Marvel Creator STEVE ORLANDO Celebrates Pride!
In a Tweet sent on Tuesday, June 1st, 2021, Marvel Comics creator Steve Orlando took a moment to highlight some of the great creators who are on the rise at Marvel Blog’s favorite comic book publisher: Marvel Comics! Some of these fabulous creators (and characters) will be featured in the upcoming Marvel’s Voices: Pride #1, arriving at your local comic shop June 23rd, 2021!
Notwithstanding how lucky I've been to tell LGBTQ+ stories in new, boundary breaking original as well. And yeah, for #Pride2021 I'm taking a moment to not just be proud of that, but to be excited for what's coming next from new and diverse creators on the rise! https://t.co/npT6DBbbRP pic.twitter.com/pey6AbfcqN
— The Steve Orlando (@thesteveorlando) June 1, 2021
Here Comes Somnus
In case you don’t know, Orlando has co-created a brand-new character with Luciano Vecchio, Somnus, who you will be able to meet in Marvel’s Voices: Pride #1, arriving at your local comic shop on Wednesday, June 23rd, 2021!
MARVEL’S VOICES: PRIDE #1 preview art by Claudia Aguirre, Somnus character design by Luciano Vecchio. Photo: Marvel
In this one-shot anthology, you’ll get a collection of comic stories about queer Marvel Comics characters from an all-star roster of LGBTQ+ creators! However, this meta-loving reporter is most excited to meet the newest mutant, Somnus, who will make his debut in a story written by Orlando, with art by Claudia Aguierre.
Photo: Marvel
In an interview with Avery Kaplan for Prism Comics, Orlando discussed why it’s so important to introduce this new LGBTQ+ character at this point in history, saying:
Somnus is someone who missed out on Mutantkind’s, and the Queer Community’s, relative moment of progress. He was born during the baby boom, in the era of minding your own business and bottling up your feelings. Now, thanks to Krakoa, he’s got his second chance and utopia, an opportunity to live without compromising who he is. So he offers a lot of wish fulfillment in that way, but also offers a strong reminder of how far we’ve come, and how many struggled along the way.
Reborn in his prime, Somnus is now ready to see the world, live life with the most adventure and intrigue he can, and full explore his identity as a mutant, and as a gay man. But with his power over dreams, he’s also looking to bring some poetic justice to those that would hold back people like him. If you’d stand in the way of the oppressed, Somnus will always be there, he’ll be your worst nightmare, and enjoy it.
If you’d like a preview of all of the stories you can expect to find in Marvel’s Voices: Pride #1 when it arrives later this month, you can head over to the official Marvel Comics website to see the full creator lineup, the stories and characters featured, and quotes from the talented people putting the issue together.
Marvel’s Voices: Pride #1: Lots of Queer Characters
In addition to Somnus, you can expect plenty of queer Marvel Comics characters to appear in Marvel’s Voices: Pride #1!
According Marvel Comics Editor Sarah Brunstad, in an interview with Prism Comics, the issue includes over 80 pages of content, with “14 distinct stories in this issue, plus interviews and backup material, which means around 50 creators to inspire” you with new stories about some of Marvel’s most loved characters.
Marvel’s Voices: Pride #1. Photo: Marvel
In addition to the characters who are featured in the individual stories, Vecchio has contributed an introduction that features loads of LGBTQ+ characters from throughout the history of Marvel Comics, including an important legacy character!
Comic writer, Leah Williams, has said that, “it’s an honor to introduce readers to Krakoa’s newest superstar by reintroducing an important Marvel legacy – Jessie Drake!”
Black Cat and Jessie Drake in MARVEL’S VOICES: PRIDE #1 preview art by Jan Bazaldua, colors by Erick Arciniega. Photo: Marvel Comics
The characters included in this issue are some of my personal favorite characters in Marvel Comics canon. In addition to reintroducing Jessie Drake, the all-star line-up includes Sera and Angela, Koi Boi, and Nico Minoru and Karolina Dean, so I am simply overjoyed at this amazing introduction!
MARVEL’S VOICES: PRIDE #1 preview art by Kris Anka, colors by Tamra Bonvillain.
In addition to the introduction, Vecchio has also created a variant cover that includes tons of queer Marvel Comics characters (with Somnus being centrally featured).
Arriving at your LCS June 23rd
Will you be heading to your LCS (that’s “local comic shop,” Marvel Blog True Believers) to pick up a copy of Marvel’s Voices: Pride #1? Which one of the stories or creators being featured are you most excited to read? We’re waiting for you to let us know in the comment section!
