Marvel Comics is releasing Marvel's Voices: Pride #1 during the month of June in celebration of Pride Month. The book will feature a talented LGBTQ+ creative team and characters. In the vein of their previous Marvel's Voices titles promoting the importance of diversity in comics, Pride is their first special specifically focusing on LGBTQ+ characters.

Prior to this new special Marvel had previously released Marvel's Voices: Legacy #1 to celebrate comic book creators and characters of color. Marvel's Voices originated from Angélique Roché's podcast back in April 2018, which continues to this day with forty episodes and counting featuring in-depth conversations between the host and diverse creators about their creative journeys. This includes a recent interview with Marvel's Voices: Legacy #1 writers Tochi Onyebuchi and Stephanie Williams.

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On the Marvel Comics website, Marvel's Voices: Pride #1 is called "Marvel’s first-ever queer-centered special spotlighting Marvel’s growing tapestry of LGBTQ+ characters." Some of the couples featured are Mystique and Destiny, Nico Minoru and Karolina Dean, as well as Wiccan and Hulking in new adventures. Other characters we can enjoy stories from within the special are Iceman, Daken, Karma, Northstar, and Angela. The special also promises to showcase some of Marvel's historic LGBTQ+ stories and their history. The article specifically mentions Alpha Flight #106, which confirmed Northstar was a gay character. As the first mainstream gay character, Marvel's Voices: Pride #1 is likely to focus on Northstar a lot when it comes to showcasing Marvel's LGBTQ+ character history. His wedding to Kyle Jinadu is also seen as one of the most important weddings in the history of Marvel Comics.

Marvel's Voices Pride #1 Cover

Some contributors listed for Marvel's Voices: Pride #1, who only make up some of the creative teams, are Kieron Gillen, Olivier Coipel, Steve Orlando, Anthony Oliveira, Tini Howard, Vita Ayala, Kris Anka, and Javier Garrón. Like Method Man and other creators from previous Marvel's Voices titles, the material in these specials is very near and dear to the hearts of the creative team behind them. Writer Anthony Oliveira shares that “When I was a very closeted, very lonely kid, these characters saved my life,” and adds, “It's an honor to tell stories about them and to see the kind of stories queer people can tell about queer people deepen and grow.”  Writer Steve Orlando shares his sentiments as well: “What an honor to be part of MARVEL’S VOICES: PRIDE! I could not be more excited to help spotlight LGBTQ+ characters new and old at the House of Ideas, as well as joining a stable of LGBTQ+ creators behind the scenes for this special.”  Hopefully, the special will take the time to explore a wide range of the spectrum of characters and lead to further panel time and positive representation for them in future books.

The Pride special is one of many Marvel's Voices one-shots celebrating a specific community. In addition to Marvel's Voices: Legacy #1, there was also Marvel's Voices: Indigenous Voices #1 featuring indigenous creators and characters, as well as the one-shot anthology Marvel's Voices #1 that originally spun out of the Marvel's Voices podcast. Diversity is the heart and soul of these specials, and it's looking hopeful that more of this diversity will continue to blend into Marvel's as well as the rest of mainstream comics' series. Celebrate Pride Month with Marvel's Voices: Pride #1 when the special becomes available in comic book stores on June 23, 2021.

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Source: Marvel Comics