Marvel is showcasing some free comics by Black creators on Marvel Unlimited. This month the company has made a digital selection of work from Black writers and artists available to read online. Marvel is trying to highlight the contributions of Black voices in molding their history. Characters like Black Panther and Falcon have become household names due to their time in the MCU. Miles Morales is getting his own spinoff PS5 game after the announcement that went down earlier this week. Shuri and Okoye are fan-favorites at this point. Ironheart is one of the most requested characters to make a Marvel Studios debut. People are still reeling over Luke Cage getting canceled and Storm is waiting in the wings for whenever the X-Men get introduced.
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The company’s big book at the heart of this move is Marvel’s Voices. That one features Roxane Gay, Method Man, and Vita Ayala making their dreams of Marvel adventures into reality. What started as a podcast initiative grew into an actual book and its interesting to see these voices lend their talents to tis vast library of characters. Marvel had Angรฉlique Rochรฉ describe the project in her words:
“The original idea for what would become Marvel’s Voices started as the brainchild of my colleagues Sana Amanat and Judy Stephens as a way to spotlight people of color within the Marvel Universe on the Women of Marvel podcast, a show I now proudly co-host,” Rochรฉ explained. “The concept began as a short segment once a month that would go in-depth with a creative of color to talk about their work, their journey and their love of Marvel. The original idea also focused strongly on any major upcoming projects the guests were working on.”
This month, Marvel Unlimited has a free digital selection of Black creator-led comics, spotlighting the work of incredible Black writers and artists. Get the details and full list of titles here: https://t.co/yDuZJzyehm pic.twitter.com/NLGlQHUeS6
โ Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) June 11, 2020
She continued, “In the end, it is all part of our “origin story.” Much like we wouldn’t have Dwayne McDu๏ฌe and Dwight D. Coye’s solo Monica Rambeau book without Roger Stern and John Romita Jr.’s SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #16, there would be no Marvel’s Voices without “Voices of Marvel.” To add context, McDu๏ฌe and Coye hold the distinction of not only being extremely talented trailblazers but also of being the first African Americans to create a story for Monica Rambeau, the first African American woman Avenger. That solo book and the subsequent Monica Rambeau one-shot impacted my love for Monica Rambeau as a character and the Marvel Universe as a whole.”
“So, what is Marvel’s Voices? Well, after two seasons, almost 50 incredible interviews, stage shows, and bonus clips, a strong foundational focus has emerged,” Rochรฉ added. “From actors Jeremie Harris and Kimiko Glenn, comedians Ronny Chieng and Janelle James, writers Jason Reynolds and Preeti Chhibber, and artists Kris Anka and Jen Bartel, Marvel’s Voices strives to give listeners a fun conversation, a one-of- a-kind perspective and a unique insider look at their favorite Marvel stories and storytellers while spotlighting creatives and characters of color. And that is what I hope you will find in the pages of this anthology.”
Check some of the comics available below and read some of the descriptions Marvel provided!
IRONHEART: THOSE WITH COURAGE: WRITTEN BY EVE L. EWING, WITH ART BY KEVIN LIBRANDA, LUCIANO VECCHIO, G GEOFFO
In Ironheart’s first solo series, Riri Williams is pressured to step up her game when a group of world leaders are taken hostage by one of Spider-Man’s old foes. Teen Riri may still be fairly new to the armored avenging gig, but she’s genius-level resourceful.
SHURI: THE SEARCH FOR BLACK PANTHER: WRITTEN BY NNEDI OKORAFOR, WITH ART BY LEONARDO ROMERO
Black Panther’s techno-whiz sister must step into power after her brother is lost on a space mission and even though Shuri is happiest in a lab, a nation without a leader is a vulnerable one.
BLACK PANTHER – LONG LIVE THE KING: WRITTEN BY NNEDI OKORAFOR AND AARON COVINGTON, WITH ART BY ANDRE LIMA ARAUJO, MARIO DEL PENNINO
Set in the world of Coates’ Black Panther, Wakanda’s king must rebuild a nation in the wake of revolution, but a siege of terror causes pain before progress.
MARVEL RISING: HEROES OF THE ROUND TABLE: WRITTEN BY NILAH MAGRUDER, WITH ART BY ROBERTO DI SALVO, GEORGES DUARTE
Kamala Khan and Doreen Green call in super-powered reinforcements against sorceressย Morgan Le Fayโฆ who has set a plan in motion to turn the Inhumans’ home of New Attilan into New Camelot!ย Miles “Spider-Man” Morales, theย Inhuman Inferno, and former S.H.I.E.L.D. agentย Daisy Johnsonย also join the fray.
BLACK PANTHER EPIC COLLECTION: PANTHER’S RAGE: WRITTEN BY DON MCGREGOR, WITH ART BY BILLY GRAHAM (ISSUES #19-22)
Artist Billy Graham took writer Don McGregor’s script to revolutionary heights with his work on “Panther’s Rage,” an eighteen-issue run from 1973 that starred T’Challa, his American love interest, Monica Lynne, and introduced Killmonger. Speaking to its time, this story showcases a historic moment in Marvel storytelling.
ADAM: LEGEND OF THE BLUE MARVEL: WRITTEN BY KEVIN GREVIOUX, WITH ART BY MAT BROOME, KAARE ANDREWS, ROBERTO CASTRO
The mystery of Marvel’s forgotten Golden Age guardian deepens! As Tony Stark – a.k.a. Iron Man, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. – continues to dig, all he comes up with are more questions. Where is the Blue Marvel today? What unexpected agent has been monitoring him? And what exactly happened that day in space?
DEATHLOK: THE SOULS OF CYBER-FOLK: WRITTEN BY DWAYNE MCDUFFIE AND GREGORY WRIGHT, WITH ART BY DENYS COWAN
In DEATHLOK (1990), McDuffie, Cowan, and artist Butch Guice created an all-new Deathlok in Michael Collins, a pacifist computer programmer who was unwittingly transformed into a cyborg by his employer.
BLACK PANTHER AND THE CREW: WRITTEN BY TA-NEHISI COATES AND YONA HARVEY, WITH ART BY BUTCH GUICE, MACK CHATER
Black Panther’s Crew unravels the truth behind the death of an activist who died under mysterious circumstances. Detective Misty Knight must confront the community she has long protected and served, shedding light on the corruption, and concealment, of injustice.