Hey, gay guy...why you no hero??

A few months ago (probably last year) my friends and I were all having a discussion on the demographics of a video game hero: what we wanted and what we thought were the characteristics of a hero. A main character. Someone who's life is the very subject of the story. I've thought about this before. I mean, I've thought about how I'd tell a story in a video game or an animation, but never in any detail. But, apparently, my friends have all thought of this themselves and they already had everything from the character designs and personalities to the final boss all thought up. Curious, I wanted to hear them. Each one of them said that they had included a character based off of me in their little story. I felt honored. . .of course I had no idea that I was about to be offended.

Nine out of ten of them (real stats here, people!)  had me as the main characters sidekick. Of course, there's nothing wrong with a sidekick and at least I'd play a prominent role in the story. I felt good thinking that my friends saw me as someone they'd want around. And....then....I heard the rest. Flashing in neon colors, speaking in a high-pitched lisp, hitting on the main character in a failing effort and gaining laughs by the group -- I was to be that gay guy.  You know, the one Hollywood likes to spoon feed us as the gay norm in stories as the comedic relief? The one who uses his sexuality to make the boys a bit uncomfortable, either for his personal gain of winning a battle or just for fun. That one who isn't taken seriously. Ever. And is often in need to be saved before, lets face it: 'He can't hold a gun with those hands!' Yeah. That one.

Leeron Littner of Gurren Lagann

Of course this is just a story. A well thought of story that a friend thought to include me in so there was no need to get upset of offended. But it led me to question: Is that really how straight men see homosexual men? I'm not talkin about all straight men, but generally speaking. And more importantly: Is that how they saw me?

Instead of having a gay fit and shooting glitter out of my pom-poms, I sat up that night (I do this every night) and I thought about my story. How would I tell a story?

Like almost every night, when I can't sleep, I listen to my MP3 player. And, of course, Keane fills up most of the slots (I may or may not be obsessed with them. Who know!?) The song "Try Again" came on and I did what I normally do when that song comes on: I pumped up the volume. I closed my eyes and suddenly a story popped into my head. And each night and day after that, I couldn't get this story out of my head.

 Tom Chaplin and Richard Hughes of Keane

I like to write. As you can see, and when I do write something I take it far too seriously. This is no exception. Inspired by Final Fantasy X, Suikoden II, Blood+, Ghost in the Shell, and Fullmetal Alchemist I concocted a little story I like to call "The Resurrector"

It's a story about a young 22 year old boy whose fate has been decided for him when his mother became the Great Resurrector during the Dumaanian Civil War in 1964 and died leaving him with her knowledge and memories. It follows his journey, as well as the members of the Ginsburg Special Task Force Squad 7, and the battle between Light and Darkness. With the main cases and antagonist being those of mythical creatures I put my own spin on.

The main character, Isaac Kenny (working name) if a homosexual male with my personality. Unlike most gay-inclusive stories, this one involves straight characters. The Captain of Squad 7, Apollo Nashua Kviz, is straight; with other main character, Josef Kapana, being bisexual. The reason behind the difference in sexuality with the three main characters was because they are, I believe, the three stages of my life. I thought i was straight up until I reached the 7th grade. After that, until high school, I falsely accused myself of being bisexual. Finally, in high school I realized that I was a screeching, howling, flaming homosexual. But in The Resurrector, sexuality isn't an issue. Instead, magic is. Elementalists make up a good portion of the population of The Resurrector. And some love'em and some hate'em.

Surprisingly, I have included that stereotypical gay. You know, the one who wears flashy clothes and say off the wall things? Him. Yeah. I've included him as one of the antagonists. The kind that puts on the cute, happy, gay face that hides a dark, scary, evil monster.

Nathan Mahler of Blood+

The story itself is still a work in progress. But I would like to thank the jerks who think that gay mean pansy. Because you've inspired me to write this wonderfully dark and interesting story. I may post drafts here for those interested in reading it.