Summary

• The 2019 Xena: Warrior Princess comic book continuation confirms Xena and Gabrielle's romance, satisfying long-time fans of the franchise.
• The comic casually integrates Gabrielle-Xena romance theory into canon, marking a milestone for the series, and making it clear that their romance has been a vital part of their dynamic for some time, even if the TV series wasn't able to make it over.
• The Xena comic series highlights the sustainable, nurturing romance between Xena and Gabrielle; more than just finally validating years of speculation, it makes them into a positive depiction of queer romance.

A long overdue kiss finally confirmed the queer love story at the heart of Xena: Warrior Princess. Over six seasons, many of the hit show's viewers came to consider the the dynamic between Xena and Gabrielle to be romantic. This was never made official onscreen – but a comic book continuation of the series made the subtext of their romance overt, in a satisfying win for the couple's 'shippers.

Xena: Warrior Princess #2– by the creative team of Vita Ayala, Olympia Sweetman, Vasil Georgiev, Rebecca Nalty, and Ariana Maher – definitively establishes Xena and Gabrielle as lovers, with the debut issue of the sequel comic featuring the pair sleeping in bed together, and the following issues depicting a pivotal in-continuity kiss.

With this move, the series casually integrates the Xena-Gabrielle romance theory into canon, in an exciting move for long-time fans of the franchise who've long wanted the pair to be able to be together, as a loving couple, openly.

As the Xena: Warrior Princess comic book continuation progresses, Xena and Gabrielle continue to share intimate moments... confirming they aren't just a couple, but a devoted, loving couple..

The Xena Comics Are Able To Do What The Show Couldn't

Xena: Warrior Princess #6 (Vita Ayala, Olympia Freeman, Vasco Georgiev, Rebecca Nalty)

As the Xena: Warrior Princess comic book continuation progresses, Xena and Gabrielle continue to share intimate moments, with Issue #6 confirming they aren't just a couple, but a devoted, loving couple. In Warrior Princess #4, Xena goes to great lengths to care for Gabrielle as they trek through the Russian Taiga. In that same issue, the Goddess, Discord, refers to Xena's companion as "your girlfriend," showing that their relationship is well-known and unambiguous. What the '90s television show had been unable to give its audiences, the contemporary Xena graciously supplied its readers, offering a sustainable, nurturing romance from the start.

The Xena television show was littered with intimate moments between the two, which were often read as romance, but could easily be denied as otherwise. Even the few kisses shared between them on the show could be explained away through fantastical plot scenarios, including body swapping and transferring magic. The idea of open queer identity was something '90s television was largely not yet ready to tackle, and most attempts to do so were censored heavily. Xena and Gabrielle's proposed romance never stood a chance, as something ahead of its time, but in the modern world of comics, these barriers have thankfully been surmounted.

The kiss in 2019's Xena: Warrior Princess #2, and the confirmation of their long-standing romance, validates many of the TV show's intimate moments. For a story that was rich with queer subtext, but impeded from making the characters' relationship a direct part of the story, this comic proved to be an important milestone.

Xena & Gabrielle's Canon Romance Validates Years Of Speculation

The kisses and loving words expressed in 2019's Xena: Warrior Princess #2 confirm their long-standing romance, validating many of the TV show's most intimate moments. For a story that was rich with queer subtext, but impeded from making the characters' relationship a direct part of the story, this comic proved to be an important milestone. The official couple later share one more kiss before riding off into the sunset in the series' final issue, setting the stage for future depictions of their romance.

With the shackles of censorship chiseled off, the couple that audiences always wanted on Xena: Warrior Princess can finally shine.