Looking back, there was a LOT of innuendo about his sexual preference from the get-go. I haven't checked out the Byrne site much (I was turned off by his whiny attitude toward Wikipedia), but even during his all-too-short, visionary run on AF there are references (which apparently no one picked up on) to Jean Paul's leanings...I guess I just wonder whether he was planning on confronting the gay thing himself and got shot down by the powers that be at Marvel or if he just had the idea and passed it along to his successors, and I wonder also what his motivations may have been at the time...
You see, I clearly remember the media hype over Northstar's being the "FIRST GAY SUPERHERO", but I don't remember Byrne's name ever being mentioned...which is a shame since he not only created the character but consciously laid the building blocks for the whole homosexuality issue that later came to the fore under a different writer's auspices.
Personally, I always liked Northstar because he was callous and rude, smarmy and sarcastic, yet when it came to his sister he was always (even if it was deep down) compassionate and loving. After he "came out of the closet" I wasn't surprised and I didn't appreciate the character any less. To me it is still a non-issue, but I do think it was brave of Marvel to take that risk...
...anyway, what are your thoughts?
Live, love, laugh & be happy,
Smikes