Marvel’s Pride special will introduce an X-Men team, a new Nightshade and more

‘Marvel’s Voices: Pride’ will arrive in June, along with several Pride-themed variant covers.

Marvel has announced details for this year’s Pride special, which will once again come under the Marvel’s Voices banner in June. And like previous specials, which introduced new characters like Escapade and Somnus, this one also will include several character and creator debuts.

Probably the biggest news is that the special will introduce a new X-Men title that will debut later this year from Steve Foxe and Rosi Kampe. Their story will feature Gimmick, one of the Children of the Atom, who you might remember as being teased as the X-Men’s sidekicks before debuting (they all looked liked versions of the original X-Men) and starred in their own miniseries in 2020. The only true mutant on the team was Gimmick, who was later invited to the Hellfire Gala by Storm. I don’t think we’ve seen much of this team since they were introduced.

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‘Marvel’s Voices: Spider-Verse’ will introduce two new spidersonas

Recluse and Spider-Friend make their debut in April.

Next month’s Marvel’s Vices: Spider-Verse special will put the spotlight on several existing Spider-folks, including Miles Morales and Silk, but they’ll be joined by two new characters: Recluse and Spider-Friend.

Spider-Friend will debut in a story written and drawn by Jason Loo, co-creator of The All-Nighter and the award-winning Afterlift. According to Marvel.com, he “comes from a corner of the Marvel Multiverse that’s filled with laugh tracks and filmed in front a live studio audience.”

Recluse, meanwhile, is co-created by Cheryl Lynn Eaton (Batman Secret Files, Bitch Planet) and Julian Shaw (Marvel’s Voices: Legacy). This spidersona lives on a dystopian world where Electro controls the power grid.

Here’s a look at the two new characters, who share the spotlight on a variant cover for the issue by InHyuk Lee:

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April’s Marvel’s Voices anthology will focus on the Spider-Verse

The anthology returns with new stories featuring Miles Morales, Silk and more.

Marvel has announced that their April Marvel’s Voices anthology will focus on a specific character family — Spider-Man and his, um, Amazing Friends. Marvel’s Voices: Spider-Verse will arrive in stores April 5.

Marvel has shifted their approach to their Marvel’s Voices anthology series, as they continue to expand the brand into different places. In addition to adding new digital stories under that banner to Marvel Unlimited, they’ve now announced two anthologies focused on specific character families. Marvel’s Voices: Wakanda Forever will land in February, just in time for Black History Month.

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Marvel’s 2023 Free Comic Book Day offerings will feature X-Men, Spider-Man, Venom and more

‘Summer of Symbiotes,’ ‘Fall of X’ and more will be previewed by Marvel next May.

Marvel has announced their plans for next year’s Free Comic Book Day event, as the publisher will release four free comics on that day.

Just like they did this year, Marvel will use FCBD to promote several of their upcoming events, like Summer of Symbiotes and Fall of X. They’ll also have another Marvel’s Voices issue, and will round things out with a title aimed at the younger set — Spidey & His Amazing Friends, which will adapt the Disney Junior TV show.

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NYCC: Marvel announces new projects featuring Bloodline, Bishop and more

The Marvel’s Voices panel at the New York Comic Con brought news from Wakanda, Krakoa and the far reaches of space.

During their Marvel’s Voices panel at the New York Comic Con today, Marvel announced several upcoming projects for February that tie into Black History Month, including a new Marvel’s Voices anthology, a Bloodline miniseries and more.

Let’s start with the new Marvel’s Voices anthology, which this time around will focus on a specific set of characters: Marvel’s Voices: Wakanda Forever. The stories will feature Black Panther, Shuri, Okoye and more by as-yet-unrevealed creative teams.

Ken Lashley provides the cover:

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Can’t Wait for Comics | Pour yourself a glass of ‘Pink Lemonade’

The Roadie! Tim Drake! Flawed! Sgt. Rock vs. zombies! And Saladin Ahmed wraps up his run on Miles Morales: Spider-Man in this week’s comics.

Welcome to Can’t Wait for Comics, your guide to what comics are arriving in comic book stores, bookstores and on digital.

I’ve pulled out some of the highlights below, but for the complete list of everything you might find at your local comic shop and on digital this week, you’ll want to check out one or more of the following:

As a reminder, things can change and what you find on the above lists may differ from what’s actually arriving in your local shop. So always check with your comics retailer for the final word on availability.

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‘Young Avengers’ returns for a new story on Marvel Unlimited

Anthony Oliveira, Jethro Morales and the late Dijjo Lima present a new story featuring Wiccan, Hulkling, Iron Lad, Kate Bishop, America Chavez and more.

The Young Avengers have made their dramatic return as a part of Marvel Unlimited’s Infinity Comics line, following the conclusion of the Iceman story that ran under the Marvel’s Voices banner on the digital comics site.

Writer Anthony Oliveira and artist Jethro Morales bring together several Young Avengers members from various incarnations of the team, including Wiccan, Hulkling, Hawkeye, Iron Lad, America Chavez, Prodigy, Speed and Cassie Lang (presumably under her Stinger moniker, based on the costume she’s wearing in the promotional art).

The story is also significant for featuring some of the last coloring work by Dijjo Lima, who passed away last month. “Our first issue also features some of Dijjo Lima’s last colors, and I am so grateful and honored to have a gift like that grace a script I worked on. I will be forever thankful,” Oliveira told Marvel.com.

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Can’t Wait for Comics | ‘Black Adam,’ Perry White, ‘Punisher War Journal’ and more

Check out new comic and graphic novel releases this week from Gengoroh Tagame, Jeff Lemire, Jock, Tyler Crook, Mark Waid, Leonard Kirk, Peter David and more.

Welcome to Can’t Wait for Comics, your guide to what comics are arriving in comic book stores, bookstores and on digital. This week brings a new Black Adam series, a Punisher tie-in, a new Tyler Crook series, a new graphic novel from Gengoroh Tagame and more.

I’ve pulled out some of the highlights below, but for the complete list of everything you might find at your local comic shop and on digital this week, you’ll want to check out one or more of the following:

As a reminder, things can change and what you find on the above lists may differ from what’s actually arriving in your local shop. So always check with your comics retailer for the final word on availability.

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‘Marvel’s Voices: Comunidades’ returns in September

Fabian Nicieza, Paco Medina, Edgar Delgado and more will contribute stories to the anthology.

Marvel’s Voices: Comunidades will return in September with another collection of stories by Latinx creators featuring Latinx characters.

Arriving just in time for Hispanic Heritage Month, this year’s anthology will include:

  • A Nova story by writer Fabian Nicieza and artist Paco Medina.
  • A Miles Morales story by writer Edgar Delgado.
  • A White Tiger story by author Alex Segura and artist Rogê Antônio, which will introduce a new character.
  • A Shark Girl/Namor team-up by Novelist Zoraida Cordova and artist Yasmín Flores Montañez.
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Marvel’s Voices anthology launches on Marvel Unlimited

A four-part Iceman story by Luciano Vecchio comes to Infinity Comics for Pride Month.

Marvel has published several Marvel’s Voices anthologies over the last few years that focus on underrepresented characters and creators. Now that initiative is expanding to digital, as Marvel has announced new Marvel’s Voices stories as part of their Infinity Comics line on Marvel Unlimited.

The first, which launches during Pride Month, is a four-part Iceman story by Luciano Vecchio.

“As a queer creator, getting the chance to work as writer/artist on one of my favorite characters, and be part of the cultural conversation about queer rep in mainstream media with my own work, feels necessary and vital for me,” Vecchio told Out Magazine. “I had the chance before in the Marvel’s Voices specials to express my ideas about LGBTQ+ superheroes as a collective, and now I get to explore the individual experience of Iceman, which isn’t exchangeable to that of any other character.”

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Marvel will preview Wells/Romita Jr.’s ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ on Free Comic Book Day

Following the release of a new ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ #1 in April, Marvel will showcase the new creative team’s work with a free issue in May.

Marvel has announced more details and revealed covers for two of their three Free Comic Book Day titles for 2022.

Last year’s Spider-Man/Venom FCBD title previewed the “Beyond” era of Amazing Spider-Man, where Ben Reilly and the Beyond Corporation took over the Spider-Man name from Peter Parker and Marvel re-introduced a “writer’s room” approach to the comic. With the Beyond era wrapping up soon, Zeb Wells — one of several writers currently writing the title — will team with the legendary John Romita Jr. for a relaunch of Amazing Spider-Man. And Marvel will offer a preview of their run in this year’s Spider-Man/Venom FCBD title.

In addition, like last year, Marvel will preview the work Al Ewing, Ram V and Bryan Hitch are doing on Venom. Here’s a look at the main cover by Romita Jr. and the variant cover for the FCBD issue by Jonboy Meyers. Is this the first time we’ve seen a variant cover on a Free Comic Book Day title? I can’t recall that being a thing before.

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Smash Pages Q&A | Natasha Donovan on ‘Borders’

The artist and cartoonist discusses adapting Thomas King’s short story into a comic, working digitally, the often-thankless work of mothers and more.

Natasha Donovan has been working for many years as a picture book artist and cartoonist. She drew the Mothers of Xsan series of books written by Brett D. Huson, and the graphic novel Surviving the City, written by Tasha Spillett. She’s contributed to many anthologies, including This Place: 150 Years Retold and The Other Side: An Anthology of Queer Paranormal Romance. She also drew a story in the upcoming Marvel’s Voices: Heritage #1.

Donovan’s new book is Borders, an adaptation of the acclaimed short story by Thomas King. The fable-like tale is about a mother and son traveling from Canada to the U.S. to visit family, and when asked their citizenship at the border, the mother responds “Blackfoot.” It’s a book about strength, resisting categories and the imaginary lines that divide us. Adapting and drawing the story required a fine touch, and Donovan was masterful at depicting silence, telling it from the point of view of a child who doesn’t quite understand what’s happening, but is reflecting back on these events years later. It’s a striking book in so many ways.

Donovan was kind enough to talk recently about the book and how she works.

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