In the latest in a series of controversial moves by Marvel to capture media attention, an old character is being retooled (pun intended) to reflect a more modern sensibility.  After revealing that the first Captain America was in fact an African-American, not a White Anglo Saxon Protestant, and the Ultimate Universe Hank Pym is a wife-beater, now the Western character called the 'Rawhide Kid' will be revealed to be gay.  Am I offended by this?  You bet.

But not because he's gay.

I find Marvel's 'updating' of characters FOR THE SAKE OF CONTROVERSY to be offensive.  I envision brainstorming sessions in the Marvel offices where Bill Jemas asks, 'Who haven't we pissed off yet?'  To which Joe Quesada replies, 'Well, we jabbed the Jews pretty good with that 'kike' reference in Wolverine, and white supremacists are pretty ticked off over the Truth 'thang,' as well as all the old-time geeks...  er, fans...  who feel that continuity is sacrosanct.  Hey, a few years ago, when we 'outted' Northstar officially, that got a 'rise' out of the fans.  What say we make somebody gay?'

Of course, Jemas embraces the idea.  After all, gay is still a taboo subject for most Americans.  Especially socially-stunted comic book fans, right?  Despite realistic portrayals of gay characters by writers like Terry Moore, Mark Millar, and Judd Winick, most readers expect all their heroes to be red-blooded bastions of heterosexuality (like Hank Pym?).  So a gay guy would really tork-off folks!  Jemas chortles with glee at the prospect.  'Maybe it'll make people as mad as my own insipid Marville!'

I'm sure the choice to make Rawhide Kid gay came from Ron Zimmerman, a pretty funny writer with a background in TV.  His various Spider-Man stories have been amusing, especially the Tangled Web issue set in a super-villains bar (Vulture has never been better written).  With the double entendre of 'Slap Leather' as a subtitle for the series, Zimmerman had all the ammunition he needed to sell Jemas and Quesada on the idea.  I just hope he's not shooting blanks.

Just as there are gay people, there should be gay characters.  Just as there are black Americans, there should be black super-heroes.  Just as there are wife beaters, there should be... Well, no, let's not go there.  But to retroactively impose on a character a certain characteristic FOR THE SAKE OF CONTROVERSY strikes me as insulting, condescending, and incredibly insensitive.  At least in the case of the Truth, the series is exploring a story that has merit above and beyond the exploitation (the inhumane use of African Americans in medical experimentation), and Captain America is still Steve Rogers.

Rawhide Kid: Slap Leather is insulting to gays.  Their lives (not lifestyles, mind you) are being belittled for the sake of a joke, some airtime on CNN, and a few potential sales to the curious.  Now, admittedly, I haven't read it.  Maybe Rawhide's a sterling example of gay manhood.  Somehow I doubt it.  If the quotes revealed on CNN, sly double talk about the Lone Ranger and Tonto, and the general tone of Ron Zimmerman's other writing, are any indication, this series will be played for laughs.  Just what gay men and women need: another stereotype, another character bash, another insult.

What's next? Rawhide Kid meets Giant-Size Man-Thing?

Come on Marvel, give us something with some meat to it.