Pride And Joy

Another week, another couple of comics out with my name on them - and this week's pretty special.

SO WHAT'S OUT THIS WEEK?

Marvel United: A Pride Special #1, that's what!

The brief for this one came down from on high and it was basically "make a stand against hate." That got me interested, but the icing on the cake was the supplementary suggestion that maybe some queer heroes could fight the Hate-Monger... who, if you don't know, has been Adolf Hitler (or his ghost) since his first appearance in the 1960s. Lee and Kirby were not being subtle, and right now I'm not in a mood to be subtle either. If you're anti-LGBTQIA+ right now, you damn well know whose side you're on and I'm not interested in sugarcoating that - so all in all, I was happy to run with the idea.

So we have Aaron Fischer taking on a HYDRA propaganda plot, backed up by awesome trans ladies Escapade and this parish's own Charlene McGowan - and surprise guest appearances by queer icon and personal fave Loki and also maybe the biggest and most powerful trans character I ever brought into Marvel continuity... but I'll let that one be a nice surprise. I'm happy with what I got in the can and how hard I got to go in the end - and I'm ecstatic about the gorgeous, magical art conjured onto the page by the brilliant Kei Zama, with perfect coloring by Brittany Peer and Irma Kniivila.

And that's just one story! You also get a heartfelt and beautiful tale of Mystique, Destiny and their relationship with their kids, by Wyatt Kennedy, Bayleigh Underwood and more Irma Kniivila... your new favorite ship in the form of Black Cat and much-missed super-sorceress Sera, by Zoe Tunnell, Federica Mancin and Tamra Bonvillain... and an untold tale of WWII hero and Steve Roger's best friend Arnie Roth, by Anthony Oliveira, Pablo Collar and Michael Wiggam. Every one of these stories is lettered by the amazing Ariana Maher, who went above and beyond – and any single one of them is more than worth the price of admission. Which one's going to be your favorite?

The brief for this one was a little different and took a long journey through various iterations to the page - but essentially, it was about introducing the concept of the Multiverse (and "616" as the Marvel Universe's multiversal number) to new readers. Naturally, the burden had to fall on poor ol' Spidey - representative of the Marvel Universe and also a big multiverse guy since all his Spider-Verse shenanigans. And to contrast one of Marvel's oldies with the new, I teamed him up with Wyn from the recent G.O.D.S. mini. And from there... look, I'm a comics writer by trade but a part-time comics historian by hobby. And that side of me may have got a teensy, weensy bit out of hand. (An unofficial Marvel No-Prize to the first person who works out where all that "sampled" dialogue came from.)

This was my first opportunity to work with the great Mark Buckingham, who draws a sumptuous, timeless Spidey along with a whole host of guest-stars from all through Marvel history, with Rachelle Rosenberg bringing the whole thing to vibrant life and Joe Caramagna respecting my odd lettering whims.

Our time-tossed tale takes the middle spot in a scrumptious Spidey sandwich, between a tale of spider-sartoriality by Kevin Smith and Guiseppe Camuncoli - my copy's missing the credits page, so I don't have the colorist for that - and the introduction of a new hero by Chip Zdarsky, CAFU and David Curiel. Plus, there's a prelude to a coming Kid Venom adventure by Mitsuyasu Sakai, Geradro Sandoval and Israel Silva -- so lots of spider-bang for your spider-buck!

WHAT ELSE WAS THIS WEEK?

My local Pride was this past weekend - I make a point to march, and to carry a sign that's relevant to the struggles of the community, which here in the UK usually means solidarity with trans rights. But this year felt a bit more involved than past years. Some anticipation of potential fascist action right before the march - which thankfully didn't materialize - and then after the march, attempting to argue for trans rights and dignity with my local MP and other people. How did that go? It went.

But on the march itself, there were moments of absolute joy. Local schools turning out, their pupils able to express themselves and tell the world who they were in ways that just weren't possible when we were kids. Cheering, smiling faces on the sidelines - the march is a long one where I live, and goes through residential areas, and the residents turn out with flags and stereo speakers and cheer us on. An older lady walking back through the march from the front, thanking everyone with a protest sign. Rain was on and off the whole day, but it felt like sunshine. And for those who just couldn't stomach marching in the same procession as the corporate sponsors and the Labour politicians, there was an alternate "Queer Mutiny" that was run entirely by the community, with free food, coffee and tea, a reading zone of queer literature and live poetry and music.

So it was a happy Pride, overall... but still, a very necessary one, however you mark it.

IS THAT THE TIME?

I'd better get to work! Love, strength and justice to all who need it, and I'll play us out with "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" by Sylvester.