Rictor
Gender: Male
Orientation: Gay
Publisher: Marvel
Character Type: Primary
Alignment: Good
AKA: Julio Esteban Richter
Summary: Rictor is a mutant with the ability to generate and manipulate seismic energies. He has been a member of the X-Force, X-Terminators, New Mutants, X-Corporation, and most recently, Excalibur. His relationship with Shatterstar featured the first on-panel gay kiss in any mainstream Marvel publication.
Important Issues: Rictor finally shares a kiss with Shatterstar and the two begin a steady romantic relationship in X-Factor (Vol. 3) #45.
Though in the case of Peter David's work on Marvel's X-Factor, working minority issues into the plot as part and parcel of the series' ongoing character arcs ended up making waves in an unexpected manner. As many who follow the comics blogosphere know, Shatterstar and Rictor - two mutant characters hinted at having a "special bond" for almost twenty years - finally put all rumors to rest in the first on-panel kiss between two major male superhero characters in last fall's issue #45. (Read more)
Chaos McKenzie, "Peter David's 'X-Factor': Earth Moving, Star Shattering," CBR, February 25, 2010.
X-Factor is relaunching this month with #200, which sees the team moving to New York City and Shatterstar becoming a full member. We talked with David about where Rictor and Shatterstar may be heading, what they add to the dynamic of X-Factor, as well as the challenges Marvel’s first major gay character, Northstar, faced after coming out. (Read more)
Lyle Masaki, "Superheroes in Love: When Rictor Met Shatterstar," Logo, December 10, 2009.