As most people know June is Pride Month. It is a time to celebrate diversity and support all people who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community. For the past couple of years, there has been a conscious effort by publishers to spotlight stories related to those who are part of the community. DC and Marvel are at it again, and it is nice to put those words together with a positive connotation.
DC Comics has a special anthology that is out this week called DC Pride #1, and it has an excellent line up of stories celebrating the identity diversity within it’s fictional universe. There are also some other books that are branded with it’s special Pride Logo. Those books are centered around characters who identify as LGBTQIA+. There are several other initiatives that DC Comics is engaging in this month that include partnerships with LGBTQIA+ organizations such as The Trevor Project, Family Equality, Human Rights Campaign, Athlete Ally, Mermaids, and Inside Out, as well as themed merchandise and inclusive comics in their digital storefronts. They have detailed all their Pride Month activities on their website and have developed a Pride Hub for readers and viewers to more easily navigate the content they are searching for.
Marvel Comics also has a special Pride Month Anthology called Marvel Voices: Pride #1. It is an 84-page comic that will be released on June 22, 2022. It is a collection of stories focusing on characters that are part of the LGBTQIA+ community created by many creators who also identify that way. There are some amazing stories that we are interested in reading in this book.
Archie Comics also has a special edition book out this week that supports Pride Month. Archie & Friends: Summer Lovin’ #1 includes a brand new story introducing new characters that promote positive aspects of sexuality and body image.
There are of course other books that include characters and/or are created by people who are part of this community. We support them and will always continue to regardless of what the calendar says. We do want to acknowledge that the stigma of Rainbow Capitalism may affect the efforts of these publishers. However, we do also acknowledge that there is some great storytelling being done and we want to celebrate those stories.
Here are some interesting comic books to check out this Pride Month:
DC Pride 2022 #1
DC Comics
Written by Devin Grayson, Ivan Cohen, Alyssa Wong, Stephanie Williams, Ro Stein, Kevin Conroy, Greg Lockhart, Danny Lore, Dani Fernandez, Ted Brandt, Tini Howard, Stephanie Phillips, Jadzia Axelrod, Travis Moore, and Nicole Maines
Art by Brandt, Moore, Stein, P. Craig Russell, J. Bone, Lynne Yoshii, Meghan Hetrick, Jess Taylor, Samantha Dodge, Evan Cagle, Zoe Thorogood, Brittney L. Williams, JJ Kirby, Nick Robles, Rye Hickman, W. Scott Forbes, Jeremy Lawson, Marissa Louise, Tamra Bonvillain, Triona Farrell, and Enrica Eren Angiolini
Cover art by Phil Jimenez & Arif Prianto
SUPER PRIDE / CONFESSIONS / THINK OF ME / UP AT BAT / A WORLD KEPT JUST FOR ME / THE GUMSHOE IN GREEN / PUBLIC DISPLAY OF ELECTROMAGNETISM / BAT’S IN THE CRADLE / SPECIAL DELIVERY / THE HUNT / ARE YOU READY FOR THIS? / FINDING BATMAN
DC’s 2022 celebration kicks off with more stories, more characters, and more pride than ever before! This anthology features 13 all-new stories spotlighting LGBTQIA+ fan-favorites new and old including Superman (Jon Kent), Nubia, Tim Drake, Kid Quick, Aquaman (Jackson Hyde), Green Lantern (Jo Mullein), Alysia Yeoh, the Ray, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Batwoman, and more! This special also includes: A Multiversity: Teen Justice kickoff story spotlighting Kid Quick and written by the miniseries team, Danny Lore and Ivan Cohen! An introduction by activist, actress, and real-life superhero Nicole Maines that will include a teaser for her upcoming Dreamer project!
Release Date: June 7, 2022
Marvel Voices: Pride #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Andrew Wheeler, Allysa Wong, Christopher Cantwell, Danny Lore, Grace Freud, Charlie Jane Anders, and Ira Madison III
Art by Ted Brandt, Kei Zama, Ro Stein, Lucas Werneck, Brittney L. Williams, Scott B. Henderson, Lorenzo Susi, Stephen Byrne, Lee Townsend, Rachelle Rosenberg, Rico Renzi, Jose Villarrubia, Michael Wiggam, Tamra Bonvillain, and Brittany Peer
Cover art by Nick Robles
PERMANENT SLEEPOVER / OVER THE RAINBOW / ANCIENT & MODERN / STAY OUTTA MY MIND TURF, JACK / ALL MY EXES IN THE NEXUS / LGBT-D / PERFECTLY SCENE
Hot off a GLAAD Award nomination for 2021’s anthology, MARVEL’S VOICES: PRIDE returns for a jam-packed celebration of LGBTQI+ characters and creators! New York Times-bestselling, multi-award-winning author Charlie Jane Anders introduces a new hero to the Marvel Universe—and it won’t be the last you see of them. Get in on the ground floor here! IRON MAN scribe and lauded TV showrunner Christopher Cantwell takes on Moondragon’s complex legacy for a heart-bending story across space and time. Shuster and Eisner-winning writer Andrew Wheeler makes his Marvel debut with the MU’s real god of love—Hercules! Nebula, World Fantasy, and Locus-award winner Alyssa Wong reunites the Young Avengers in a story guaranteed to please fans new and old! And that’s just the first slice of the rainbow. MARVEL’S VOICES continues its groundbreaking anthology series with another swoon-worthy glimpse of the world outside your window!
Release Date: June 22, 2022
Archie & Friends: Summer Lovin’ #1
Archie Comics
Written by Tee Franklin
Art by Dan Parent
Cover Art by Bill Golliher
BRAND NEW STORY BY TEE FRANKLIN & DAN PARENT: “Carnival Love!” It’s time for some fun (and maybe even romance) at the Riverdale summer carnival! Looking to rekindle their relationship, Reggie is excited when he finds out Veronica’s cousin, Harper Lodge, will be visiting a traveling carnival that arrived in Riverdale! Plus, a collection of fun-in-the-sun stories perfect for a beach read!
Release Date: June 8, 2022
