DC Comics To Introduce First Reality Based Trans Character

I've talked in the blog about the Archie Comics having storylines in which they have done 'what if' gender bending with their hero Archie and reimagined his life twice as a girl in issues 516 and 636.  In Archie 636 they took it a step further and gender swapped Betty and Veronica as well as Archie.      

Gender fluidity has been present in the comic world for decades but only through fantasy based methods such as magic, shape-shifting, brain-swapping, and cloning via adult or independent published comics or websites such as the adult-themed TG Comics.

But DC Comics, which has also done its share of fantasy based gender bending with its line of superheroes, and over the last few years has introduced not only ethnically diverse characters, but started adding ones who are gay or lesbian after once being banned by the Comics Code Authority.

DC is about to take a major leap forward and introduce a reality based trans character.

Introducing Alysia Yeoh, the roommate of Barbara Gordon, AKA Batgirl.   In the rebooted Batgirl series Barbara is a lesbian, and in Batgirl #19 Alysia will reveal to Barbara that she's a girl like us in a conversation with her roommate in the same conversation in which Barbara reveals she's Batgirl.  

Writer Gail Simone also revealed that Alysia's sexual orientation is bi.

She also attributes the idea of a trans character to a Wondercon convention conversation she had with comic writer Greg Ruska after a fan asked why there were fewer gay male superheroes than lesbian ones.

Rucka, who co-created (and rebooted) Batwoman as a lesbian character, replied that it would be a real sign of change for a gay male character to appear on a comic book cover — and an even bigger step for a transgender character to do the same.

While Simone is aware of the trans characters that exist in various comic book universes through fantasy based means, she wanted to create one that was reality based.  Alysia will be “a character, not a public service announcement … being trans is just part of her story. If someone loved her before, and doesn’t love her after, well — that’s a shame, but we can’t let that kind of thinking keep comics in the 1950s forever.”

She also talked to people in the trans community before creating Alysia. 

Simone suggested the Alysia Yeoh story to DC Comics Co-Publisher Dan DiDio at lunch one day, prepared to offer a passionate defense for the idea of a transgender character. ”I thought I might have to sell it, so to speak,” said Simone in the Wired interview. “But he just paused for a moment, asked how this would affect Barbara’s story, and immediately approved it. And we went back to our excellent nachos.”

Simone according to the Wired story will be adding another trans character to a story she's working on.   She also thinks it's time for a trans superhero character, especially since many of of the loyal comic book fans and people who attend comic conventions around the country also happen to be from the trans community.

“It’s time for a trans hero in a mainstream comic. I think it’s time to make that thing happen that Greg [Rucka] mentioned years ago. And it’s going to happen … I’m sure it’s controversial on some level to some people, but honest to God, I just could not care less about that. If someone gets upset, so be it; there are a thousand other comics out there for those people.”

And as a comic book fan, I couldn't agree more.

Upcoming Archie Gender Swap Issue

One of my guilty pleasures is Archie comic books, and I was pleased to find out some interesting details about the upcoming Issue 636 that will hit newsstands around August 22.

It will contain a story called 'The Great Switcheroo' that involves Sabrina the Teenage Witch and her cat Salem.  It will focus on gender and the perceptions of gender roles by having gender swapped versions of Archie, Betty and Veronica as they become Archina, Billy and Ronnie.

It happens after Salem hears the denizens of Riverdale articulating the age old grumbling about how the other gender has it easier, then casts a magic spell that flips the gender script.

Hmm.  Looking forward to reading this one if I can get my hands on it when it hits the newsstand of my fave local comic book store.   

This also isn't the first time Archie has been reimagined in the other gender.    In Issue 516 there was a story called 'The Other Side Of The Fence' in which Archie's mother, frustrated about being the lone estrogen based lifeform in the house and raising a teenage son imagines what life would be like if Archie had been born a girl.   

She changes her mind after having lunch with Mrs. Lodge and Mrs. Cooper and they talk about the drama their daughters Veronica and Betty put them through..

At any rate, really looking forward to adding this one to my collection.

Archie Dates A Sistah

So what does the Archie comics team do for an encore after a six comic dream sequence storyline in which Archie gets married to both Betty and Veronica?

That storyline also garnered increased sales and media attention for the iconic comic franchise and rekindled a lot of Archie comic book fans like myself interest in the hijinks and goings on in Riverdale.

Can you say 'interracial relationship' TransGriot boys and girls?

And no, Archie isn't dating Nancy Woods either.

In the soon to be released Archie Comics 608 and 609 Betty and Veronica will have a little competition for Archie's affections from an unexpected direction.

Her name is Valerie Brown, and you've seen her before. She's the lead songwriter and bassist for Josie And the Pussycats.

I used to read those comics on the regular as well and get up on Saturday mornings to watch the cartoon version.



What sets up the story entitled 'It Starts With a Kiss' is the Archies do a joint musical tour with Josie and the Pussycats. Of course Alexander Cabot as the Pussycats manager sets up some shady stuff unbeknownst to either band which results in Josie and the Pussycats getting top billing instead of co-equal status.

That gets unraveled by Veronica's cousin Marcy, who is acting as the Archies agent.

During this tour a romance gets kindled between Valerie and Archie, and you'll have to get Issues 608 and 609 to find out how.

Yep, will have to head back to my fave comic shop to pick these issue up. I'm just as curious to see how this is going to play out as well.

Archie Marries Betty

Finally picked up my copy of Archie 604, which continues the six issue story arc of the comic world's favorite playa-playa deciding to settle down with one of the two lovely ladies vying for his romantic attention.

In Issues 600, 601, and 602 it shows us Archie's life after marrying Veronica, complete with twins, living large lifestyle and an executive job at Lodge Industries.

But fans of the Archie comics, and count the TransGriot among them, were rooting for Betty to marry Archie, and starting with issue 603 that's what we got.

We're treated to the other fork in Memory Lane and what transpired as Archie gets engaged to and is now on the verge of marrying Elizabeth Ann Cooper.

Unlike the earlier issues in which Veronica's spare no expense wedding was the hit of the social season that garnered media coverage, Archie and Betty's wedding is a small scale one at Pop's.

Archie is having a hard time finding a job like everyone else in America these days. Betty ends up getting the job in New York she applied for prior to graduating from college and she and Archie move there after their wedding.

Veronica pins him down at the reception and Archie explains why he chose Betty over her. She offers as the maid of honor to pay for the honeymoon since money is tight for the newlyweds, but Archie declines the offer. (Hmm, Veronica's growing up)

After a year in New York, they move back to Riverdale on their first anniversary and end up with teaching jobs at Riverdale High. I'll let you read 604 to find out why.

Betty also drops the bomb at the end of the issue that she's pregnant.

Looking forward to picking up Issues 605 and 606, the final one in this six comic series arc that wraps up this storyline.

Oh by the way, if you missed any of these issues, there will be one coming out around March which will consolidate the entire story arc in one issue tentatively titled Archie, Marry Me.

Anxiously waiting for Issue 605 to hit the stands now to see if Betty has twins.

Archie Gets Engaged To Betty-Veronica Trips Out

Most of you TransGriot readers know I'm a big fan of the Archie comic books and have been reading them and the Josie and the Pussycats ones since childhood.

I've been eagerly reading and collecting the six comic book series that started this summer with Issue 600 in which Archie on the eve of his college graduation takes a walk down Memory Lane. He takes the left fork and is catapulted into a world that has him getting married to Veronica with Betty eventually agreeing to be the maid of honor at their wedding.

Since there were six comic books in the series and the fan sentiment was overwhelmingly in favor of Betty marrying Archie, they gave the people (and the TransGriot) what they wanted starting with Issue 604.

Archie at the end of Issue 603 leaves the big house he shares with Veronica and the twins to take a walk in the first winter snow of the season as is his tradition.

He takes the other fork of Memory Lane and is deposited back in time, winter coat and all to the eve of his college graduation once again. The ceremony goes on as before with Dilton giving the valedictory speech (who else?) but with everyone after the graduation heading to Pop's Chocklit Shoppe for a post graduation party.

Archie drives himself, Reggie and Jughead to the event. While doing so Archie tells the fellas he's made up his mind which of the two lovely ladies competing for his attention he plans to marry.

After arriving at Pop's and trying to have a private chat with Veronica, he gives up after she constantly interrupts him with details about her upcoming fabulous post graduate life.

He finds Betty and joins her for a shared soda, After a few moments of conversation with her and confiding to Betty he would never be able to fit into Veronica's high society world, he pops the question with a stunned Veronica looking on.

My fellow Archie comic enthusiast Jackie of the THINGS According To Me blog and I speculated in an October 10 post and a comment thread of her blog about how she would handle it:

I'm betting that Veronica's spoiled butt doesn't, but then again she may shock us. Monica Roberts October 10, 2009

Can I call it people? Wish I had the same luck picking five numbers plus a powerball.

Veronica didn't even come close to handling it with the class that Betty did when the script was flipped. She acted just like the spoiled little rich girl she was while storming out of Pop's.

I'll let y'all read Issue 604 for yourselves. In the meantime, I'm waiting for Issue 605 to hit the stands detailing Archie and Betty's married life and Issue 606 closing out this story arc.

Archie Gets Married To Betty!

I've been following the Archie Gets Married storyline and all the developments so far that have transpired. I own Archie 601 and 602 which show the proposal and the subsequent wedding.

At the end of Archie 601, Veronica drops the news on Archie after a long day at Lodge Enterprises that she's pregnant.

In Archie 602 we discover that Archie and Veronica become parents of fraternal twins. This issue focuses on the travails of parenthood on the couple and all of the ancillary issues it brings.

I'll have to leave y'all hanging in terms of what names Archie and Veronica chose for the twins and who they named as the godparents.

But as many of us noted, Archie went down one fork of Memory Lane. We know how his life is transpiring by choosing to marry Veronica.

While it was an upgrade in social status for Archie, it comes at a cost. He's struggling to handle a job he feels he's over his head in, but doesn't want to disappoint his father in law or his wife.

But how would it have transpired if he had proposed and married Betty, and would he be happier in doing so?

Well, to the delight of Betty fans, we're about to find out.

The script is going to get flipped and show Archie proposing marriage to Betty in front of a stunned Veronica.

The fans of the Archie comics (and the TransGriot) made it overwhelmingly clear across the Net that Betty was the girl they wanted to see Archie get married to.

Knowing Archie's history of not being able to make up his mind between the two, and that there were three comic books left in the series, it was inevitable they were going to give us fans what we wanted to see and show the other side of this eternal love triangle.

As the old saying goes, be careful what you wish for, you just might get it, When one online poll on the Archie website I saw noted that 80% of the respondents wanted Betty and Archie to get married, it was inevitable this was going to happen.

Beginning with Archie 603, we'll see the flip side of the eternal love triangle.

Archie takes another walk down Memory Lane and this time takes the other fork in the road. That sets up the rest of the story arc that will unfold over Archie issues 604, 605 and 606.

We'll get to see Archie's proposal to Betty, their subsequent marriage and life with her.

We'll also get to see if Veronica handles it with the class that Betty handled it when the pump was on the other foot.

I'm betting that Veronica's spoiled butt doesn't, but then again she may shock us.

But we'll see.

Hmm, this storyline is getting juicier by the minute. Looking forward to picking the rest of these issues up and seeing how this plays out.

Archie Gets Married

I mentioned that as a kid I loved reading Archie Comics. I not only am an Archie fan, I also like Josie and the Pussycats as well.

I was even surprised to discover there was a trans themed storyline in Issue 516 which Mrs. Andrews imagines what it would be like if Archie had been born a girl.

Well, the news broke in May that the love triangle that has fueled the sales of Archie comics for over 70 years was taking a new turn starting with Issue 600.

Archie decided that he was going to marry Veronica, and that story is going to play out over a six episode arc.

Well, my roomie read the post I'd written about my love of the Archie comics.

When Issue 600 hit the stands a few weeks ago, I was surprised to come home from work after a very crappy day and find that issue sitting on top of my computer keyboard.

Well, whatever leftover pissivity I had about my jacked up day melted as I settled into a chair and read that issue.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Issue 600 but I really felt for Betty. She now has to deal with the reality that her rival snagged the guy she wanted.

At the same time Archie confesses to Jughead, who was with Betty when she witnessed the proposal, that Betty was the first person he met when his family moved to Riverdale.

To add to her shock over witnessing the engagement, Betty is asked by Veronica to be her maid of honor.

I just picked up Issue 601, which chronicles Archie and Veronica's wedding, the hype leading to it and even the conversation that Archie and Betty had prior to it happening.

It also skips ahead a year at the end of their honeymoon to Archie dealing with his workday life in his father-in-law's company and Veronica making an interesting announcement.

I won't spoil the surprise that's at the end of Issue 601, and we still have four issues in this six issue story arc yet to go.

The Transgender Archie Issue

I'm waiting for the latest chapter of the Archie saga to play out and hit my favorite comic store in August.

In case you hadn't heard, Archie proposed to Veronica as the beginning of a six episode comic run in which the gang has graduated from Riverdale High and are just beginning their post college lives.

So while I'm waiting for those issues to hit the stand, thought I'd talk about the Archie story with a transgender twist.

It appeared in Issue 516, and was called 'The Other Side Of The Fence'. Thanks to the peeps at TG Graphics and Fiction Archive, you can actually read it.

Just click on the images to enlarge them and enjoy.

Playa Playa Archie Picks Veronica

I used to collect and read the Archie comic books back in the day and still occasionally peruse them from time to time.

Thanks to the TG Graphics and Fiction Archive site, I ran across an interesting gender bending Archie one in Issue 516 called 'The Other Side Of The Fence'.

His mother Mary Andrews was frustrated about the trials and tribulations of raising a teenage son and imagined what life would be like if Archie were her daughter instead of her son.

After imagining a grass is greener idyllic scenario, a lunch date with Mrs. Lodge and Mrs. Cooper gives her the 411 about the difficulties of raising teenage daughters.

Both women confide to Mary that they considered her the lucky one and the trio of mothers quickly agree that whether you have sons or daughters, it's still a tough job to raise them.

It then concludes with Mrs. Andrews coming home, hugging her son and realizing she wouldn't change that for the world.

One of the long running stories in the Archie comic book series is the love triangle between Archie Andrews, sophisticated spoiled rich girl Veronica Lodge and the loyal girl next door with the big heart Betty Cooper.

After 68 years Archie and the gang finally grow up starting with Issue 600, which hits the stands in August.

They skip the story ahead five years after their graduation from Riverdale High and as they are just starting their fresh out of college post-graduate lives.

The story is going to play out over the next six issues, but it's already leaked out which one of his high school honeys Archie proposes to.

It's Veronica.

I've always been rooting for Betty as you can tell, and hoped one day Archie would see the light and they'd one day get hitched.

Hey I'm an unabashed romantic, so sue me.

While Betty was doing things for Archie, Veronica always seemed to me to keep Archie at arms length until she sensed that Betty was getting the upper hand. She'd then start paying more romantic attention to Archie until he was focused on her to Veronica's satisfaction, then once Archie's eyes were back on her, the cycle would start all over again.

Well, as you can see on the Issue 600 cover, Archie is proposing to her just as Betty is walking past the jewelry store and witnessed the whole thing.

But knowing how indecisive Archie has been, Betty may still have a fighting chance. Veronica only has the ring. Neither she nor Archie have walked down the aisle and said 'I do' yet.

So stay tuned, this could get interesting.