Comic book fans, this one’s for you! After years of speculation, a gay Spider-Man is officially landing.

The new superhero, ‘Web-Weaver’, is described as “A not-so-mild mannered fashion designer,” and “a very different kind of Spider-Slayer”. Web-Weaver joins the brand new ‘Hunter-Spider’ on getting his debut in the final edition of the Edge of the Spider-Verse series, with the latter being described as “the most hardcore Spider yet!”

Rounding off Pride month by revealing the exciting news on Twitter, series writer Steve Foxe said: “he can’t–and shouldn’t–represent ALL gay men. No single character can.

“His fearless femme identity is central to who he is, but it’s not the STORY”.

https://twitter.com/steve_foxe/status/1541500839076003843

Artist Kris Anka is responsible for the fierce and fabulous character design, with Web-Weaver set to dawn a high-camp costume with a black, white and yellow colour scheme.

Speaking on the design, Anka said: “from the jump, I looked at a lot of McQueen and Mugler for this as inspiration. I cast a wide net for the original designs while also looking at new and unique spiders that Steve Foxe has recommended which eventually paired down to this look”.

from the jump, I looked at a lot of McQueen and Mugler for this as inspiration. I cast a wide net for the original designs while also looking at new and unique spiders that @steve_foxe has recommended, which eventually paired down to this look

— kris anka (@kristaferanka) June 23, 2022

The new gay Spider-Man Web-Weaver is the latest queer Marvel character to be introduced to the universe. In 2021, fans saw the debut of LGBTQ+ mutant hero Somnus, who was later added to the X-Men book Mauraders. It is also expected that later this year, Marvel Voices will bring with it the return of the Young Avengers, a team that features a number of queer characters, one of whom made her MCU debut in Doctor Strange 2.

The announcement has come as a surprise to some fans who will remember that in 2015, a leaked Sony Pictures Entertainment and Marvel Entertainment legal licensing agreement stated that Peter Parker and his Spider-Man alter ego must always be a straight white man. However, it seems that the comic books do not have the same restrictions, and although Web-Weaver is thought to only be a short-term character in the Spider-Verse story, who knows how influential his gay agenda will be? 

Cast your eyes upon the new gay Spider-Man Web-Weaver for the first time in Edge of Spider-Verse #5, releasing this September.