These works examine lifesaving science, HIV/AIDS and queer stigma, through the use of two vintage comic books paired with blood from donors with different serostatus.
The Incredible Hulk #420: In the Shadow of AIDS, released by Marvel Comics in 1994, deals with the fear and stigma of HIV/AIDS. One storyline focuses on the Hulk’s longtime friend Jim Wilson, an African-American man dying of AIDS, who begs him for a transfusion so his blood can give him super strength. From his hospital bed Jim pleads to the Hulk, “Blood transfusions aren't illegal are they?” The Hulk doesn’t want to risk his gamma-radioactive blood mutating Jim into an uncontrollable monster filled with rage and after much despair, chooses not to do so and therefore his friend dies.
DC’s short-lived series, The New Guardians, from 1988, is a failed attempt at addressing controversial social issues of the time. One of the members of the superhero team is Extraño, a Peruvian magician and the first obviously gay character in DC comics—with flamboyant and stereotypical mannerisms, looks and speech—and who’s name translates in English to “strange.” Due to the Comic Code Authority of the time, Extraño’s queerness could only be implied. In the first issue of The New Guardians, a villain named Hemo-Goblin is introduced in the story. Hemo-Goblin is a genetically engineered vampire with AIDS, created by South African white supremacists, to attack, infect and kill people of color and the members of the superhero group with the virus. Extraño is bitten by Hemo-Goblin and in a later issue reveals that he is HIV-positive before his death.
In Untitled (HULK/AIDS) and Untitled (HEMO-GOBLIN), the original comic books are laser-cut to each hold two blood collection tubes from an individual who is HIV+ and undetectable, and from a gay man on PrEP, preserved in UV resin. The blood from these tubes are mixed together and preserved on panels used in projection installations. In HULK/AIDS (Illumination) and HEMO-GOBLIN (Illumination), details from the comic books are turned to grayscale and layered with the blood and resin. Combining blood is a statement about how both donors for the project take medications that prevent the transmission of HIV through sex and that the evolution of science since 1988 and 1994 respectively, would provide protection from Hemo-Goblin’s vicious bite—and that Jim Wilson would now be alive and thriving.