Marvel Is Debuting a Gay Spider-Man – Them

This month’s explosion of Pride month superhero comics may be winding down, but there’s still some nice queer news on the horizon for one of our favorite long-underwear characters. Marvel Comics’ universe-hopping Edge of Spider-Verse #5, which hits stores in September, will feature three new metaverse versions of Spider-Man — including the beloved character’s first gay incarnation, known as Web-Weaver.

Marvel describes the character as a “not-so-mild mannered fashion designer at Van Dyne [Industries]” — the company owned by Janet Van Dyne, aka the Wasp — who “gets spider-powers and shows us a very different kind of Spider-Slayer.”

Eisner-nominated gay writer Steve Foxe, previously known for his work on the superhero duo comic Archer & Armstrong for Valiant Comics and Marvel’s X-Men ‘92, will write the story. Although the art team is yet to be revealed, Marvel has teased Web-Weaver’s costume, designed by artist Kris Anka. It’s a far cry from Peter Parker’s classic red and blue; Anka’s design, which he shared on Twitter, finds Web-Weaver in a sleek but stylish black, white, and gold outfit with a high collar and draping coat sleeves, an elaborate spider design on the back its primary concession to the superheroic oeuvre.