The only people explicitly passing judgment are the homophobes and a few background characters making assumptions about Carl and John based on their appearance. Responses such as “That’s not what we want” or “I know what I like” are readily accepted as answers even when the other person might be disappointed as a result. Such acceptance of what other people are looking for, or their choices, is a running theme of Hearts and Iron, where gay men can discuss their personal preferences and relationship models with each other, or with their straight friends, and not expect to be criticized for it. However, they quickly discover that they are seeking different relationship models, and rather than this leading to angst, it is swiftly and courteously worked out between them. Indeed, in the first issue, John almost hooks up with a much shorter, slighter guy, Luis. Even if this would appear to be the case from Jacklin’s lead characters, and his obvious love for muscular men, it can be seen from the background and supporting characters that they are just part of life’s rich variety. And why shouldn’t they be, after all? Not everyone is looking for someone like themselves.
Al’s boyfriend, Angelo, is toned, rather than an exact echo of his partner, and Jacklin makes it obvious through their body language that Al and Angelo are deeply into each other. Carl’s rather dishy upstairs neighbour Al has a pronounced belly, as does a snarky one-shot character sneering at the presumed “steroid queens.” Thugs and homophobes are allowed to have toned and/or muscular bodies, and to be attractive on the outside, even as their repellent personalities are evident.ĭespite the premise being that of two mutually-attracted hyper-muscular hunks (indeed, Carl frankly admits to preferring men similar to himself) a variety of relationships and pairings are shown. Whilst at first glance the two hyper-muscular leads might imply a Tom of Finland-esque world in which all men look unrealistically, gorgeously alike, Jacklin avoids using body type as obvious shorthand, with positive, negative and neutral characters coming in all shapes and sizes. These levels are enhanced by the diversity within the comic. Meanwhile, the secondary and supporting characters help flesh out the story and add multiple levels to the narrative. However, they do not instantly come together, but spend the majority of the first volume skirting around each other and trying to determine whether the other is both gay and interested. The first three installments in the series, “Hearts & Iron”, “Clubland”, and “Judgment”, come together to tell a contemporary story in which John and Carl meet at a gym, and are instantly attracted to one another. What is striking about Hearts and Iron is that from the beginning, its world is neither all-accepting gay utopia, nor a tale of success (or ultimate failure) of isolated gay happiness against a backdrop of all-consuming homophobia, unrelenting misery, and/or other severe barriers.
HEARTS OF IRON 5 STORIES SERIES
The battles take place in icy mines and on the streets of an abandoned underground city.Hearts and Iron, by Jeff Jacklin, is a series of comic books presenting the story of Carl Hanson and John Sullivan, two immensely strong, muscular gay men in a loving relationship.
HEARTS OF IRON 5 STORIES UPGRADE
Use tactics to exploit your enemies' weaknesses and achieve victory! You receive rewards for victories in the form of cogs, which you can trade in to upgrade your cannons, machine guns, emitters and skills. Your task is to defend your machine from various enemies – some are protected by armor, some fly, and others are vulnerable to electricity. The plot follows the resistance of the planet's defenders against an army of steam-powered robots in a rare Victorian-era Steampunk atmosphere, complete with Jules Verne stories, mechanisms, underground mines and cities.Įach level takes you further into the depths of the planet in search of the source of the looming threat to peace on the planet. Iron Heart is a strategy game which revolves around defending your base by placing towers in tactically advantageous positions and using special skills. Hordes of invaders are emerging from the bowels of the earth to enslave the people of the surface. Fight a soulless steel army! Prove your mettle in a storm of fire and steam!
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