Tag Archives: Zeus Comics

Artist pulls out of Superman comic, cites Card controversy

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Richard Neal

Local comic book store owner Richard Neal has been one of those at the forefront criticizing DC Comics for tapping virulent homophobe Orson Scott Card to pen a Superman story for them; Neal announced his Zeus Comics wouldn’t carry it when it was released.

Well, he will have to wait even longer until that day comes. Chris Sprouse, the artist hired to draw the comic, has pulled out of the assignment, citing the Card controversy.

That doesn’t mean the comic is dead, however; DC says it will hire another artist — a fact that distresses Neal.

“In the same week Carly Rae Jepsen and Train cancel a Boy Scouts of America concert appearance by standing up for LGBT equality, we get this from DC,” Neal sighs. “I’m not sure what I was expecting to happen, but I know what I was hoping to happen. However there will be no parade, no victory celebration for equality. DC relied on the artists to make the decision for them. If there is any victory, it’s in the meaningful conversations held in comic shops across the country about LGBT [rights] and marriage equality. The victory is in the community we create with each other.”

—  Arnold Wayne Jones

Zeus’ Neal gets national attention for opposing anti-gay Superman scribe

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Variants castDallas retailer Richard Neal, owner of Zeus Comics, has become the go-to guy on why DC Comics is being bone-headed about choosing anti-gay activist Orson Scott Card to write its Adventures of Superman trilogy, which the superhero-loving Neal has refused to carry in his store.

Neal, center, is now the subject of a two-part interview on the website ComicsAlliance about the controversy. You can read it here.

—  Arnold Wayne Jones

WATCH: CW33′s ‘Gay Agenda’

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Zeus Comics’ Richard Neal talks to CW33′s Doug Magditch about his decision not to carry the new Superman comic after DC Comics tapped anti-gay bigot Orson Scott Card to help write it.

In this week’s installment, CW33′s Doug Magditch talks about backlash against DC Comics for tapping an anti-gay bigot to help write the new Superman; the Associated Press’ reluctance to refer to married same-sex couples as “husband” or “wife”; and the furor over an anti-gay prom in Indiana. And as usual, don’t miss my cameo! Watch it below.

Continue reading “WATCH: CW33′s ‘Gay Agenda’” »

—  John Wright

Dallas’ Zeus Comics says it won’t carry anti-gay writer’s Superman

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Orson Scott Card

The gay owner of Dallas’ Zeus Comics store has announced he won’t carry the print edition of DC Comics’ Anthology of Superman, after the comic book maker hired a board member from the National Organization for Marriage to help write the series.

DC Comics announced Monday that Orson Scott Card will help write the new Superman. Card not only sits on the board of NOM, but he has also called homosexuality “deviant behavior” and argued that marriage equality will lead to the collapse of civilization.

Despite outrage from the LGBT community and a petition calling for DC Comics to get rid of Card that now has almost 8,000 signatures, DC Comics stood by its decision in a statement to the Advocate.

D Magazine reports that Richard Neal, owner of Zeus Comics, posted the following statement on his Facebook page:

Zeus Comics will not be carrying the print edition of writer Orson Scott Card’s Superman.

Card sits on the board of the National Organization of Marriage which fights against marriage equality. His essays advocate the destruction of my relationship, that I am born of rape or abuse and that I am equated with pedophilia. These themes appear in his fiction as well.

It is shocking DC Comics would hire him to write Superman, a character whose ideals represent all of us.

If you replaced the word “homosexuals” in his essays with the words “women” or “jews” he would not be hired. But I’m not sure why its still okay to “have an opinion” about gays? This is about equality.

Neal also linked to his husband’s Tumblr page containing a scan of a recent Superman comic that appears to show him saving a gay teen from suicide. View the scan below.

Continue reading “Dallas’ Zeus Comics says it won’t carry anti-gay writer’s Superman” »

—  John Wright

VIDEO: The newest “Variants” … just in time for ComicCon

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Ever wonder why new episodes of The Variants always debut on Wednesday? Because as every comic book geek knows, Wednesdays are “comic book day,” the day of the week when new issues of the latest titles are delivered to stores across the country. So, if you’re so moved, after watching this latest webisode of the Internet series set here in Dallas, you can cruise on over to Zeus’ new digs on Inwood Road (look for the Batsignal!).

And if you’re really put in a comic book mood, it’s just in time for Dallas ComicCon, which takes places at the new Irving Convention Center Friday through Sunday.

Zeus owner Richard Neal calls this episode — entitled “Girl Drink Drunk,” after the Kids in the Hall sketch — his favorite of Season 3 …. and it’s hella-gay. Enjoy!

—  Arnold Wayne Jones

WATCH: “The Variants” occupy Zeus

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Zeus Comics is being occupied. Protesters have gathered outside the shop to protest the firing of Keli, but they show up in costume … which may actually attract more customers.

You can watch it here, or go to TheVariants.com.

—  Arnold Wayne Jones

Catch the latest episode of ‘The Variants’

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It’s Barry vs. Terry, and Keli vs. Svenus as there’s a war on two fronts: Zeus Comics and a comic convention… and where the hell is Richard? Find out on this week’s episode of The Variants.

—  Arnold Wayne Jones

‘The Variants’ launches third season

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The Variants, the online web series shot here in Dallas and set in a gay-owned comic bookstore, launched its third season today. The entire series was funded via the producers’ Kickstarter.com campaign. It’ll run for 10 weeks. The premiere ep, “Zeus Comics Worldwide,” deals with Kelli’s hesitance to turn the store into an expanded brand, losing its homey quality. You can watch it here, or just click below.

—  Arnold Wayne Jones

Northstar Wedding Reception at Zeus

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Mutants gettin’ married

Marvel’s gay hero Northstar moves fast. He just proposed to his boyfriend in last month’s issue of Astonishing X-Men and today the big day goes down. In issue 51 of the book, the fast-flying mutant settles down with his beau Kyle and by the cover, his mutie colleagues and perhaps much of the rest of the Marvel Universe is attending the fab wedding.

And you can too.

Zeus Comics will host an all-day reception at its location with refreshments and wedding cake culminating in a champagne toast at 7 p.m. Plus, you can purchase a copy of the comic for a keepsake because this really is some history going down. We just hope some bad guy doesn’t ruin it all trying to destroy the world again.

DEETS: Zeus Comics and Collectibles, 4411 Lemmon Ave. 11 a.m.–8 p.m. ComicShop.net/ZeusComics

—  Rich Lopez

Zeus, Eagle team for Northstar wedding parties

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OK, gay comic fans, the wedding of the year is just a week away, and you need to get ready for it.

One week from today, on June 20, Marvel Comics will release the issue featuring the same-sex wedding of gay superdude Northstar, a first for a major comic imprint. And gay-owned Zeus Comics on Lemmon and the webiste MutantaDay.com are celebrating in style. First, you can come by the Dallas Eagle tonight from 7 to 9 p.m. for a send-off bachelor party for Northstar. You’re encouraged to wear your favorite Marvel character costume (hey, if there’s anywhere you won’t look out of place in a costume midweek, it’s the Eagle) and the bar will be serving comic-themed cocktails. There will be contests and giveaways, too.

Then, after Northstar (real name: Jean-Paul Beaubier, so he must be uncut) and his fiance Kyle Jinadu tie the knot next Wednesday, you can come by Zeus to pick up a copy or just to attend the wedding reception, which will pack its own surprises. Beyond that, our lips are sealed.

—  Arnold Wayne Jones