Today is disheartening, as a writer, editor, or columnist whom I previously believed had a minimal amount of decency and dignity has chosen to identify with the transgender community. Now, he prefers to be referred to as “Jenny.” (From Fandom Pulse)
Tony Isabella, who made his mark in Marvel and DC Comics during the 1970s with characters like Tigra, Black Lightning, and Ghost Rider, has taken a significant personal step at the age of seventy-three. He’s revealed that he identifies as transgender, aiming to bring awareness to issues surrounding gender identity.
In his works during the 1970s, there was an instance of the Ghost Rider storyline where he aimed to portray the character as a Christian. However, Marvel’s editorial team disapproved of this concept and eliminated any references to a Christ-like figure from the comic book.
In a 2007 interview, he shared that he added “The Friend,” a character resembling a hippie version of Jesus Christ, into the series after getting approval from editor Roy Thomas. However, he never explicitly referred to him as such. This move allowed him to address a longstanding issue he had with the Marvel Universe – the lack of heavenly elements. Although we had numerous depictions of hell and Satan stand-ins in our comics, there was no representation of Heaven.
Over a period of two years, he wrote a story where Blaze accepted Jesus as his savior, thereby freeing himself from Satan’s influence forever. His plan was to continue developing the religious aspects of Ghost Rider, with Blaze living his life as a Christian, but subtly so. Unfortunately, an assistant editor objected to this story. The issue was about to go to print when he intervened, reworked parts of the artwork and text, and altered the ending of a story that had been in development for two years. Instead of “The Friend” being Jesus, he was portrayed as a disguised demon. To this day, he believes that this editor’s actions were one of the three most arrogant and misguided decisions made by an editor.
Regrettably, as he grew older, Isabella distanced himself from Christianity and became a vocal critic of conservative movements, often defending his newfound leftist beliefs in online discussions related to the ComicsGate movement, which he openly criticized since 2018. On Twitter, he stated: “To the ComicsGate supporter who suggested it was bad for me to alienate my audience, you should know that my audience has NEVER been racist, bigoted, misogynist, white supremacist, GOP-supporting zealots. You must have mistaken me for another writer. Farewell.
In 2023, his behavior became increasingly unusual as he chose to confront creator Eric July, advocating for violence at the San Diego Comic-Con, stating something along the lines of: “Come on, CGC and Comic-Con! You can do better than supporting an individual like this, who is, to say the least, questionable. Jack Kirby would have taken a stand against him.
He’s seemingly used his role for the fleeting glory that Andy Warhol referred to as 15 minutes of fame, and without a doubt, garnered attention within the LGBT community. Unfortunately, this revelation now forces us to differentiate between art and artist, which is unfortunate, especially for those who view Black Lightning, Black Goliath, and Misty Knight as significant Black superheroes from DC and Marvel. I personally own three paperbacks featuring Black Lightning from the late 70s-mid 90s and may have a Daredevil Epic Collection archive with some of his issues written there. This unsettling news will undoubtedly affect me for a while. It seems Isabella carried out this stunt as a strange retaliation against Donald Trump’s election, but it’s quite sad. I can’t fathom why he thinks adopting beliefs comparable to or even worse than self-hating Jews will appease anyone other than the most self-loathing individuals. Doesn’t he comprehend that it’s also disrespectful towards women and akin to blackface?
I recently revisited some of his articles from decades past, penned for various pop culture news outlets. While there were insights about the comics industry that seemed prescient, his consistently progressive views, especially his focus on LGBT issues and hostility towards Republicans, were often overt and off-putting, causing me to lose interest in his writings.
I recall he once portrayed Jeff Pierce/Black Lightning as a Northern Baptist Protestant, but it’s clear now that he no longer holds this view. His current stance on race relations, as evidenced by his attacks on July, mirrors this shift. It wouldn’t surprise me if he were lenient towards Islam regarding objections to LGBT practices, while being critical of Judeo-Christianity and even Buddhism/Hinduism in the same context.
Reflecting on it now, it’s likely he doesn’t mind Chinese communists criticizing his work. It’s unfortunate that someone who once showed great potential in the early stages of his career is now making it difficult for people to fully appreciate his past work due to his current behavior. However, his actions make it simpler to distinguish art from artist because it seems he no longer values his old works much. His past actions do hint at significant disagreements with comic editors, possibly due to his political views being too extreme and other contentious issues that some editors were bold enough to reject. More recently, during Dan DiDio’s tenure at DC, Isabella wrote a Black Lightning story in 2017 that took politically correct stances, such as depicting the police as universally evil. This certainly brought down even his own creations to an awkward and embarrassing point.
One troubling aspect of Isabella’s publicity move is pondering if other creators might follow suit, in a desperate attempt to stay relevant. This action could only tarnish their reputations, and it speaks volumes about their true opinion towards the audience who admire their work. Fandom Pulse also highlights:
OR
Worryingly, Isabella’s publicity stunt leaves us questioning if more creators will imitate this behavior, out of desperation to stay in the spotlight. Such actions would only harm their legacies, revealing a lot about their actual feelings towards their audience who appreciate their work. Fandom Pulse also points out:
Currently on X, it appears Tony Isabella has experienced a shift in his mental state following the election of Donald Trump as president. Finding it insufficient to garner attention solely by criticizing conservative creators, he now seems to be aiming for more moral approval, announcing his identity as transgender. He stated, “This is authentic. I’ll share more insights soon. In the interim, I kindly request your respect for my privacy, and especially that of my wife and our children. Thank you.
1. It’s deeply unfortunate that he resorts to such actions towards his wife and children in his later years, seemingly seeking approval from leftist circles.
2. The act of making a public statement like this while asking for privacy is rather contradictory, much like Neil Gaiman’s request for privacy amidst his public sexual allegations.
Indeed, that aspect is undeniably the most disheartening part of this situation. His actions are causing significant embarrassment to his family, an affront that surpasses simply damaging his reputation. Intriguingly, it’s worth noting that Isabella had connections with individuals like Gaiman in previous years, as he himself mentioned on his blog.
As I ponder over my inspirations, I find myself questioning: Who is shaping the minds of today’s comic book writers, as well as those who will write comics in the future? I’m struggling to come up with a long list of names. Mark Waid and Kurt Busiek are two notable contemporary comic writers who excel in multiple artistic aspects. There are glimpses of wisdom I can glean from Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, and Harvey Pekar.
Regrettably, they’re all leaning left. A potential shift in Isabella’s stance towards Gaiman is hinted at, but the issue here is the disparity in the length of his comments, particularly when he goes on about Trump.
Trump can’t legally be the U.S. President, but it seems he will take office anyway. This is because some Republicans in Congress may not uphold their oaths due to fear, greed, thirst for power, and prejudice. Even Supreme Court justices, including those not appointed by Trump, might not fulfill their duties. Democrats, who understand the truth, also appear unwilling to prevent his inauguration. As a result, a man widely considered one of our nation’s worst – known for bullying, deceit, cowardice, dishonesty, racism, sexual misconduct, inciting insurrection, and treachery – will likely become President once more, despite hopes that our country was the best on earth.
Under Trump’s leadership, expect an assemblage of questionable appointees, greedy tycoons, and possibly delusional extremists to take charge. These individuals may prioritize their personal interests over the welfare of the American public. Their actions could lead to hardship, profound suffering, and insecurity for many, both domestically and globally.
“If you supported Trump and other Republican candidates, in my view, you share the same level of contempt as they do. Perhaps you neglected to do even the most fundamental research before casting your vote, or perhaps you believed they shared your enemies. Maybe you mistakenly think their harsh and self-serving policies won’t affect you just as much as those who voted against Trump and his allies. Maybe you’re dangerously uninformed. Or maybe, like Trump and his peers, you are genuinely malevolent. Regardless of what you are, I can never wish for your wellbeing. I can never hope for your happiness or success.”
“Despite my appreciation for redemption tales, and having authored many such stories, I worry that you have gone too far to be redeemed. Your actions have sealed your fate in my mind.”
But when he addresses Gaiman, he merely says:
NEIL GAIMAN. You utter piece of shit.
It’s clear that Tony spent a considerable amount of words criticizing those who even considered voting for Trump, while Isabella merely wrote a brief, vague statement about Gaiman. Given the extensive comments on Trump versus the scant remarks about Gaiman, one might question if Isabella is more bothered by Gaiman’s lack of moral standards as a leftist, rather than his political views per se. After all, it seems Tony could have addressed Gaiman’s alleged offenses long ago. Moreover, the harsh comments made about Trump supporters are damaging and unfavorable for public relations. If indeed many 9-11 survivors, Black voters, women under 30, or college-less women voted for Trump, does Tony view them with contempt as well?
And then, I also noticed he brought up the following overrated novelist in one of his commentaries:
10th October: I’m Gandhi, the latest addition to the “Extraordinary Individuals Who Changed History” collection by Brad Meltzer and Christopher Eliopoulos.
Previously, I mentioned nearly a decade ago, Gandhi might not have been as virtuous as people think, perhaps even surpassing Gaiman in questionable behavior. It’s quite astonishing how Isabella seems to overlook this, just as Meltzer’s distasteful script for Identity Crisis has been reconsidered by some, even by leftists over time. Isabella also stated:
3. For quite some time now, I’ve been expressing my admiration for the Black Lightning storytelling by Brad Meltzer, Dwayne McDuffie, Grant Morrison, Adam Beechen, and Sholly Fisch across different Justice League and other comic book series.
Regarding Meltzer’s actions towards various characters, particularly women, in Identity Crisis, it’s unhelpful and misleading to ignore these incidents and merely condone Meltzer, given his role, along with Dan DiDio, in what transpired as much as Joe Quesada did at Marvel. Even Morrison isn’t an ideal candidate. This situation is deeply disheartening, considering Tony seemingly overlooked all this. Is it right to think a writer with such a history of creating controversial comics accused of misogyny can work on any comic that Isabella contributed to? It’s just sad. And then, in 2016, he wrote something quite unusual:
[Your text here]
We are all gay. We are all Muslim. Don’t let hate define our nation or ourselves.
For a while now, I’ve managed to steer clear of the online discussions concerning the tragic shooting at the Orlando nightclub during Pride, which claimed the lives of 50 innocent individuals and left over 50 others severely injured and struggling for survival. The comments from these anonymous internet users can often be filled with hateful and prejudiced views. They are emboldened by right-wing politicians and media personalities, validated in their minds by certain self-proclaimed Christian figures, and driven by the fear that has been instilled within them, prioritizing only the financial benefits of the gun lobby above all else.
It appears that Isabella is making an unusual argument regarding the Orlando shooter, Omar Mateen, who was a Muslim. Given her apparent focus on opposing homophobia and transphobia, it seems strange that Isabella’s stance on this issue feels more balanced towards understanding or excusing the perpetrator rather than condemning their actions. In essence, it seems that despite her claimed concern for these issues, Isabella seems to overlook Islamic homophobia, and instead of criticizing it, she appears to offer a lenient viewpoint. Furthermore, it’s possible that Isabella may avoid discussing similar incidents, such as the one in NYC, which would contradict her stated support for minority groups like Blacks if she does not address them.
As expected, Superhero Hype readily accepted and almost without question, this propaganda tactic involving pronouns. The information they provided suggests:
Apart from her ongoing work at Last Kiss Comics, Isabella is additionally working on an independent comic book series featuring a trans teen superhero. She refers to this character as having similarities with Peter Parker, believing it will resonate with both LGBTQ+ and straight teens alike. However, she is currently seeking publishers for the series, aiming to secure a deal that is equitable and advantageous for all parties involved.
In a period when numerous individuals are turning away from this form of wokeness, it’s uncertain how many will take interest in something that has grown into an annoying stereotype. It seems odd that he encourages heterosexual teens to adopt this, given he’s clearly out of touch with the times. His actions are offensive and unappealing to both boys and girls, regardless of their lifestyle choices. If he’s still seeking a publisher, it indicates he’s not finding much success, as there aren’t many more pieces like his on the market that aren’t selling. This content and ideology have only managed to alienate and greatly disappoint many people. Some comments about it are:
It seems odd to some people why others feel the need to openly express their sexual preferences. They might find such behavior unnecessary and unimportant, preferring not to discuss personal matters like this with the general public. Reading an article about someone’s sexuality or that of others may not be appealing to many, as it is a private matter they would rather keep to themselves. Everyone should respect each other’s privacy when it comes to their intimate lives, and there’s no need for others to know the details of one’s own or anyone else’s sex life.
And:
However, by clicking on it and leaving a comment, you’re acknowledging their work and encouraging them to continue. Your message could read: “Carry on like this! We will definitely engage with it.
But, yes — it is totally asinine.
One could say, just as a well-known observer phrased it, it’s similar to getting a facial tattoo and then being upset when people look at it critically.
When someone openly declares X, they’re essentially inviting everyone to examine or evaluate it.
However, this activity often becomes a platform for silencing individuals who express differing opinions or do not conform to the widespread approval of the topic at hand, by labeling them as bigoted or intolerant.
Apart from the fact that it’s become predictable, clichéd, and uninteresting, it would be a source of embarrassment for Tony Isabella if he were in the same situation. Dressing up and adopting a new persona might be his choice, but I fail to understand why he thinks we should care about it… except that such behavior has become a standard public spectacle these days.
And it’s very sad. One more said:
In other news: nobody freaking cares.
Absolutely not. This topic has been outdated for quite some time now, yet it hasn’t brought any positive change to our society. At its lowest point, it’s disrespectful towards women and victims of sexual abuse. As a side note, if Isabella had the inclination, he could have crafted tales that delve into Armenian, Kenyan, Uruguayan culture, or even the Hindu, Sikh, and Jain religions. Instead, he chose to focus on one of the most overused, uninspiring stereotypes prevalent in today’s world – LGBT ideology.
After bringing up Neil Gaiman once more, I came across an opinion piece at the Irish Examiner that poses a question: Should we discard works by authors who are accused of heinous acts, such as those by Gaiman and Alice Munro? Although she appears hesitant to fully admit it, the situation seems serious.
Terry Prone penned an engaging piece on Monday, discussing issues stemming from the idolization of prominent individuals. She proposed that this admiration might result in us using lenient social norms or ethical standards, or ignoring suspicious actions.
As a movie reviewer, I found myself pondering an intriguing thought: Exalted authors can create unequal dynamics with their readers, leading to potential power struggles – two recently headline-grabbing writers come instantly to my mind.
Those two being Gaiman and Munro, of course. And she notes that, when it come to the former:
It’s not surprising that a significant number of his fans are women, considering the trend in literature where women tend to read more short stories and novels compared to men.
In today’s world where online accusations can swiftly become public judgments, we seem to be careless about solid evidence. The claims against Neil Gaiman and Terry Palmer are yet to be substantiated, keeping them in the sphere of allegation. Gaiman has publicly stated that all his past romantic encounters were consensual and admitted to still learning from the experience. Regardless of the court rulings, it appears that Gaiman’s reputation may bear an indelible stain.
Initially, I was reading Nobel laureate Munro’s work for what felt like the millionth time when news about her allegations surfaced. This reminded me of my past stance that one must distinguish between the art and the artist. At the time, anyone who didn’t agree was considered unsophisticated. However, even though I still generally adhere to this view, I wasn’t the only one taken aback by the revelations. Since then, numerous photographs have been posted online showing Munro’s books being discarded in recycling bins.
Munro’s tales offer insights into the human psyche. Regrettably, one of these tales, titled “Vandals,” portrays a woman who was aware that her partner was a pedophile who had sexually exploited neighboring children, yet chose not to intervene. This scenario has led some to interpret Munro’s work as a manifestation of failure. However, another perspective is that Munro failed in her duty to shield her daughter and callously capitalized on the situation for her writing, gaining financially from it.
If the claims against Gaiman and Palmer are verified (note that this doesn’t necessarily mean they will be), it could become apparent that both individuals share a common pattern where certain women may act destructively towards other women, serving the detrimental wishes of their male partners.
In a legal sense, the accusations against them haven’t been validated yet. However, when a significant number of individuals, in this case 9 or more women, come forward with similar stories, it becomes difficult to ignore the gravity of the situation. Consequently, their careers have suffered irreparable damage and I hope the columnist is not underestimating the seriousness of the allegations thus far. The misstep might have been placing trust in an individual who promoted himself as a male feminist, only for it to be used as a disguise to manipulate women into relationships that ended disastrously.
Essentially, Isabella’s behavior is regrettable, harming both himself and his literary legacy, especially those close to him. It’s unfortunate that he seems so fixated on criticizing conservatives and perceived Orwellian offenders, to the point where it seems like he’s dragging everyone else down with him. This could discourage people from reading his earlier works, which is regrettable but a common consequence when creators take unusual actions that drive away their audience. Fortunately, it appears he no longer values his past writings, making it easier for people to separate the art from the artist. However, it’s best to only read his work written before the late 90s as much of what followed in mainstream circles isn’t worth the cost.
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2025-02-18 17:32