Justice League Queer


Justice League Queer is a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Justice League Queer was an ad-hoc team of LGBTQIA+ heroes formed by Gregorio de la Vega to fight off Eclipso when he attacked a pride parade. The team is a variation on one of DC's long-running properties, the Justice League. The JLQ was originated by Andrew Wheeler and Luciano Vecchio.

Publication history

DC introduced the concept as one of 16 entries in a bracket tournament called Round Robin, which was announced on DC's Twitter account on March 31, 2021. The public voted for pitches they would like to see as a six-issue miniseries. JLQ was eliminated in the first round.
The inclusion of JLQ in a tournament generated criticism from those who felt that it gave people a platform to anonymously reject representation in comics, "effectively a referendum on the existence of queer superheroes". Though JLQ did not win the tournament, its bracket was the focus of a sizable number of votes. The team debuted in a narrative written by Wheeler in DC Pride #1, a comic book released on June 8, 2021. Their next appearance was in the 2021 holiday anthology comic book Tis the Season to be Freezin.

Members

All members joined in DC Pride #1 :
  • The Aerie – A gender non-binary terrorist, first appearing in Suicide Squad Volume 6 #1. They are dating Wink and are a metahuman, with organic blue wings.
  • Apollo – A gay superhero, first appearing in StormWatch Volume 2 #4. He is married to Midnighter and is a metahuman with solar abilities, as well as flight, speed, and strength comparable to Superman.
  • Aqualad – A half-Atlantean gay superhero, also known as Jackson Hyde, first appearing in Brightest Day #4. As well as possessing superior Atlantean physical attributes, Aqualad can control and create hard constructs out of water.
  • Batwoman - A lesbian superhero, first appearing in 52 #7. She deploys her considerable combat training and wealth in a never-ending war on crime.
  • Bunker – A gay superhero from Mexico, first appearing in Teen Titans Volume 4 #1. Miguel has the metahuman ability to create constructs out of energy bricks, similar to Green Lantern.
  • Crush – A lesbian superhero, first appearing in Teen Titans Special #1. She is the daughter of the Czarnian alien anti-hero Lobo and inherits his considerable strength and regenerative abilities.
  • Extraño – A gay superhero sorcerer from Peru, first appearing in Millennium #2. He is married to Tasmanian Devil and is one of the DC Universe's top sorcerers.
  • Midnighter – A gay superhero first appearing in StormWatch Volume 2 #4. He is married to Apollo. His use of stealth and martial arts combined with high pain tolerance and the ability to predict his opponents' movements to make him a formidable opponent.
  • The Ray – A gay superhero, first appearing in The Ray #1. He has the metahuman ability to manipulate light and radiation, both offensively as well as to fly or turn invisible.
  • Shining Knight – A gender non-binary immortal swordfighter from Arthurian England, first appearing in Seven Soldiers: Shining Knight #1.
  • Steel – A queer superhero, first appearing in Steel Volume 2 #1. She uses highly advanced armor and technology made from sentient metal.
  • Sylvan "Syl" Ortega – A gay superhero from Brazil who is the magical apprentice to Extraño, first appearing in DC Pride #1. The would-be pajé of an extinct South American tribe, he has a natural affinity for plant-based magic.
  • Tasmanian Devil – A gay superhero from Australia first appearing in Super Friends #9. He is able to transform into a large anthropomorphic of his namesake and is married to Extraño.
  • Traci Thirteen – A bisexual superhero, first appearing in Superman Volume 2 #189. She is a member of the homo magi race with magical abilities linked to "the magic of cities".
  • Tremor – An asexual Bengali superhero from India, first appearing in Secret Six Volume 3 #25. She has the power to create shockwaves.
  • Wink – A queer terrorist, first appearing in Suicide Squad Volume 6 #1. She is dating The Aerie and is a metahuman whose power is to teleport short distances at will.