The Queer Coded History of Alan Scott
Infinity Inc — Alan Scott’s Marriage to Molly Mayne
“I AM? I mean—— sure I am!”
Alan Scott’s “proposal” to Molly Mayne, prompted by his daughter, Jade.
Despite Molly being Alan’s most prominent marriage partner, he never has explicit interest in her. Their relationship is definitely something closer akin to “lavender” from the very start, even at the moment of his proposal.
This might seem obvious in retrospect. But, considering his debut was in 1940, this does help support the idea that Alan has ALWAYS been gay coded.
The beginning of Green Lantern (1941) #33 is one of the first times we see Molly tease the idea of marrying Alan (Green Lantern specifically). To which, Alan slams a bouquet of flowers to the ground in frustration.
However, as the issue goes on we do see that Molly (Harlequin) proposes directly to Alan (Green Lantern). To which he denies over and over throughout these panels and the rest of the issue.
This dynamic is reoccurring for their golden age history. Even though Alan is often shown as explicitly DISINTERESTED in her. Often reacting rudely and dismissive of Molly, even in her civilian identity.
In fact, his disinterest is such a well-established gimmick that Molly actually has to hypnotize the entirety of Gotham in order to orchestrate a potential wedding for them (All-American Comics #91).
However, Alan does not fall for her hypnosis like the rest of the city. He only pretends to go along with her plans so he could manipulate her mind enough with his ring.
Specifically, he “makes her see herself as she truly is.” Breaking the illusion she has of their “love story”
What changed by the 80s? Well, Alan’s aversion to marriage and his commitment to celibacy became harder and harder to explain.
The only option, besides confirm his homosexuality, was to give him children and marry him to a woman. Molly, narratively, simply made the most sense. Her intense fixation on him in the golden age, making her the perfect contender for a woman that would be willing to enter a platonic marriage with him.
However, Alan’s queerness is an innate part of his character and origin as Green Lantern. And so despite his marriage and children, the “strangeness” of his characterization never really got fixed.
Going back to Brightest Day, Blackest Night (2002) (<- link to post!!) as affirmation of this. There’s just something about Alan’s odd relationship to marriage that DC has never been able to shake off.
This fracture in Alan and Molly’s marriage (and by extension Alan’s closeted identity) begins in the late 90s when he adopted his Sentinel identity. It was beginning of the end for Alan and Molly’s marriage by that point.
With the Starheart lore becoming more complex, it becomes clear that Alan did not prioritize Molly and their relationship. Instead, falling back even further into his superhero identity as an expression of his homosexual identity.
Showcase ‘95 #1
also just so everyone is aware: I ADOREEEE MOLLY and her relationship with Alan! I just think that their story/marriage would’ve been even more impactful if DC was willing to commit to them being queer platonic partners.
