The Insider.com

Neil Patrick Harris recently revealed that he knew he was gay at the tender age of six. With the announcement on Friday that DC Comics' long enduring character Green Lantern is gay, I wonder if he's known his true sexuality since the 1940s?

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The newly revealed openly gay superhero -- who uses a ring to help manifest his powers -- is being introduced in the second issue of Earth 2 out next week, DC Comics revealed.

The writer of the new series, James Robinson, says his character his essentially a retooled version of the original Green Lantern character Alan Scott, who first debuted in July 1940. "This was my idea," he explains, noting that before DC re-launched its lineup last summer, Alan Scott had a son who was gay.

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Green Lantern is the latest comic hero to come out during an expansive year for gay and lesbian characters. Marvel Entertainment recently announced that its hero Northstar will marry his longtime boyfriend in the pages of Astonishing X-Men. 

DC comics has other gay characters too, including Kate Kane, the current Batwoman. In the pages of Archie Comics, Kevin Keller is gay and proud.

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In response to some criticism about the inclusion of gay comic book characters, Robinson says he isn't worried. He notes that being gay is just one aspect to Alan Scott, whom he refers to as a "complex" character. "This guy, he's a media mogul, a hero, a dynamic type-A personality, and he's gay."

What do you think - could Green Lantern's power source eventually be shifted from a ring to a powerful (but fabulous) man purse?