Marvel's Voices: Pride writer Steve Orlando explains the mystery behind the newest LGBTQ+ mutant, Somnus.
The story of Somnus will be told in Marvel's massive Pride special, with Orlando (Wonder Woman, Curse of the Man-Thing) and Eisner-nominated artist Claudia Aguirre (Hotel Dare) revealing the backstory of the character and his connection to the X-Men. "A mutant who had an extraordinary impact on an X-Man long ago, Somnus’ powers give him total control of people’s dreams, but he was never able to follow his own. 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!" Marvel said in a press release. Marvel also debuted Luciano Vecchio's full frame cover for the issue and character designs for Somnus. Check them out:
"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 said. "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," Orlando continued. "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."
"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,” Vecchio said. "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," Vecchio continued. "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."
Marvel's Voices: Pride #1 will go on sale on June 23 from Marvel.