Somnus is Marvel’s Newest Queer Superhero

This year for Pride Month, Marvel Comics will release an anthology titled Marvel’s Voices: Pride featuring some of their LGBTQ heroes. Last week, fans got a first glimpse at the newest hero debuting this June, Somnus. His story is written by critically acclaimed writer Steve Orlando and illustrated by Eisner-nominated artist Claudia Aguirre.

“Somnus, Carl Valentino, is inspired not only by my own family history but by my experiences with past generations of LGBTQ folks from across the country, people I wouldn’t have met without comics,” Orlando explains in an interview with Marvel.

“While there is still plenty of work to do, we’ve also come a long way as a community. Somnus is a chance to explore how my own, late queer relatives may have felt living in more prejudiced times. He’s also a chance to celebrate past generations as a whole and acknowledge the strides we’ve made that they may not have lived to see.”

In addition to this impact on the X-Men, “Somnus’ powers give him total control of people’s dreams, but he was never able to follow his own,” reads Marvel’s description of the new character.

“Now, Somnus is given a second chance at life, and he’s determined to make the most out of it on the thriving mutant nation of Krakoa! With a mesmerizing costume design by artist Luciano Vecchio and unique mutant gifts, it’s time for Somnus to step up in a big way and become the hero he was always destined to be.”

Somnus will also be the star of Luciano Vecchio’s celebratory Marvel’s Voices: Pride, Frame Variant cover. An homage to the iconic Marvel 25th Anniversary covers released in 1985, Somnus takes the spotlight surrounded by some of Marvel’s brightest LGBTQ heroes. Check out the fully revealed cover above and don’t miss this uplifting Marvel story when Somnus makes his first appearance in Marvel’s Voices: Pride on June 23!