Anika Patel
It’s a heartbreaking reality that many of DC Comics‘ initial endeavors towards diversity, though well-intentioned, fell short in execution. The portrayal of Coagula, a member of the Doom Patrol and the company’s first trans superhero, is a glaring example of this. However, the publisher is now making amends with a DC Pride special that pays tribute to Coagula’s co-creator, Rachel Pollack, who sadly passed away in 2023.
DC Pride: A Celebration of Rachel Pollack is primarily a collection of classic stories penned by the Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning science fiction author. Among these is “The Laughing Game,” the comic that first introduced Coagula in 1993’s Doom Patrol (Vol. 2) #70. The collection also includes a fresh story, “Shining Through the Wreckage,” by Joe Corallo and Rye Hickman, which brings Coagula back to life following her abrupt death in 2002’s Doom Patrol (Vol. 3) #9.
“Shining Through The Wreckage” delves deep into the Doom Patrol lore, suggesting that a fragment of Coagula’s consciousness lingered in Robotman’s mind. With the help of Dr. Will Magnus, Cliff Steele embarks on a journey into his subconscious to locate his former teammate and girlfriend. This allows Coagula, a brilliant computer programmer in her secret identity as Kate Godwin, to break free from Cliff’s computerized brain and return to her own body.
The Reason Behind DC’s Decision to Resurrect Coagula Now
More than just a tribute to Pollack’s legacy as a trans writer, Coagula’s resurrection corrects one of DC Comics’ most infamous “fridgings.” This term, coined by Gail Simone for the website Women In Refrigerators, refers to instances where a female comic character is killed, assaulted, or depowered solely to create emotional turmoil for a male character. In this case, Coagula and Dorothy Spinner were killed off, adding to the list of deaths Robotman feels responsible for.
What made Coagula’s death particularly shocking was the lack of acknowledgment by subsequent writers. In fact, she even made appearances in other DC books years later, despite being deceased. Thankfully, “Shining Through The Wreckage” addresses this inconsistency while simultaneously celebrating everything that made Coagula a cherished hero.
DC Pride: A Celebration of Rachel Pollack is now available at comic shops everywhere.
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