Marvel has announced Women of Marvel, a special one-shot featuring an all-star roster of women Marvel characters written and drawn by a variety of women creators, both from the world of comics and from other industries. The 56-page special issue, with a cover by Sara Pichelli and variants by Maria Wolf, Peach Momoko and Amanda Conner, is in stores this April.
Over the past several years, Marvel has increased their commitment to representation in their comics. Characters from underrepresented backgrounds, such as Ms. Marvel, Miles Morales and America Chavez took their place beside the heavyweights of the Marvel Universe. They reinforced this commitment to diversity by not only hiring creators from diverse backgrounds, but also giving these creators a platform to tell stories. The publisher celebrated Black History Month by launching an initiative called Marvel’s Voices: Indigenous Voices, which spotlighted Indigenous and Native characters and creators. These specials have been successful, and now Marvel turns their attention to their impressive roster of women characters, writers and artists.
The special opens with an introduction from Louise Simonson, who edited Chris Claremont’s legendary X-Men run in the 80s and also created Power Pack. The book will feature a new She-Hulk story written by Nadia Shammas, and Elsa Sjunneson provides fans with a World War II-era Peggy Carter story. Marrow, from the X-Men, will have her own story written by Sophie Campbell. Although the character she will be writing was not revealed, video game writer Anne Toole will contribute a story, as will Natasha Alterici of Heathens fame. Artists featured in the special include Kei Zama and Skylar Partridge.
- WOMEN OF MARVEL #1
- NATASHA ALTERICI, SOPHIE CAMPBELL, NADIA SHAMMAS, ELSA SJUNNESON, ANNE TOOLE & MORE! (W) ELEONORA CARLINI, JOANNA ESTEP, SKYLAR PATRIDGE, KEI ZAMA & MORE! (A) • Cover by SARA PICHELLI
- VARIANT COVER BY MARIA WOLF
- VARIANT COVER BY PEACH MOMOKO
- VARIANT COVER BY AMANDA CONNER
- WHO RUN THE WORLD? YOU ALREADY KNOW. CELEBRATE THE WOMEN OF MARVEL WITH AN EXTRAVAGANZA OF EXTRAORDINARY TALENT!
- The future is female! Get in on the ground floor with this amazing assembly of writers and artists from all over entertainment. Comics legend Louise Simonson kicks things off with a must-read introduction! Nadia Shammas punches the glass ceiling with the Jade Giantess! Elsa Sjunneson grits her way to the front line with Captain Peggy Carter! Sophie Campbell goes feral with a bone-grinding Marrow story! Video game-and-comics writer Anne Toole makes her Marvel debut in a blaze of glory! Natasha Alterici of Heathen fame charges sword-first into the Marvel Universe! With astonishing art from new and established artists Kei Zama (Transformers, DEATH’S HEAD), Eleonora Carlini (Power Rangers, Batgirl), Skylar Patridge (Resonant, Relics of Youth), Joanna Estep (Fantastic Four, Fraggle Rock) and more, you’re sure to come away powered up and ready to slay – in high heels and boots alike.
- 56 PGS./ONE-SHOT/Rated T+ …$5.99
Marvel has no shortage of amazing women characters, and it is great to see Marvel spotlight them in this issue. The assembled talent is equally awe-inspiring; most of the creators come from the world of indie-comics and some are coming from outside the industry. This infusion of new blood will bring new and fresh perspectives to these characters and ensure great stories. Finally, it's a serious win for representation, and reinforces Marvel’s commitment to diverse voices and stories.
Women at Marvel stretch back to the company’s days as Timely Comics. With the arrival of Sue Storm in Fantastic Four #1 in 1961 and the Marvel Age of Comics, women characters began to take leadership roles and highlight their own titles. At the same time, women began making inroads into the creative side of comics, and Marvel honors both traditions in Women of Marvel, in stores in April.
