Rage (Queer as Folk)

Rage is a gay fictional superhero in a comic book of the same name within the US television series Queer as Folk (Showtime), not to be confused with the Marvel Comics character Rage (comics), an African-American superhero. Within the Showtime series, the character of Rage is created by Michael Novotny, a life-long comic book fan, and Justin Taylor, a young artist, in response to Michael's disappointment over the cancellation of his favorite comic book, Captain Astro. The character is based on an idealization of Brian Kinney, Michael's best friend and Justin's lover, and the story line is inspired by Justin's rage over his own experience as the vicitim of a vicious gay-bashing. Rage has a partner/sidekick named Zephyr, loosely based on Michael, and a younger lover named J.T., based on Justin. Rage appears to have several powers, including greater than normal human strength and resilience, superhuman sexual stamina, martial arts training, psychically enhanced charisma and persuasiveness, and a mind-distortion ability that causes homophobic attackers to perceive each other as gay and to attack each other. He also has the ability to heal others' injuries through sex. The comic book appears in Season 2, episode 19 of Queer As Folk. A dramatization of characters is staged at club Bablyon as part of the debut for the comic. Subplots for a later season revolve around the comic being considered for adaptation into a movie by an openly gay Hollywood producer.