Although the Marvel Cinematic Universe has dominated box offices worldwide for nearly fifteen years, aspects of its history and management have not been above scrutinization. In particular, the representation of queer characters and heroes has been severely lacking across the universe – and much of fandom pop culture.
The arrival of Phastos, the first gay MCU hero, in Phase Four’s current trajectory, fans should expect to see several iconic LGBTQ+ heroes soon. Apart from those already revealed, here are eight other heroes that the MCU could be setting up.
Hulkling
One of the most exciting aspects of Phase Four so far is the introduction of iconic characters from the Young Avengers team. It started in Moon Knight is the only one yet to do so, but the season isn’t over yet.
As such, many are expecting to see more pop up in the future, and one might be coming soon: Theodore Altman aka Hulkling. He is gay and half-Kree/half-Skrull, possessing the later’s shapeshifting abilities. He is perhaps more well known for his relationship with Wiccan. Depending on the events of Secret Invasion.
Moondragon
The Guardians of the Galaxy team in the comics has welcomed many to its rosters including Mantis, Cosmo the Spacedog, and several queer heroes. In fact, Star-Lord is bisexual, though that hasn’t been outwardly incorporated in the MCU. One of the major queer characters on the team is Heather Douglas aka Moondragon. She is a lesbian and specifically connected with Drax the Destroyer – he houses the spirit of her lost father, after being killed by Thanos.
Moondragon is one of the most interesting team not only for her backstory but her impressive abilities. She was trained to the point of near-human perfection and has powerful telekinetic powers. Therefore, many are expecting to see Moondragon sometime – Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
Hercules
The first trailer for Thor: Love and Thunder finally dropped and it set up the further expansion of the cosmos and the pantheons of gods in the MCU. Russel Crow is even seen briefly as Zeus. Though many people aren’t expecting him to last long in the film since the main antagonist is Gorr the God Butcher, played by Christian Bale, who – as his name implies – enjoys killing gods. Nevertheless this easily opens the door to an important bisexual hero: Hercules.
Like his mythological origins, he is Zeus’ demi-god son who is incredibly strong, and he’s as an ally and rival to Thor. Throughout the years, he’s ed the Avengers and teamed up with the Guaridans of the Galaxy – launching a relationship with someone who will be discussed later, Noh-Varr. Some theorize that Thor: Love and Thunder will introduce Hercules to the MCU, but if not, Hercules could definitely warrant his own film or Disney+ show down the line.
Angela
Another cosmic figure related to Thor and the Guardians of the Galaxy is an iconic queer hero. Angela, born Aldrif Odinsdottir, is Thor’s lost sister who was raised by the Angels of Heven, the Tenth Realm. She is actually an acquisition by Marvel – having been previously a recurring character in Spawn comics – and was integrated into the universe at the end of the Age of Ultron run in 2013.
She comes to embrace her Asgardian heritage, supplanting Hela as the Queen of Hel in order to save her partner, Sera. While it seems unlikely that she would show up as soon as Thor: Love and Thunder – just due her relative immaturity in comics canon – it would not be surprising to see her in future project. They could alter her story and make her the partner to Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie, perhaps.
Viv
The Young Avengers is not the only team of teenage superheroes. There is also the Champions, made up of several other iconic characters like Ms. Marvel, Miles Morales’ Spider-Man, Sam Alexander’s Nova, and Amadeus Cho. They are ed by a lesser-known character, Viv, Vision’s daughter and a synthezoid like her father. One of the great aspects in the Champions run, is its allowance for Viv to understand and embrace her homosexuality.
This is particularly exciting as it allows readers of all ages to relate and sympathize with a uniquely-crafted character, while also showcasing Viv’s inherent humanity, despite not being a human. Her identity was left up for question until she took the plunge and acted on her feelings, kissing her teammate Riri Williams aka Ironheart. As such, Viv could show up in some way in Ironheart or whenever White Vision resurfaces should he wish to have a family.
Phyla-Vell
Moondragon is not the only lesbian on the Guardians of the Galaxy – she is actually the second. The first is Phyla-Vell, daughter of the first Captain Marvel, Mar-vell, who is an original member of the team upon its revilatiion in the comics. Importantly, she has taken on many monikers as Quasar, Captain Marvel, and currently Martyr. She was part of the battles against Adam Warlock’s evil foil, Magus, and Annihulus with her teammate and later, lover, Moondragon.
Despite all this, Phyla-Vell has yet to show up in the MCU. However, there are several possibilities available to rectify that. Most likely, she’d be introduced in the The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special or Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. If that’s not the case, though, then given her time as Captain Marvel – succeeding her brother, Genis-Vell in the role – she could show up in The Marvels.
Marvel Boy
As mentioned before, Hercules enters into a relationship with a character named Noh-Varr while ing the Guardians of the Galaxy. He is an enhanced Kree soldier from an alternate universe known for his time among the Young Avengers as Marvel Boy, and like his partner, Hercules, he is bisexual. He is particularly powerful since he can essentially reroute his brain, cutting off his pain receptors and allowing him to focus on the battle before him.
Throughout the years he’s also taken up the titles of Protector and even Captain Marvel. He was given a pair of Ms. Marvel. The options for where Noh-Varr could appear in the MCU are vast, but the most likely possibilities would be The Marvels or Secret Invasion.
Iceman
Following numerous contentious years – during which Wanda and Pietro Maximoff couldn’t even be called mutants in Captain America: The Winter Soldier – mutants will be official parts of the MCU soon. Some expected as WandaVision to introduce them, and now theories abound over if Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will do it. This is exceptionally exciting since the stories of mutants and the X-Men have meant a great deal to LGBTQ+ readers around the world.
As such, there is a beautifully robust amount of queer heroes that could, therefore, be introduced, and at the top of the list is one of the most legendary: Robert Drake aka Iceman. He is an original X-Men, one of the most powerful mutants, an ally to Spider-Man, and in 2015, he came out as gay. Though anticipation is high, it is clear that Marvels want to take their time, so he and his fellow X-men likely won’t pop up until Phase Five.
