I just posted an article on an obscure 1940s superhero called The Dart. His appearance reminded me, in some ways, of a more modern character. Before I say who, you might click over and see if you can guess who I'm talking about, and exactly what the connection is.

It's — wait a second! You did look and guess, right? Okay then, go do it now. I'll wait.

…

Okay, it's Element Lad of The Legion of Super Heroes. And the reason, of course, is that arrow on his chest.

Years ago, it was taken for granted by many comic book fans that Element Lad was gay. May still be assumed, for all I know, but I don't hang around comics stores much anymore (makes me feel like Rip Van Winkle), so I don't hear it. But back when I did, I never could figure out why, unless it was that arrow, but the assumption was rarely, if ever, even questioned.

The arrow was the most prominent "element", as it were, of his costume. It started about at his crotch and rose, thick and straight, all the way to the upper part of his chest. It looked like it was supposed to represent —

Well, never mind what it looked like it was supposed to represent. Whatever, it did so very effectively. Effectively enough that you practically couldn't mistake it. Thick. Straight. Big. Pointed at the end. It looked like an advertisement for a body part which I don't think I need to identify.

But I don't understand what that has to do with being gay. There are perfectly heterosexual reasons a man might advertise that body part, assuming he were inclined to call attention to it at all.

I thought about adding a paragraph on the resemblance, but without bringing up the issue of sexual preference. (I generally try to keep the main focus of this site in the neighborhood of PG-13 or less). If I had, I'd have mentioned that Element Lad's costume connoted strength, virility, manliness. Whereas The Dart's — what's the word I'm looking for?

"Limp?" Let's not be vulgar.

Anyway, I decided not to. But I'm not above writing a blog entry about it.

— DDM