Jose Porla - Phantom Pride

HELLO HELLO~ I am back to deliver a long awaited (on my own part), Jose pride post!

Back in the day, in ye old 2021 or something like that, I created some pride hearts like this, in a far less polished art style, and I always wanted to make one for Jose. I had prioritized characters that weren't him because he was all I drew. :joy: Regrettably, I proceeded to take a break and left a void that I must come to fill once more.

(I have also included some..."closet cosplays" of how I look irl most days. I intend to do a true cosplay someday, but i wanted to include it as a treat)

╰☆☆ ♡ :purple_heart: ♡🤍♡ :green_heart: ♡ ☆☆╮

╰☆☆ ♡ :sparkling_heart: ♡ :purple_heart: ♡ :blue_heart: ♡ ☆☆╮

SO, here we have Jose Porla, the guild master of Phantom Lord. Thankfully both of my headcanons for him were included in the flags available: Bisexual and Genderqueer! Bisexual is the attraction to two or more genders. Genderqueer is a term referring to someone who self-consciously twists or plays with gender, whether or not their gender is binary. Jose would likely consider himself a Genderqueer man. I do not believe he wants to be a woman, or is even nonbinary, but that he purposely destroys gender norms, for his own comfort and as an outward representation of his dueling natures and wants internally. Everything about Jose, including his appearance is a contradiction of sorts. He doesn't even seem to know if he wants to be feared or loved. So why not have everything, and be everything? His entire life revolves around how the world percieves him. You would think he wouldn't want to be a potential laughing stock to the rest of the kingdom, and that he'd attempt a more normal appearance, or a more imposing one. But he chose all of this. His appearance being true to him internally seems more important to him than the ONE thing he'd kill for- his reputation.

Not to fixate only on appearances, but look at the man. His personal style and grooming is so eccentric. Jose came into the series dressed as a vampire-witch-jester all in one, with shiny lipstick and mascara, and talked even softer and flowery to Lucy until she proved to be difficult. He could've very easily portrayed himself as imposing, and masculine. But he didn't. He made the choice to introduce himself exactly as he did. From his poses, to his mannerisms and wording, to his appearance, voice and reason for even becoming a villain (reputation and revenge based crime fixated on Makarov. Not Lucy. Not even Fairy Tail like his ancestor would've wanted. MAKAROV was his fixation. His entire plot was intended to make Makarov feel despair and save killing him for last.)- this man is very queer-coded.

╰☆☆ ♡🏳‍ :rainbow: ♡🏳‍⚧♡🏳‍ :rainbow: ♡ ☆☆╮

And sadly, I do believe, that that is why the fandom at large portrays him with certain negative character traits (like harassment?? :angry: 🤨) that are not actually his own from his original appearances in both the manga and anime. Because he is queer-coded and older.

╰☆☆ ♡🏳‍⚧♡🏳‍ :rainbow: ♡🏳‍⚧♡ ☆☆╮

Regardless of that- if you've heard the English dub, and know the talent of his voice actor Ed Blaylock, you'll know that Blaylock played his voice far more feminine and breath-y than his other major voice acting jobs. (see his voice work with King Bradley from FMA, or Sengoku from OP) If Jose isn't in the queer community, I'll eat the entire manga, beginning to end.

╰☆☆ ♡🏳‍ :rainbow: ♡🏳‍⚧♡🏳‍ :rainbow: ♡ ☆☆╮

Speaking of the manga. In order to examine his queer vibes further, I will show you to his ACTUAL office. Not the one seen in the anime, but Mashima's original design. It is covered in potted plants, ornate inscriptions, and has a custom chess table. Unlike the anime that made it look like a government building and took away all of his character. How they managed to gentrify an office space is truly beyond me.

Not to mention, he poses like this when he isn't actively fighting someone, and wears tights. There is absolutely no need for him to dress like this. It serves no functional purpose other than to be flamboyant and make a ~statement~   We all know Jose is a theatre kid gone wrong.

Even the way he falls is flamboyant :skull:

And how many villains have called fairy tail "my lovelies" in ANY translation :skull: :joy: this man is NOT straight.

The animators couldn't even decide if he had short or long nails because of his contradicting vibes. (GRANTED they also couldn't decide on a skin tone either🫢 :skull: ..... but regardless.)

╰☆☆ ♡🏳‍⚧♡🏳‍ :rainbow: ♡🏳‍⚧♡ ☆☆╮

╰☆☆ ♡🏳‍ :rainbow: ♡🏳‍⚧♡🏳‍ :rainbow: ♡ ☆☆╮

This took me around 5 hours

╰☆☆ ♡🏳‍⚧♡🏳‍ :rainbow: ♡🏳‍⚧♡ ☆☆╮

Here's some progress shots!

╰☆☆ ♡🏳‍ :rainbow: ♡🏳‍⚧♡🏳‍ :rainbow: ♡ ☆☆╮

And here are some closeups incase amino crunches everything

Anyways, I'll stop my yapping and set you free...for now~ I hope you enjoy the drawing! Have as good a pride month as you can everyone. I know it's hard, and it seems to get harder every year, even now, but stay strong and stay proud. No one should have a say in who you are, or who you love. Find your own families and your own communities where you live if you can, and here online if you have nowhere else. We MUST each other. We are only weak to other's hatred when we are alone. Band together and protect and uplift your people.

And hey, you older - be an example to the youth in your communities. Let's show the world that we won't wither so easily, and be the example generation, so that younger LGBTQIA+ folks know they CAN make it to adulthood and survive. :punch: 🏼 :smiling_imp:

HAPPY PRIDE 🏳‍ :rainbow: 🏳‍⚧🏳‍ :rainbow: 🏳‍⚧ JOSE OUT

╰☆☆ ♡🖤♡ :ghost: 🖤 :ghost: ♡🖤♡ ☆☆╮

a bonus vibe for you all : "I am What I am" from La Cage Aux Folles by George Hearn is in my Jose playlist. Which has uh....over 23 hours of songs on it.