An Arc was Planned in the Comics
Though current Archie Sonic comic writer Ian Flynn has seemingly quashed the notion in his ongoing interpretation of the Archie comics storyline, earlier writers–notably Ken Penders–had tinkered with introducing an existing Sonic character as a homosexual.
That’s the word on his message board, where he’s disclosed that Rotor Walrus’s sexuality was to be setup and explored around the years 2003 to 2005. Penders notes he had dropped hints in earlier issues, with a big reveal planned for the Mobius: 25 Years Later arc:
I thought it was fairly obvious Rotor was gay, and begun laying the groundwork for that storyline during the MOBIUS: 25 YEARS LATER segments. I even showed his life partner without saying as such and planted clues between the lines.
It would have been a decision more than ten years in the making. But the gross underdevelopment of Rotor as a base character is blamed for the idea never overtly coming to fruition.
But what if it did? There could have been social implications in the era, especially as gay marriage and equal rights started to spark an ongoing American debate. Indeed, international headlines were made when Dumbledore of the Harry Potter franchise was outed by author J.K. Rowling. Could Rotor, his life partner (pointed out to be Cobar, later in the thread) and in effect the Sonic franchise have been used to rally support? For fans, discussion of what could have been may best serve as a canon debate, especially among fandom more closely focused with the comics and with the SatAM television franchise–where it was a non-issue.
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When you have to go exploring a Sonic character’s sexuality, you’re getting too deep and probably running out of ideas.
Sonic 214: Gargoyles star Lexington crosses through the star posts and awakens a confused Rotor to new possibilities…
Thank god Ian’s in charge now.
This would have been such a pointlessly horrid idea.
Nothing against homosexuality or anything of that matter. But I’m glad they never went through with this idea if for one reason. It was just an idea thrown in there for shock value. The comic story has become so much like a day time soap opera already why add more to it?
Seriously…what happened to this comic series? The story lines at the begining were so simple. Sonic and the Freedom Fighters fighting against Dr. Robotnik to free Mobius. Maybe throw in a couple silly situations and corney dialog here and there….but it was still just good ol’ plain simple fun to read. I stopped reading the series around the time the Knuckles the Echidna series ended at issue 30-ish ( I tihnk the last issue was 33 I can’t remember its been so long) Even then, yes there was a little drama and a couple new twists and turns but it was still pretty basic and easy to follow.
I’ve been trying to get back into the series, but reading the new comics now its like its completely different concept.
If anything, I would have thought they would have chosen Antoine. >>
I would have liked to know how they would have handled that. They probably didn’t need an entire story arc for it, though. Stronger hints would have been just fine, if they really wanted to show it. Sexuality doesn’t matter!
The original storyline wasn’t meant to focus so much on the relationships between characters (or lack thereof), anyway. Honestly, at this point, I think they’re creating drama because they don’t have any better ideas.
I really don’t care who that is (I don’t hate the comic or cartoons, I just personally like the Sonic games), but I still think it’s pretty cool since this should knock some Sonic homophobes down a few pegs *cough*CWC*cough*.
And, correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Lexington beat this guy to the punch?
To be honest this is pretty irellivent, no one should be makking a fuss, anything of interest, please?
Pretty silly stuff.
But…reading some of these comments and going by some stuff I see on the net on a daily basis…I can’t help but wonder something. If some people here are all for gay rights and so on as they claim…why are the homosexual treated like something we have to shield our children from? Or something that’s “too much to be bothered with”
Maybe it is a bit much for an adventure comic but still…Just some food for thought.
Huh. This is news to me. Not sure what I think of it, honestly. I have nothing against homosexuals, but I fear that if they went through with this, they’d somehow botch the portrayal…sensationalizing it. I also worry that it would just be a ploy to create a “token” gay character…without significant reasoning behind it. And that just seems cheap, and unfair to Rotor himself and unfair to homosexuals. If they were to have a legitimate reason for it, that might be different. But this sounds like they just want to make one of the characters gay just to satisfy a diversity need, without a reason.
But it really depends on how they portrayed it. Perhaps it would be better to introduce completely different characters for this role? I see Rotor as someone who never really was interested in a partner at all, to be honest. *shrug*
I think overall, it doesn’t really add, or take anything away from the character. Still as Violet said it seems like a cheap ploy to just have a “token ambuguously gay character” in the series, and nothing more. Or perhaps Ken thinks it might make him more “unique.”
I suppose it does seem cliche’ to “out” one character just because he’s “soft-spoken,” and never had a girlfriend, or any form of romance, or anything in the series before. Rotor never really struck me that way personally.
I think considering Ken doesn’t work on the comic, anymore, and apparently the current comic staff wasn’t aware of this, I think it’s really up to the readers’ decision if they want Rotor to be gay, so be it. If not, that’s ok, to.
I have nothing against the concept but still… His… “life partner” in “Mobius 25 Years Later”… I’m sorry, but that is one uuuugly echidna.
Why does it matter if he’s gay or not, like why does everyone care? He doesn’t need to be a walking stereotype in order to be gay, nothing about him would be different. I wonder if most of you have ever even met a gay person in your lives. Gay people DO EXIST in real life, and there’s nothing wrong with writing them into a comic.
I love how people here say they don’t want sexuality in a Sonic book or “gayness” expressed in it, yet the book is constantly pushing heterosexual sexuality the whole time! The romance between Sonic and Sally! That Amy made herself an adult to try to win Sonic’s love! Etc. Etc. Those that say that “they’re not against gays BUT” … the “but” says everything. If you’re not going to acknowledge gay sexuality or bisexuality and romance, then don’t have straight sexuality and romance either. Why not have them all asexual, and why even have gender then, either. Why have the female characters have human-like breasts and hips … especially if it’s “just” a children’s comic book.