Venom and Infinity Inc – though this is just a coincidence! What we are really doing is looking at the intersections of queerness and negativity offered by the case studies of Eddie Brock and his Symbiote love ineterst from Marvel Comics, juxtaposed by the obscure gay superhero Obsidian, an ambivalent 1980s DC Comics character whose father is a Green Lantern and whose twnin sister is the lovely and charming actress/superheroine Jade, who he obviously wants to be. Come for the gayness, stay for the darkness!
In our penultimate, giant-size episode, Alex shares his obsession with Marvel’s bald goddess of the mind, Moondragon. A member (and antagonist) of the Avengers, Defenders, Infinity Watch and Guardians of the Galaxy, Moondragon has been a major player in Marvel’s cosmic comics for five decades, appearing in Thanos-centered stories by artist and writer Jim Starlin since 1973. Adn, from the mid-2000s to the present, Moondragon, née Heather Douglas, has been in a queer relationship with alien super heroine Phyla Vell. Johnny helps Alex process his deep over-identification with this self-defeating, arrogant, and morally superior character who once appeared on his birthday cake.
In the countdown to The End of Supergay!, Johnny shares his obsession with c-list anti-villain Catman. A nemesis of Batman and avid fan of Catwoman, who first appeared in Gotham in the early 1960s, Catman’s reimagining as a traumatized, recovered and now (kinda) out-bisexual non-hero was masterminded by Gail Simone in several titles for DC Comics in the 2000’s. Find out why Johnny identifies with this disaffected rich kid ne’er-do-well who dresses up like a giant ginger housecat.
In this intergenerational conversation about the struggles superheroes faced in combating the homophobia, stigma, and racism entangled in the AIDS Crisis, Johnny and Alex also talk about ways HIV/AIDS shaped their own lives, and find parallels in the current pandemic. Spanning the late 1980s to the early 2000s, with Marvel and DC Comics including Green Arrow, the Incredible Hulk, and the X-Men. Produced by Alexandro “Prof Xtra” Segade and Johnny “Jungleguts” Martin.
A very special episode: Johnny ”Jungleguts” Martin interviews Alexandro “Professor Xtra” Segade about his upcoming graphic novel, The Context, published by Primary Information, a comic book David Velasco (Artforum) calls “a beautiful new creation myth for our time.” Let’s meet the queer polyamorous super team called The Context! PLUS: Let’s talk about growing up gay and nerdy! Let’s talk about art influences!! Let’s talk about finding gay love in college!!! http://www.primaryinformation.org/product/the-context/
Let's talk about queer representation at Marvel Comics! Johnny and Alex discuss the super hero gay pride march by Lucaino Vecchio in the recent Marvel Voices anthology; Mystique's marriage to Destiny in Jonathan Hickman's X-Men; Leah Williams' upcoming X-Factor and recent X-Tremists mini series (starring Northstar, Iceman and a hot Blob)! Plus: Learn about Striker and Lightspeed, from 2011's Avengers Academy, and, of course, a little Wonder Woman update too, even though she's not a Marvel character, because why not?
OH BOY! Part Two of our Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy special, focussing on the queer relationship that appeared on the printed pages of Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti's Harley Quinn, as well as Batgirl Adventures, Gotham City Sirens, Poison Ivy: The Cycle of Life and Death and more!
Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy are two of Gotham's most popular anti-heroines, and they've found each other at last! We trace the TV cartoon origins of two of Batman's most glamorous, and goofy, bad girls. Get ready for plenty of innuendo, pulpy Lesbian Chic, and mismatched aesthetic concepts! (Why do bats and clowns go so well together?)
QUEER MUTANTS! GAY SUPERHEROES ON TV! GAY FANTASY NOVELS! QUEER COMICS ARTISTS! GAY ANIME! PANSEXUAL POKEMON! A decade of queer pleasures of the nerdy kind is discussed in this rollicking Super Gay! roundtable featuring fellow podcasters Jon Wallace (of the John and Jon Comic Book Hour and resident straight man) and Clay Kerrigan (of The Sharing - an Animorphs podcast). Produced by Alexandro Segade + Johnny Martin
Meet Extraño, DC's first gay HIV-positive superhero, a LatinX wizard, who debuted in Steve Englehart and Joe Staton's Millenium (1988), and was a member of the ill-fated New Guardians. You may know him as the hot Peruvian magic daddy who casts some spells in Steve Orlando and Fernando Blanco's Midnighter and Apollo (2016). Produced by Alexandro Segade + Johnny Martin
Happy Holidays. Let's talk about Young Justice: Outsiders, an animated series on DC Universe. Specifically the second half of Season 3, when all the gays come out. But who is Kaldur'ahm's husband Wynnde? Who is Kid Flash's special "friend" El Dorado? Find out in this lil super gay holiday bonus episode!!!
Join us for an interview with one of our most favorite comic book artists, Marvel superstar Luciano Vecchio! We discuss Luciano’'s epic run on Marvel's Ironheart, his creator-owned queer, Spanish-language super-hero Sereno, and his project, Cuir Gaze, of redesigning super gay super heroes from a queer perspective!
Johnny and Alex interview DC Comics writer Steve Orlando, author of Midnighter and Apollo, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter and many others! Plus, a mini-debate between Johnny Jungleguts and Prof Xtra about comic book movie shenanigans! And -- what's been going on with Goldballs???
Flame Con, presented by Geeks Out in NYC, is the worlds largest LGBTQ comic convention and Super Gay was there! Johnny and Alex had a booth and a mic and they asked a flaming super squad of attendees (including themselves) a lot of questions! With cameo appearances by Comic Book Queers: Legacy’s Brett Mannes, Graphic Policy’s Elana Levin, Kickstarter’s Camilla Zhang, cosplayers Geishavi and Megami, and more!
Mystique, anti-heroic villainess of the X-Men, is a shapeshifter whose sexuality knows no bounds! Also, we discuss the trans alien Xavin from the Runaways and Cloud, a super hero from the 1980's Defenders comics, who could turn into a boy or girl -- catching the interest of (not yet) gay super heroes Iceman and Moondragon!
Deep dive into the queer futurity of the Silver Age Legion's of Super Heroes, at the club house of the 30th century's premiere polymorphous-perverse teen age party scene. Join us as we fantasize about Superboy's super boyfriends Cosmic Boy, Ultra Boy, Element Lad, Lightning Lad, Matter Eater Lad, and many more! Also: let's talk about our love for Lana Lang!
“Dark Phoenix” was a bomb at the box office, but it also broke our hearts. The Super Gays are joined by Jon Wallace (of the John and Jon Comic Book Hour podcast on Patreon/supergayz) in a discussion of mutants and otherness. It's a SPOILER-filled meditation on the X-Men movie franchise’s fraught relationship to the comics we grew up on.
Thunder is Black Lightning's queer daughter, and we are here to tell you about the early 2000's Outsiders comics she comes from, and how great she is on the CW's current TV show! ALSO: Johnny and Alex discuss recent mutant deaths, and the gayness of Captain America's butt in Avengers: Endgame.
Shall we play a GAYme? Johnnie Jungleguts is joined by Bryatt Bryant on a wide ranging discussion of playing video games in a queer way, talking about Final Fantasy, The Last of Us, Streets of Rage 2, Mario Bros., Dream Daddy, Tekken and the Capcom fighting games! Also, Professor Xtra (who hates video games) joins for a little discussion of his favorite D&D characters.
"Hey, who's the new kid in Riverdale, Archie?" "Why, that's Kevin, Veronica...and HE'S GAY!" "Tell me more!" Johnny and Prof Xtra visit Kevin Keller, that All-American Teen who just happens to be gay! Created by cartoonist Dan Parent, Kevin Keller lives in the contemporary comics of the Archieverse, appears on the TV show Riverdale -- and someday he will be president of all of us!
Storm is a thief, goddess, headmistress, queen and gay icon! Joined by Tavia Nyong'o, Yale Professor and author of Afro-Fabulations: The Queer Drama of Black Life, Johnny and Prof Xtra discuss Ororo Munroe, our favorite leader of the X-Men, during her Mohawk periods in the 1980s and 2010s, and the artists, writers, and actors who've done her right (and wrong?)
Meet The Movement, legendary comics writer Gail Simone's QPOC community organizer super hero team whose remarkable (and short-lived) series was published by DC Comics, from 2013-14. Johnny and Prof Xtra also explore Simone's landmark "Women in Refrigerators." And they talk about John Byrne's penis (the one he drew in an issue of Next Men, geez.)
Was 2013’s Young Avengers the QUEEREST Marvel comic of ALL TIME?!? Johnny Jungleguts and Prof Xtra revisit Wiccan and Hulkling’s gay love that conquers all, Miss America Chavez’s mysterious LatinX lesbianism, Prodigy’s awkward (and problematic?) coming out, Kid Loki’s pansexuality, and Marvel Boy’s experimental phase! The conversation is spirited, as Alex gets swept up in Jamie McKelvie and Kieron Gillen’s millennial take on the Young Avengers, and Johnny (an actual millennial) responds with a side-eye! Produced by James Kelly.
The “fabulous secret powers” of iconic 1980’s muscle queen He-Man (and his queer-coded nemesis Skeletor) are the subject of this very special episode guest starring Danny Randell, gay toy designer and lifelong Eternia stan!! Listen as Johnny and Alex get into it with the harness-wearing, fur-bikini’d, roid-raging Masters of the Universe! Produced by James Kelly.
Batwoman is (perhaps?!?) the most prominent Lesbian superhero in contemporary comics! Johnny and the Prof do some detective work of their own, tracing the character's history, from her debut in the 1950's to her most recent incarnation in DC's ongoing Batwoman (2017) by Marguerite Bennet. GET READY FOR A SURPRISE ENDING! And: how did Iceman and the Super Gays spend their holidays? FIND OUT! Produced by James Kelly.
Co-hosts Johnnie JungleGuts and Prof. Xtra discuss their favorite queer comics of 2018, including Aquicorn Cove, Assassinistas, The Brat, West Coast Avengers, Uncanny X-Men and Wonder Woman! Witness the unbridled enthusiasm for the gay designs of comics artist Luciano Vecchio! Hear the heartfelt gay love for My Hero Academia! And thrill to the queer call for a better future in comics fandom and beyond! Produced by James Kelly.
Meet Shatterstar, time traveling mutant alien clone gladiator style icon, and our favorite pansexual super hero! Created in the early 1990s by Rob Liefeld when he was just 24, the character's complex (sexual) history is explored by Prof Xtra with the admirable assistance of Johnny Jungleguts and producer James Kelly! ALSO: a quick rundown and preview of current and upcoming X-books!
Guest Graham Kolbeins (co-editor, "Massive: Gay Erotic Manga and the Men Who Make It") joins the Super Gays for a discussion of Gengoroh Tagame's "My Brother's Husband." Come with us on a journey through the queer manga of Japan, from Bara to Shonen-ai! Produced by James Kelly.
James Kelly's audio collage responds to a discussion of contemporary FANDOM! Is the INTERNET a VILLAIN or the HERO? What ever happened to "COLLECTORS?" Why is "CANCELLING" such a dangerous power? What if Cynthia Nixon won? Find out as Johnny Jungleguts and Professor Xtra wander into the morass of FANDOM!
Welcome to DC's Earth-2, where Aquaman is Aquawoman and the Green Lantern is gay! Also: Prof Xtra gives Johnny Jungleguts a report on Flame Con 2018! Produced by James Kelly.
From Catwoman to Supa Dupa Fly, from Storm to the Yellow Zeo Ranger, we're counting down our twenty favorite super hero costumes in this fun summer episode!
The pressure to maintain a Greek physique is something that both superheroes and gay guys can relate to. While most superheroes are beyond ripped, in this episode we talk about some of the characters and storylines that deviate from those norms. Alex also expresses his dissapointment in Deadpool 2 and Johnnie sings Black Lightning's praises.
In this episode it's all about Wonder Woman. Johnnie starts off by reading a poem he wrote to the Amazon princess and the super gays break down Wonder Woman's earliest 1940s adventures. The Super Gays also gush over their favorite anime, from Lu Over the Wall to Tokyo Ghoul.
Johnny learns why the call him "Prof. Xtra," as Alex leads them on a deep dive into the fabulous life of Quebecois bad boy Jean-Paul Beaubier, a.k.a. Northstar, Marvel's first gay super hero! Also: Johnny reviews a recent book on the history of Catwoman, as Alex tries to muster some enthusiasm for the current crop of X-books. And: the Super Gays review Avengers: Infinity War as only they can! Produced by James Kelly.
In this episode we talk about Johnnie's journey as a brony, from being held back in Pre-K for being a My Little Pony loving pansy to rediscovering the show in adulthood. We Also talk about the latest issues of Runaways, Catwoman and Batman's impending nuptials, and Alex's obsession with his new evil Robin doll. This episode was edited by James Kelly with theme music by Sarrk!
Asgardian twinkhood abounds in this episode as we talk about the original Young Avengers by Allan Heinberg, Jim Cheung, and Justin Ponsor! We also discuss Power Rangers: Shattered Grid, Priest's run on Justice League, and Alex read's a beautiful X-Men poem his boyfriend wrote him for his birthday.
In this episode Super Gay tries breaks into the soon to be booming industry of aughts nostalgia with an episode on Catwoman in the 2000s. We talk about 2004's infamous Catwoman film as well as Ed Brubaker's acclaimed run writing the feline fatale. We also talk about Rob Liefeld's Netflix acquisition, Ava Duvernay's New Gods, and Alex is crushin' on Chamber. This episode was edited by James Kelly with music by Sark!
In this episode we talk about the teen angst and snarky twinks of Christina Strain and Amilcar Pinna's Generation X run! We also discuss the political speculative fiction of Matteo Pizzolo's Calexit, the amazing final issue of America, and the Ray's engagement!
Super Gay is a wild storm this week (get it?) as we discuss the gritty gay superhero Midnighter and his sun god boyfriend Apollo. We also talk about X-Men Red, Green Lanterns, Von Spatz, and Venom!
In this episode we talk about the ups and downs of Iceman's recently cancelled solo comic. Alex talks up all the Wolverine Clones and remains beleaguered but optimistic about the future of the X-Men in X-Men: Red. Johnnie shares his love for the art deco matriarchy of Marjorie Liu's Monstress and the supernatural jazz of Saladin Ahmed's Abbott.
In this episode we talk about the return of Jean Grey, Snagglepuss V. the red scare, and the life and death of America Chavez's solo comic, America, written by Gabby Rivera. Alex also reads some stunning Iceman fanfiction.
Big Money big money big money! Johnnie and Alex talk about their hopes and fears (mostly fears) regarding the new Fox and Disney merger.
In this episode Johnnie and Alex discuss how comics and fantasy fandom have affected their art practices. We also talk about the X-Men's latest cross time caper and the world's greatest escape artist, Mister Miracle!
Alex and Johnnie try to introduce themselves to you but end up mostly talking about Iceman's boring gay love life instead. Also, we both hate Batman. Oh well!