10 Pioneering Marvel Heroes Who Brought LGBTQ+ Representation to Comics

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Comics have both the responsibility and privilege to create dynamic worlds where anyone can be a hero, and few comic publishers do this better than Marvel
Comics. Though the industry hasn’t been as historically inclusive as it should have, that doesn’t mean there haven’t been pioneers along the way to pave the path for diveristy over the years, especially for the LGBTQ+ community. These days, Marvel has quite a few heroes who identify as LGBTQ+, and their inclusion is only growing.

To put things bluntly, representation matters. Seeing a superhero that looks like you, identifies like you, and/or comes from the same place as you creates a sense of belonging that one may not find in the real world. Comic books, as with any good story, should ultimately seek to make their stories more inclusive to show that anybody can be a hero, not just the straight white men that have traditionally dominated the market. As Marvel continues to open its pages to better queer representation, we should remember these 10 Marvel heroes who pioneered LGBTQ+ representation in comics.

1

Northstar

Marvel’s First Openly Gay Superhero

Northstar is a leading member of Canada’s main superhero team,
Alpha Flight
. First introduced during the Chris Claremont era of X-Men comics, which saw the franchise make more direct political commentary using its heroes, Northstar was always suggested to be queer, although it wouldn’t be confirmed until Alpha Flight #106 (1992) by Scott Lobdell and Mark Pacella. In this hallmark issue, Northstar discovers an abandoned infant girl, alone and dying in the trash. He swiftly adopts her as his own and takes her to the hospital, where he learns that she contracted AIDS from her mother at birth.

Sadly, in the 1990s, false beliefs were rampant that suggested only gay men could contract AIDS. Governments failed to help those suffering, leaving thousands to die without treatment. After learning the baby’s diagnosis, Northstar is suddenly attacked by a disgruntled father who blames the death of his son on the hero, claiming that no one cared because his son was gay. Northstar defends his own existence, boldly proclaiming, “I am gay,” while reflecting on the hardships of his life and the culture around AIDS. This was a staunch stance against anti-gay rhetoric and became a beacon of hope for LGBTQ+ representation in comics.

2

Mystique & Destiny

Champions of Sam-Sex Marriage in Comic Books

Mystique and her partner
Destiny are one of Marvel’s original lesbian power couples. For quite a few years, a number of Marvel writers wanted to be more explicit about the queer relationship, but the plot points were frequently shut down by editorial restrictions, leaving only vague speculation in the comics. However, in X-Treme X-Men #1 (2001) – by Chris Claremont and Salvador Larroca – the duo were confirmed to have been in a romantic relationship for decades. After Destiny was resurrected in the 2020s, Marvel once again reaffirmed the couple’s relationship.

More excitedly, as part of Marvel’s 2024 Marvel’s Voices: Pride collection, the publisher released X-Men: The Wedding Special #1. This collection of stories from some of Marvel’s best LGBTQ writers and artists centered on
Mystique and Destiny
renewing their vows in an extravagant fashion. The collection is incredibly touching as heroes and villains alike gather to celebrate the mutant wedding; even Mister Sinister sends a gift with love. Through their love and the beauty of their wedding, Marvel took the chance to openly and unabashedly expand the platform on which same-sex couples could thrive in a public setting.

3

Arnie Roth

Captain America’s Close Friend and Inspiration For Future LGBTQIA+ Heroes

In life, Arnie Roth was one of
Steve Rogers’s closest friends
even before the man became Captain America. In the face of bullies, empowered by the close-minded beliefs of the 1930s, Arnie stood valiantly at Rogers’s side until the soon-to-be hero deployed for WWII. Arnie later enlisted in the Navy, where he met his future long-time lover Michael Bech. While their relationship was never explicitly stated to be romantic, the comics heavily insinuated the two were together. Decades later, after Captain America was revived in the modern era, the two friends reconnected to share memories from the past.

Some years later, Arnie passed away, leaving Steve Rogers wishing to do something to honor the dignity and valiance of his old friend. Soon, the Arnie Roth Community Center was founded as a queer community aid center. Besides being one of Marvel’s first “openly” gay characters, his friendship with the face of America is what solidifies the man’s place on this list. While he never possessed powers, Captain America saw Arnie as a champion for the voiceless in the face of oppression, just as he was when they served together in WWII.

4

Wiccan & Hulkling

Marvel’s Most Popular Gay Power Couple

When
Wiccan and Hulking
debuted in Young Avengers #1 (2005) under Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung, their romantic relationship was explicitly stated from the start. During the initial Young Avengers run, Wiccan confusedly explored his overwhelming powers and growingly complex lineage. When he finally found the courage to confront his parents about his superheroics, they initially believed that Wiccan was coming out and excitedly expressed that they would love to have Hulking as a son-in-law one day.

Since then,Marvel has never shied away from the duo’s relationship; it’s always been a core tenet of their characters. Even as the world frequently fell apart, Wiccan’s chaotic powers were revealed, and Hulking was left the heir to an empire, their relationship proudly endured. In Empyre: Aftermath Avengers #1 (2020), by Al Ewing and Valerio Schiti, Wiccan and Hulking marry, gathering a celebration of
Marvel’s biggest names
for the event. Today, the duo remain fiercely in love, with no inclination that they’ll ever fall apart.

5

Xavin

Marvel’s First Queer Person of Color

While Marvel Comics, and the comic industry in general, has gotten better at presenting open and well-written LGBTQ+ characters, there has always been an even bigger issue with intersectional representation. However, in Runaways #7 (2005) – by Brian Vaughan and Takeshi Miyazawa – Marvel introduced Xavin, a young Skrull royal who had been arranged to marry
the Runaway member
, Karolina Dean. Xavin eventually abandoned their familial duties and instead remained on Earth alongside Karolina and the rest of the Runaways.

As a Skrull, Xavin has the choice to take on any form they wish, often switching between sexes as they see fit. However, when they take on a human appearance, Xavin frequently chooses to present themselves as a person of color (although this is completely subjective to the artist). Considering this, Xavin technically counts as Marvel’s first gender-queer person of color, breaking the intersectional barrier that comics still often face. While Xavin hasn’t been seen in the comics for some time, they still harbor deep romantic feelings for Karolina, which Marvel has yet to explore further.

6

Jessie Drake

Marvel’s First Transgender Character

Jessie Drake is a fairly minor character in the comics but still stands as one of the publisher’s LGBTQ+ champions. Jessie is
an empathic mutant
with the power to take on the physical characteristics of anyone around. After Jessie was kidnapped by the superhuman research facility known as Fortress, Wolverine convinced the villain Typhoid Mary to break into the facility and rescue Jessie from experimentation. However, when Mary takes Jessie to a Women’s Shelter, the child is confronted with extreme prejudice and outed for being born biologically male. Mary promptly slaps and berates Jessie for having “lied” to her.

While it is a horrific way to introduce this fact, Jessie Drake became Marvel’s first transgender character in Marvel Comics Presents #150, by Ann Nocenti and Steve Lightle. Fortunately, by the next issue, Jessie confronts Mary again to explain that “I am a girl. I’m just trapped in a boy’s body.” Mary immediately backs off and allows one of her gentler alters to surface, accepting Jessie for who she is. Ultimately, allowing Typhoid Mary, a character well-known for despising men, to accept Jessie as a woman set an example for all readers at the time.

7

Deadpool

He’s an Indiscriminate Killer and Lover

Throughout his lengthy comic career, Deadpool has expressed his romantic and sexual interests to just about anyone he crosses. The Merc With a Mouth, a true pansexual icon, actively flirts with just about anyone and anything that he meets. While it is often played for laughs,
Deadpool is a romantic at his core
and often showers his biggest crushes, mainly Spider-Man and Wolverine, with all the love and affection a serial-killing mercenary can. In Deadpool #45 (2015) – by Gerry Duggan, Brian Posehn, & Mike Hawthorne – Deadpool openly admits that he isn’t straight.

While his comedic and outlandish nature may make it seem that Deadpool’s pansexuality is little more than another joke, it’s entirely the opposite. Deadpool is unabashedly open about his sexuality and doesn’t see the need to make a big deal out of it. By bringing levity to his own sexuality, he treats it as he treats everything else; Deadpool normalizes it, and everyone accepts it. While not everyone has the privilege of being as open and honest as Wade Wilson is, he inspires others to take criticism with a laugh and instead be who you are unabashedly.

8

Loki

Gender Is an Outdated Concept When You Can Be Anything

Loki, in both Marvel and Norse mythology, is a genderfluid and pansexual god who cares little for finite definitions. By their very nature, Loki seeks to defy expectations simply because they can. Like other characters mentioned on this list, Loki’s gender choice is completely subjective to both the anti-hero and the writer. These truths have remained consistent for the character across all media, having been confirmed as genderfluid and bisexual in both the comics and the MCU. However, their previous relationships with sentient non-human creatures may deviate Loki further outside the binary rigidity of bisexuality.

To Loki, everything is an illusion. In their multi-thousand-year-old existence, they have lived thousands of different lives in whatever form they please.
This is simply who Loki is
. The god is significantly defined by their desire to break free from the expectations of others and to live a life completely by their own fleeting wants and needs. Like Deadpool previously, Loki normalizes something that is still incredibly scrutinized in the real world. They serve as an inspiration for others to choose who they want to be, even if it means breaking away from the rigid rules humanity has placed on itself.

9

Shatterstar & Rictor

Proudly Credited for Marvel’s First Same-Sex Kiss

Despite Marvel having openly included numerous gay characters and a strong handful of same-sex couples from the 1980s to 2000s, Shatterstar and his boyfriend Rictor are credited with Marvel’s first on-panel gay kiss in X-Factor #45 (2009). As
Marvel Comics
has, admittedly quite slowly, normalized the existence of LGBTQ+ characters over the years, there is a fairly major difference between saying someone is gay and showing it. Even by 2009, Marvel had been too afraid to actually show two same-sex characters physically showing affection towards each other.

This, at the time, broke barriers across the universe and opened up a new path of acceptance that future stories could rely on. Following their kiss, Shatterstar and Rictor struggled through some early rough patches when Shatterstar expressed that he wanted an open relationship, much to Rictor’s disdain. Despite the rift that inevitably drove the two apart, Shatterstar was willing to sacrifice everything to reach across the barriers of the Multiverse to save his true love, but ultimately failed. Fortunately, the two were given a second chance following the creation of the Krakoan Resurrection Protocols.

10

America Chavez

An Icon For Latinas and Lesbians

One of Marvel’s newest LGBTQ+ icons, and another champion for intersectional representation,
America Chavez is another Marvel character
who has always unabashedly been herself. Since her debut in Vengeance #1 (2011) – by Joe Casey and Nick Dragotta – America has been an open and proud lesbian, although her sexual identity wouldn’t be fully explored until the Young Avengers (2013) series. Likewise, America is one of the few openly LGBTQ+ characters in the MCU.

America,
like Captain America
, is a symbol. Both heroes represent the best parts of what the United States could be while championing to bring the country closer to those inclusive ideals. She, much like Sam Wilson, shows that the United States has more than one face and identity. But more importantly, America’s queer and Latina identities are never separate; she exists as both. America, much like Xavin from earlier in the list, is one of the few Marvel characters who embraces the unique struggles that these combined, marginalized, identities face.

“}]] Marvel Comics is known for breaking barriers.  Read More