After years and years of hints and unconfirmed speculation in the pages of Marvel Comics X-Force, writer Peter David finally decided to tackle Rictor and Shatterstar’s relationship with issue #45 of X-Factor. In this issue, Shatterstar made his return to the fold after being absent for some time and had a jaw-dropping reunion with Rictor, as they greeted each other with a hot kiss and a warm embrace. Finally readers suspicions were validated! When Peter David outted Shatterstar Rob Liefeld (Shatterstar’s original creator) was not too pleased with that character development, and made mention on his message board that he had no problem with gay characters if that’s where their true origins were, insisting that Shatterstar’s weren’t, and further stating that he could not wait to someday undo this, which would entail “ungaying” Shatterstar. Well praise the comic gods that Rob Liefeld has no say as to what happens to Shatterstar, as Marvel Comics Editor in Chief, Joe Quesada, commented in his weekly segment “Cup of Joe” on the Comic Book Resources website, that Marvel owns the character not Rob and although Rob is entitled to his opinion, Mr. Liefeld would have to wait to address that with Marvel’s NEXT editor in Chief. Snap!
There haven’t been any major developments as of late in the Ric-Star coupling but writer Peter David is promising to explore their relationship further, not only from formerly asexual Shatterstar’s and suddenly queer Rictor’s eyes, but also through the eyes of their teammates. Check out Lyle Masaki’s interview with Peter David over at Afterelton.com for more deets on Ric-star and be sure to check out January’s “Nation X: X-Factor” one-shot where it is rumored that Ric-Star’s relationship as well as Longshot and Dazzler’s (the unconfirmed rumored parents of Shatterstar) will be further explored!
–Colossus Matos
