Star Wars Pride variants spotlight Lando Calrissian, Doctor Aphra, and more

By Michael Doran
published

LGBTQIA+ Star Wars characters take the lead on June Pride variant covers

Star Wars Pride variant cover
(Image credit: Marvel Comics)

Update: Marvel Comics has unveiled its full slate of Pride-themed variant covers for its June Star Wars comic book releases. The publisher previously showed a Pride cover featuring trans non-binary Jedi Terec and Ceret. Now, the line expands with covers featuring characters such as Doctor Aphra, Lando Calrissian, and more.

Here's a gallery of all the Star Wars Pride covers for June:

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Star Wars Pride variant cover
(Image credit: Marvel Comics)

"Created by an all-star lineup of LGBTQ+ comic talent, this collection of incredible artwork will grace the covers of Marvel's monthly Star Wars series throughout Pride Month," reads Marvel's official statement, released alongside the covers. 

"Featuring stunning depictions of popular LGBTQ+ characters from throughout the Star Wars galaxy, these eye-catching covers will also come complete with special rainbow-powered versions of each series' title along with the official Star Wars Pride logo."

Read on for more information about the specific series each cover will grace, and the creators involved.

Original story follows

Lucasfilm and Marvel Comics have revealed the latest Star Wars Pride cover, this time featuring the High Republic characters Terec and Ceret in honor of Transgender Day of Visibility on Wednesday, March 31. 

First observed in 2014, the day celebrates transgender people and brings awareness to discrimination and violence they face. On Wednesday, President Joe Biden issued the first presidential proclamation recognizing Transgender Day of Visibility.

"In honor of #TransDayOfVisibility we're proud to unveil an exclusive cover highlighting Terec and Ceret, trans non-binary Jedi, currently featured in Marvel's The High Republic comic," reads Lucsasfilm's Instagram reveal. 

"We support trans lives and we are passionate and committed to broadening our representation in a galaxy far far way #TDOV"

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The cover is one in a series of variant covers that will be published by Marvel in June featuring LGBTQ+ characters from the Star Wars galaxy, including Doctor Aphra, Sana Starros, Rae Sloan, Yrica Quell, Lando Calrissian, and Terec and Ceret, all depicted by LGBTQ+ artists.

Sana Starros Pride variant cover to June 30's Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #11 by artist Jan Bazaldua and colorist Rachelle Rosenberg (Image credit: Marvel Comics)

The covers will also feature new Pride versions of each title's logo.

"This talented team of artists is bringing so much passion and enthusiasm to these covers," editor Tom Groneman says in the March 18 announcement. "For me, sharing that passion with fans and readers is a wonderful celebration of the most unique, compelling, and iconic characters in the Star Wars galaxy."

Here's the full line-up of Star Wars Pride variant covers, including Sana Starros by artist Jan Bazaldua and colorist Rachelle Rosenberg for Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #11 on sale June 30. 

There are iconic LGBTQ+ superheroes in comic books too. Newsarama looks at some of the best.

Michael Doran

I'm not just the Newsarama founder and editor-in-chief, I'm also a reader. And that reference is just a little bit older than the beginning of my Newsarama journey. I founded what would become the comic book news site in 1996, and except for a brief sojourn at Marvel Comics as its marketing and communications manager in 2003, I've been writing about new comic book titles, creative changes, and occasionally offering my perspective on important industry events and developments for the 25 years since. Despite many changes to Newsarama, my passion for the medium of comic books and the characters makes the last quarter-century (it's crazy to see that in writing) time spent doing what I love most.