Caped Crusaders

By Clayton Neuman

Is coming out as gay easier if you have a mask and superheroic strength? Just ask Batwoman. DC Comics is making her a lesbian in a new serial. The goal: to increase DC characters' "overall diversity," says company veep Dan Didio. Batwoman is not alone in being a member of the League of Social Justice. A host of fictional heroes are emerging to fight for real-world causes.

BYE-BYE, POPEYE Bill Clinton teamed up last year with SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer to promote children's fitness and nutrition--and to get kids to eat their veggies.

NO JOKER In Frank Miller's upcoming Holy Terror, Batman!, the Dark Knight takes on a real-life foe (who also lurks in caves): Osama bin Laden.

AMERICA KICKS BUTT The Pentagon joined Marvel Comics in distributing an America Supports You comic to soldiers last year. Because who could be better for morale than Captain America?

COLOR-BLIND LOVE Realizing interracial romance isn't accepted by all, Marvel called for tolerance by having New Avenger Luke Cage wed private eye Jessica Jones in April.

FEELING BLUE Smurfette's dead? What kind of world is this? That's what UNICEF wanted people to ask last fall when they saw this Belgian carpet-bombing cartoon--meant to boost awareness of war's effect on children.