Queer Highlights from Marvel’s Voices: Pride 2023!

Each year, the Marvel Multiverse celebrates Pride just as we do. Across the panels, many beloved characters like Loki, Mystique, and Iceman have been out and proud for a while. Their big queer moments are now Marvel legends! But there’s some new names for our list of queer faves.

With plenty of exciting powers and backgrounds, these new characters made more than just a splash page. This issue features a classic makeover montage with Jumbo Carnation (just in time for the Hellfire Gala!) plus Web-Weaver’s eventful first date during Purim. We also get a hilarious heist with Black Cat and a preview of the upcoming Dark X-Men debacle. Now, let’s get into the issue’s standout stories!

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A New Nightshade Debuts

Legacy heroes exist throughout super hero media. But once in a while, a legacy can even be redefined from evil to good. That’s the case for Nightshade.

Years ago, Tilda Johnson used science and villainy to escape her life in Harlem. As Nightshade, she became a super-villain who turned people into werewolves and was an enemy of Falcon, Captain America, and the Heroes for Hire. She even managed to bring the Hulk and Wolverine under her control! Eventually, her life of crime took its toll and she decided to assist the Chicago vigilante named Nighthawk. During Secret Empire, her mentor was murdered so she took up his mantle to honor him.

So where does a new Nightshade come into play? Well, Tilda’s cousin is Logan Lewis. Writer Stephanie Williams describes the Nightshade mantle as a story of breaking generational curses. Logan is a PhD student whose research leads to a lab accident. Superpowers are a side effect, of course, and on her graduation day, Logan enters the world of heroics — even if that wasn’t her intent.

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What Does It Mean To Be Trans & Skrull?

As one of Marvel’s golden gay couples, Hulking and Wiccan are characterized by their deep love for each other. Their relationship is the foundation of their characterization. However, that doesn’t mean their recent honeymoon went perfectly. To make up for the King in Black disaster, the couple goes on a romantic road trip. And that’s where our cowgirl Lacie comes in.

When they need to get their car fixed, Billy and Teddy stop and ask for help. They expect the worst but are pleasantly surprised to meet Lacie Lorraine, a trans cowgirl who has lived for thousands of years. She tells them part of her story, which is how we also learn about P’Alluc. This trans Skrull’s name is an homage to trans writer Rachel Pollack, who passed away this year. While Lacie is a hoot and Wickling is cute as ever, P’Alluc is also a breakout star here. She seeks a weapon that allows permanent transformation, an ability that’s especially poignant for a trans shapeshifter. Skrulls can alter their body at will but as a trans person, P’Alluc wants to feel fully at home in her body — something we all strive for, one way or another.

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Gwenpool’s Party Is Aces!

Friends of Dazzler, now’s our time! When Gwenpool wants to throw an amazing Pride party for her Empire State University Pride Club, she enlists Alison Blaire, AKA Dazzler. Gwen’s goal is to host the best Pride party ever and boy does she deliver!

Recently, Gwenpool came out as asexual and aromantic. With her fourth-wall breaking powers, definitely stronger than Deadpool and possibly even She-Hulk, Gwenpool declares herself Marvel’s Ace Icon. Just as the party is getting started, two crashers try to rain in on the parade. But our ace icon is not having it. With the help of Jeffrey, Gwen makes sure these two losers learn the lesson — and that her Pride party keeps on dazzling!

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Alert: New Marvel Symbiote on the Loose

If there’s one group of Marvel heroes that keeps spawning new members, it’s the Spider-Fam. Not to be outdone, however, the symbiotes follow closely behind. When Spider-Man responds to a standard break-and-enter, he encounters Muzzle. A quick bite from Muzzle ensures that Spidey can’t stop him and his hacker associates.

Except, it turns out Muzzle’s group only wants to help their community. To combat the high prices and low availability of hormones, insulin, and other medicine, Muzzle’s group broke into Stark Unlimited Pharmaceuticals. We also get a glimpse into Muzzle’s birth in Seminole County, Oklahoma. Years later, as a trans masc Native hacker, Muzzle doesn’t even know he’s a symbiote until Spider-Man mentions it. Will Muzzle follow a villainous path like Carnage, grow into an antihero like Venom, or become something else entirely? Hopefully we’ll find out soon!

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Marvel’s Pride issue had so many details, it’s hard to keep track of everyone included this year. From up-and-coming heroes getting their continued spotlight to setting up summer storylines, we can expect to see a lot of noteworthy developments over in the Marvel Multiverse.

What were the highlights for you in this year’s Marvel Pride anthology? Join the conversation with other Marvel fans over at Sideshow Social Network or in our Atomic Misfits Facebook Group, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!