A few weeks passed since the release of Marvel’s Voices and I want to share my “commentary track” on my story in it and the thinking process behind it (Thread).

I chose to open with a close up on Striker, from Avengers Academy. A self centered white cis gay, the end of the LGBT+ spectrum most prone to be apolitical and unaware of their privilege in context of our collective.

I wanted him to make this questions and zoom out from selfishness to community.

Responding is Wiccan, a guy with a similar background, even similar looks, but socially aware. He gives credit to his partner Hulkling for bringing everyone together. Hulkling is a prophesied unifier, and I like to think he’s developing that diplomatic skill.

They come every year as civilians but want to do more. Activism is more than personal.

He cites the Spider-Mantra “with great power comes great responsibility”. This is a bit meta and applies to them as superheroes and to us as storytellers.

If we have the power and privilege to be seen and heard, to make a statement, we have the responsibility to make the best use we can of it.

Hulkling is having a similar conversation with Karolina and Nico. The Young Avengers and the Runaways have crossed paths many times and these two couples of alien heirs and magic users have a lot in common.

Nico happily runs into Cullen Bloodstone, who she shared adventures with in Avengers Arena and Avengers Undercover.
Hulkling acknowledges their idyllic situation is not the norm and that the needs of the LGBT collective are bigger than their own.

A bit of meta commentary on how in fiction we create ideal situations like Wiccan’s family being the most supportive ever and taking in Hulkling when he lost his mother, allowing this power couple to be together since their late teens and have an awesome relationship.

Their story is not one of trauma and angst, and I think we need this kind of narratives even if sometimes they seem unrealistic because they allow us to imagine a better world for ourselves in real life.

While at the same time it is vital to honor the history behind that and the struggle of the collective beyond personal experiences. In this panel Marsha P Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, the trans women of color whose activism work since the Stonewall uprisings was disregarded (...)

by more hegemonic narratives of LGBT history, are homaged by drag queen x-man Darkveil and lesbian latina powerhouse America Chavez.

Behind them, Stonewall from Secret Warriors, previously outed only in author interviews, is finally out on panel and confirming his code name is an homage to queer history.

Connecting with previous panel, Sera, the only trans female hero in the Marvel Universe that we know of, had to come visit her love Angela even if she has duties across the galaxy.

Everyone wanted to be part of this gathering, almost as if everyone was waiting for ages for it to happen and it was only a matter of someone starting it.

“Together we make a statement.” Northstar, the first Marvel hero to come out. Julie Powers who we’ve seen grow up from childhood to out and proud, Koi Boi representing for trans masculinity, Anole and Bling signifying queer identity overlaps and trumps mutant identity.

We rarely see these characters meet and interact in comics, and we need more of this. Queer identity is not only about romantic love or being accepted in cishet environments, but also about chosen family, shared experiences, friendship and community.

There are many reasons we need and produce queer representations in media.
To take a stance and resist hate and oppression.
To reeducate the sensibilities of those open to it, the allies that share the world with us(...)

and who most probably will be the parents of future lgbt kids and need to be prepared to provide a loving environment many of us didn’t have.

And for us, to see ourselves represented in fantasy, take our place in the fields of imagination, and thus be able to expand and better our reality.

Accompanying this statement with this particular kiss between Wiccan and Hulkling isn’t random. A few months ago a Marvel comic, Avengers: Children’s Crusade was censored in Brazil for including the first kiss of these characters.

The censorship was resisted, but it exposed a symptom of a rise of hate and intolerance in our region. As a southamerican queer artist myself, given the chance (the power and the responsibility) I needed to provide a positive response,

an inspiring and healing message of overcoming adversities through mutual support and cooperation, as our community always has.

Here’s a key to the characters appearing.

That’s it. Thank you everyone for your support!
And get Marvel’s Voices #1!