Anole, Gay Superhero

We’ve already posted on Anole, the world’s first gay comic book superhero (here and here). However, since that post, much more information has appeared on the internet, so it seemed time for an update.

I won’t review the particulars of his history because there’s now quite an extensive, wikipedia-style entry here. Rather, I think it’s worth discussing what super powers an anole-based superhero is endowed with. And I’ll cut straight to the chase: I think Marvel Comics kind of blew it.

So, here’s what Anole can do:

> Run slightly faster than a human (whoo! Impressive. Anyone remember Antman from Saturday Night Live?).

> Regrow severed limbs, salamander-style.

> Superhuman reflex speed–that one sounds right on.

> Alter skin color and appearance to blend in–this would make a good topic for a post–do anoles actually do this at all? Or, for that matter, do those renowned tricksters of the saurian world, chameleons, engage in such subterfuge?).

> Stick to and climb walls of any type, “a la Spiderman” according to the website (how about “a la anoles”?).

> Shoot his sticky-ended tongue out great distances–whoops, wrong lizard clade.

> Superhuman strength, but only in his right arm, which is regenerated.

Anole also has a number of interesting talents and interests, including that he is very good at hand-to-hand combat, enjoys theater, speaks French, and likes playing frisbee, basketball and pool.

Now, personally, these attributes don’t scream out “Anole” to me. So, I put it to you, Anole Annals readers–if you were going to create a superhero named Anole, gay, straight, bi, celibate or other, what attributes would he or she have? Perhaps we can petition Marvel to create another named Dactyloa or Chamaeleolis.

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Jonathan Losos

Professor of Biology and Director of the Living Earth Collaborative at Washington University in Saint Louis. I've spent my entire professional career studying anoles and have discovered that the more I learn about anoles, the more I realize I don't know.

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