Matt Bomer Plays a Gay Superhero in 'Doom Patrol'

DC's latest TV series Doom Patrol follows "the adventures of an idealistic mad scientist and his field team of superpowered outcasts."

One of the outcasts, Negative Man, will be played by openly gay actor Matt Bomer. Known previously as Larry Trainor, the barrier-breaking, 1950s military hero gained his powers after a mysterious plane crash left him horrifically scarred. He now keeps his face wrapped in bandages.  

While the series takes place in the present day, Bomer tells Negative Man's origin story in flashbacks, where the All-American image he's built is at odds with his attraction to men. Bomer chatted about his character in a press event. 

"I think in his mind, if he can just become this guy who breaks the sound barrier and America has to love, then he'll never have to really deal with the parts of himself [he feels ashamed of]," reports The Advocate. "It's one thing to just be a product of that time, but to also be in the military, serving actively to be someone who's tried to achieve so much in order to create a smoke screen for himself, to give himself permission just to be."

Bomer was excited to tackle the character's sexuality on the show.

"I'd never really seen a gay male superhero," said the 41-year-old. "What I love most about the character is that even though [his sexuality is] a huge struggle internally for him, it's not the sole thing that defines who he is. He's such a multifaceted character."

He continued: "He has so much shadow and so much light that he doesn't even know he has. That's what appealed to me just as much as his sexuality." 

Doom Patrol is currently streaming on DC Universe, with new episodes dropping weekly! Watch the trailer below!