Marvel is giving more information on the new hero — Somnus, who’ll debut this June in Marvel’s Voices: Pride #1.
Frame Variant Cover by Luciano Vecchio
What’s Happening:
- Marvel fans got a sneak peek at Somnus last week, and today, Marvel has revealed some more information about the new hero.
- Somnus’ backstory will be told in Marvel’s Voices: Pride #1 by writer Steve Orlando (Wonder Woman, Curse of the Man-Thing) and artist Claudia Aguirre (Hotel Dare), making her Marvel Comics debut.
- Somnus’ powers give him total control of people’s dreams. Now given a second chance at life, he’ll be able to follow his own while on the mutant nation of Krakoa.
Character Design by Luciano Vecchio
What They’re Saying:
- Steve Orlando, Writer: “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. 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. And with the Krakoan era being one of relative utopia for mutantkind, Somnus will bring a fresh perspective, and respectful gut check, to the young mutants of the present who may not know just how hard some had to fight for all mutants have achieved. Within the story and without, Somnus will be a new, complex character carrying a message of respect, power, and vision.”
- Luciano Vecchio, Costume Design, Artist: “Marvel’s Voices: Pride is ticking so many dream assignments for me! On top of doing the cover, a frame variant, and a story that I got to write myself, I also got to design a new queer character introduced in a story written by Steve Orlando. I’m so happy to finally collaborate officially with Steve and I fell in love with Somnus’ concept and backstory right away. I got some input from him and editor Sarah Brunstad but also a lot of liberty to propose ideas. This time the design process itself felt almost like channeling. I wanted him to have an air of ‘man of your dreams,’ very charming and human but unreachable at the same time. Some visual elements are a mix of Mod fashion, a bit of Hellfire Gala influence, and a palette based on Etruscan vase art as a nod to the god he’s named after.”
More on Marvel’s Voices: Pride #1
- Marvel’s Voices: Pride #1 will be Marvel’s first-ever queer-centered special spotlighting Marvel’s growing tapestry of LGBTQ+ characters.
- The issue has stories written by Kieron Gillen, Allan Heinberg, Anthony Oliveira, Steve Orlando, Tini Howard, Leah Williams, Mariko Tamaki, Terry Blas, Crystal Frasier, Vita Ayala, J.J. Kirby, Luciano Vecchio, and more.
- You’ll also find art by Javier Garrón, Jim Cheung, Kris Anka, Jen Hickman, Paulina Ganucheau, Jethro Morales, Britney Williams, J.J. Kirby, Luciano Vecchio, Jan Bazaldua, Claudia Aguirre, and more.
You can pick up your own copy of Marvel’s Voices: Pride #1 when it hits stores on June 23.