Miles Morales, a half-Black, half-Hispanic teen, has been introduced as the next Spider-Man. Marvel Comics killed off Peter Parker in the series Issue #160 last June. USA Today reports:

In his first appearance, he simply breaks up a fight. But readers will learn the true origin of Morales and how he became the new Spider-Man when Ultimate Spider-Man relaunches in September with a new No. 1 issue.

Morales’ journey will be a similar vehicle for today’s fans, says Marvel’s editor in chief, Axel Alonso. "What you have is a Spider-Man for the 21st century who’s reflective of our culture and diversity. We think that readers will fall in love with Miles Morales the same way they fell in love with Peter Parker."

But when a Marvel artist hints that a new gay superhero may be coming soon, does she mean that Morales will invite some men back to his web? Italian concept artist Sara Pichelli tells USA Today, “Maybe sooner or later a black or gay—or both—hero will be considered something absolutely normal.” So while Morales probably won’t be gay, another leading superhero character very easily could be. Considering the number of openly gay caped crusaders—from the DC’s lesbian Batwoman and the Question, gay alien Starman in the Justice League, and X-Men speedster Northstar—a bigger-name superqueero is on the horizon. But who? Well, as part of its company-wide relaunch in September, DC Comics revealed Superman will no longer be married to—or even dating—Lois Lane. [via Towelroad & Queerty, thanks for the heads-up to Rimmer]

Meanwhile other comic artists have solid plans for queer heroes and are trying to raise money for a comic called The Pride. Here’s what they say about their project:

Have you ever been sick of being misrepresented? Of having no one like you to look up to? Have you ever wanted to change everything? Well, FabMan has. In a world populated by superpowers, the superhero is common. Sadly for FabMan (Tomorrow’s Fabulous Man, Today), he feels a deep schism in the representation of his community, his own heroic exploits being presented as just big jokes in the news. Wan…ting to fight for change, he forms PRIDE, the world’s premier LGBT supergroup. Not a gay superteam, just a team where most members are LGBT. Not exactly receiving the desired response, the group faces opposition from the confrontational Justice Division, more aggressive misrepresentation by the media and are then taken advantage of in the plans of the nefarious Reverend. After a serious trial by fire, the team find themselves the only super team in the world capable of stopping The Reverend’s diabolical plot for world domination.

Join FabMan, Wolf, Sapphire, Frost, Twink, Bear, Angel and White Trash on their mission to help people and improve LGBT representation in the process. If you want to support the project (and see your name printed in it) you can donate a few bucks here.

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