Buffy Bats for Our Team

Many Buffy the Vampire fans were happy that Joss Whedon continued the Buffy story line in his Dark Horse comic book, Season 8. But controversy swirled around the recent installment titled, “Wolves at the Gate” because our girl Buffy gets it on with fellow slayer Satsu, a hot lesbian slayer who can convince even the straightest girl to go bi at least once.

Of course it’s no surprise that fundamentalist Christians are behind most of the backlash, going as far as saying that it’s harming our children for them to read any comic books that show an alternative lifestyle.

But Allie, editor of the Dark Horse says that unlike mainstream comic book heroes like Wonder Woman or Superman, they’re allowed more freedom because they exist on the fringe. Not having the pressure of selling lunch boxes to main stream America, Dark Horse can experiment a little, and in doing so, allow their characters to experiment as well.

The fringe? I thought that was an interesting term to use. Since this comic book exists on “the fringe” they are able to write a lesbian story-line for their main character. Not just a sidekick but a main character. One that has had legions of fans since 1997 and has spawned a sub-culture so pervasive that it’s changed American language and has it’s very own lexicon. Yet somehow, it’s still considered to be on the fringe.

On the fringe of what? Society? Barely acceptable by social norms? Something to be relegated to the outer limits of mass popularity? Why? Because the super hero in this series is a woman who in spite of her feminine appearance and spaghetti strap camisoles still kicks ass with the best of them. I guess that just struck a chord with me, since as a lesbian in America I too am considered to exist on the fringe.

It’s been more acceptable to make female comic book heros gay than their male counterparts because as Andy Mangels said. “Lesbians are allowed to be sexy, ultraconfident, emasculating or be in a relationship.” But America isn’t ready for Batman and Superman to move in together and adopt a black baby. At least not yet.

While it’s true “Buffy joins a long line of lesbian and bisexual women in mainstream comics. Batwoman garnered headlines in 2006 when she was came out as a lesbian in the popular DC “52” series.” (Bagby) Don’t get your hopes up, a one night stand with another girl is not going to turn Buffy into a “card-carrying Sapphic slayer” but it’s a start. After all, lots of girls stop in Bi town on their way to Gay-ville any way, right? I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

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