For the first time in Marvel history an all-transgender superhero team appeared on panel, all members of a "Supertrans!" support group run by D-Man.
Warning: Spoilers for "LGBT-D" from Marvel's Voices: Pride 2022 #1 ahead
The exciting short short "LGBT-D," from 2022's Marvel's Voices: Pride #1, made Marvel Comics history as the first-ever team of all trans/non-binary heroes appeared on-panel, and kicked some villainous butt. Written and illustrated by a talented team of queer Marvel creators, "LGBT-D" not only features the truly iconic classic gay hero D-Man, but also introduced four new transgender heroes, all with amazing abilities!
While Marvel Comics has certainly been ramping up their queer representation in their comics, there is still a severe lack of transgender characters throughout their publications, so the fact that this year's Marvel's Voices: Pride #1 introduced 6 new trans heroes, including the already legendary mutants Escapade and Morgan Red, is exceptional. What makes the introduction of the 4 trans characters who debut in "LGBT-D" even more wonderful is that several of the characters appear again later in Marvel's Voices: Pride #1 at the end of Escapade's story, cementing them in Marvel canon in a way a one-time appearance not always succeeds in doing.
The short story "LGBT-D" from Marvel's Voices: Pride 2022 #1 - written by Grace Freud with art by Scott Henderson, Lee Townsend, and Brittany Peer - features a semi-retired Dennis Dunphy, the "former" hero known as Demolition Man, leading a super-powered trans support group called "Supertrans!" out of the Matt Baker House, an LGBTQ+ youth center. The Matt Baker House is a wonderful homage to the gay comic artist Matt Baker, credited as being the first known African American to become a successful comic creator, who passed away too long decades ago. "LGBT-D" quickly introduces the reader to four truly brilliant new trans/non-binary characters: Nora a.k.a. Pity Girl (she/her) who is able to hypnotize people by reading them sad stories, Reed a.k..a Aphelion (they/them) a non-binary hero who can freeze things with the empty universe stores in their chest, Rex Ridley a.k.a. Good Arson ("a dude") who can light stuff on fire with a thought, and finally Soph a.k.a. Faceshopper (she/her) who can shape-shift into anyone who she thinks is cool and is a tribute to the eternally cool trans pop star SOPHIE, who sadly passed away in 2021.
Just after everyone gets properly introduced, Spider-Man, who was coming to "Supertrans!" to talk to the young heroes about "his responsibility schtick," is thrown through the walls of the youth center by the villainous Sinister Syndicate. Mr. Dunphy, who was established as canonically gay in 2016's Captain America: Sam Wilson #15 by Nick Spencer and Angel Unzueta Galarza, is revealed to have his classic stolen D-Man costume on under his outfit. While he tries to get the young heroes to stay back, they obviously don't. Aphelion decides to name their small group of trans/non-binary heroes the "Transistors," much to the others' chagrin, and leads them in a charge against the Syndicate screaming the hilarious catchphrase "Transistors, Tolerate," before the young heroes absolutely demolish the villains. The Transistors save the Matt Baker House, and are permanently cemented in fans memories not only because of the historic nature of their debut but also because their powers, especially Pity Girl and Aphelion, are so unique and visually stunning. Hopefully Marvel Comics will realize the wonderful potential these brilliant new characters have and will use them in ongoing stories, unlike Marvel's first trans character Jessie Drake, a fan-favorite mutant who was featured in last year's Marvel's Voices: Pride and has yet to be seen again.
It truly feels like a blessing to see Marvel Comicsuplifting the careers of LGBTQ+ creators like Grace Freud and Scott Henderson, while also allowing new transgender/non-binary characters like Pity Girl, Faceshopper, Good Arson, and Apehlion to be introduced and integrated into the larger Marvel canon in a way that feels like genuine representation.