Marvel Comics made queer history with its first same-sex wedding of two gay superheros. On the last page of “Empyre #4,” which was released in comic book stores last week, readers learn that Young Avengers cofounders Hulkling and Wiccan are married. The wedding ceremony, attended by other Young Avengers, is revealed in a flashback. Photo: Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics made queer history with its first same-sex wedding of two gay superheros.
On the last page of “Empyre” No. 4, which was released in comic book stores last week, readers learn that Young Avengers cofounders Hulkling and Wiccan are married. The wedding ceremony, attended by other Young Avengers, is revealed in a flashback.
Marvel Comics previously has featured same-sex weddings. In 2012, “Astonishing X-Men” featured gay superhero Northstar marrying his longtime boyfriend, Kyle Jinadu. Northstar came out in 1992.
Last year, Marvel comics introduced its first drag queen superhero, Shade.
Marvel Comics introduces its first drag queen superhero, Shade
Wiccan (William “Billy” Kaplan) and Hulkling (Theodore “Teddy” Altman) were created by Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung and introduced in 2005.
Their marriage probably didn’t come as a complete surprise to fans. Hulkling and Wiccan’s relationship has developed in past comics, and some fans probably even suspected that they were married.
Cheung told PinkNews that he had “no inkling” that the characters would have such longevity when he and Heinberg first created them.
“Billy and Teddy really became fully fleshed people to me, thanks to Allan’s incredible writing, and it’s been wonderfully rewarding to follow their growth and evolution under the guidance of other creators over the years,” Cheung said.
“Now that they’re taking their relationship to the next level,” he said, “I can’t wait to watch where their next adventure takes them.”
