Tag Archives: emilio pilliu

Mirka Andolfo’s Sweet Paprika gets a spin-off, Open for Business, by Steve Orlando and Emilio Pilliu

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Fan-favorite writer Steve Orlando will team up with the amazing Italian artist Emilio Pilliu for an erotic romance in the style of Mirka Andolfo’s original, Harvey Award winning Sweet Paprika series—and building off characters introduced in the Eisner Award nominated Sweet Paprika: Black, White & Pink #1—in the upcoming, Sweet Paprika: Open For Business. This five-issue, Queer, love-drama miniseries is set to launch on November 6 from Image Comics and Arancia Studio.

Sweet Paprika: Open For Business follows Aubrey Jean, a young employee at Infernum Press, as he tries to impress his hero and boss, Miss Paprika, and figure out his relationship with Persica, a friend with benefits who might want to be more. But just as Aubrey and Persica settle into an open relationship that’s comfortable for them both, their relationship is thrown into turmoil by Kren. And on top of all that, Aubrey finally gets a chance to prove his worth to Miss Paprika by becoming the handler for Infernum Press’s most challenging client—the dreaded, eccentric, and unstable author known as Durian. 

Can Aubrey deal with Kren and save his relationship with Persica? Does he even want to be with Persica? And how can he even figure any of that out when he’s got to be on-call day and night dealing with Durian’s next insane request?!

Sweet Paprika: Open For Business #1
  • Cover A by Pilliu 
  • Cover B by Andolfo
  • Cover C by Robbi Rodriguez
  • Cover D by Godtail
  • Cover E (Hot polybagged) by Pilliu
  • Cover F Showgirls movie homage by Lou Lou la Duchesse de Rière (Photo Cover)
  • Cover G blank sketch

X-Men Wedding Special #1 Serves as a Great Wedding Story but Not a Strong Marvel Pride Issue

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X-Men Wedding Special

Mystique and Destiny, one of the oldest gay couples in Marvel comics, decide to renew their vows in X-Men Wedding Special #1 by an ensemble of various creatives. Serving as this year’s Marvel’s Voices Pride, read about the wedding of the millennium with one of the comics’ most significant relationships, Betsy and Rachel, facing a dangerous threat by an old foe, a group of young mutants trying to find the perfect wedding gift and more. Although it works better to celebrate Irene’s and Raven’s relationship, X-Men Wedding Special #1 feels like a weaker substitute for the Marvel Voices Pride specials from the past years.

The best aspect lies in the overarching story “Something Borrowed, Something Blue” by Kieron Gillen, Rachael Stott, and Michael Bartolo, which focuses on the wedding of Irene and Raven as the pair have a secret scheme that the guests and their kids Rogue and Nightcrawler do not know about. Aside from the historical nature of the wedding, it also serves as a capstone for Gillen’s work with the pair during the Krakoan era. I enjoy how Gillen characterizes the chaotic and villainous sapphic couple whose love is immortal. Stott’s beautiful art, paired with Bartolo’s colors, conveyed the majestic and gorgeous nature of the wedding. The other stories by Tini Howard, Phillip Sevy, KJ Díaz, Wyatt Kennedy, Jenn St-Onge, Brittany Peer, and more are primarily good but range in quality. 

Outside of the original stories, the issue includes a history of Irene’s and Raven’s relationship, an interview with Chris Claremont, and reprints of two LGBTQ+ X-Men-focused Marvel issues. X-Men Wedding Special #1 does not justify its price tag, even with the included supplementary materials. Granted, it is a super-sized issue, but I wish the special contained more original materials and a more substantial publishing and presentation for the physical printed issue. Considering how last year’s Pride special included more stories, interviews, and other elements, X-Men Wedding Special #1 feels less impressive and a step down in quality and execution. 

Lastly, X-Men Wedding Special #1 serves as this year’s Marvel’s Voices Pride, which does not showcase a large variety of LGBTQ+ representation. By solely focusing on Irene, Raven, and some of the X-Men exclusively, it cuts out the other LGBTQ+ mutant and non-mutant characters teased on the variant covers. Similarly, what should be a meaningful celebration for two beloved queer characters becomes saddled with being the big LGBTQ+ special by Marvel comics. This decision cuts out queer and trans-non-mutant characters, along with not highlighting other spaces of the universe. The representation is more limited and does not portray the breadth of queer and trans characters in the comics. As a result, if Marvel released a 2024 issue of Marvel’s Voices Pride in addition to X-Men Wedding Special #1, my opinions would be more favorable due to the latter not being the sole major queer tentpole special for the year. Outside of being the monumental wedding issue of Irene and Raven, it is also their yearly Pride issue, which comes across as more corporate synergy than a stand-alone celebration.

Overall, X-Men Wedding Special #1 bolsters a talented team of creatives who celebrate a wedding centuries in the making, which conflicts with being 2024’s Marvel’s Voices Pride. I loved the wedding aspect, but I wish it had more stories and materials representing more queer and trans characters outside of solely X-Men ones. With Irene and Raven having Marvel’s first sapphic wedding, its memorability and impact get slightly lessened with the other aspects the issue needs to juggle. As a result, X-Men Wedding Special #1 cannot solely be about their wedding but also has to carry the weight of being this year’s Marvel’s Voices Pride. I prefer if this served as a stand-alone special issue along with having a Marvel’s Voices Pride 2024 issue. X-Men Wedding Special #1 celebrates the immortal love of Irene and Raven while struggling to showcase the diverse LGBTQ+ community in Marvel comics.

Story: Kieron Gillen, Tini Howard, Tate Brombal, Yoon Ha Lee, Wyatt Kennedy
Art: Rachael Stott, Phillip Sevy, Emilio Pilliu, Stephen Byrne, Jenn St-Onge
Color: Michael Bartolo, KJ Diaz, Irma Kniivila, Brittany Peer
Letterer: Ariana Maher
Story: 7.2 Art: 8.3 Overall: 7.3 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Preview: X-Men Wedding Special #1

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X-Men Wedding Special #1

(W) Kieron Gillen, Yoon Ha Lee, Various (A) Various (CA) Jan Bazaldua
Rated T+
In Shops: May 29, 2024
SRP: $9.99

WEDDING EXTRAVAGANZA!
Mystique and Destiny are one of the most beloved – and longest running – gay couples in history. Somewhere in their 100+ years together, the pair married, but we’ve never seen the event on the page. This year, Marvel’s Voices: Pride makes history with Marvel’s first woman-to-woman wedding! And with a couple as complex as these two, you know there’s a lot more to the story. We promise party crashing! Villainy! Romance! In the classic tradition of Fantastic Four Annual #3 and X-Men #30, this anthology will be a must-read for every comics fan. Featuring the Marvel debuts of award-winning writers Yoon Ha Lee (Ninefox Gambit, Machineries of Empire) and M. Louis (Agents of the Realm), and much more talent to be announced!

X-Men Wedding Special #1

Get your first look at a Marvel Wedding centuries in the making!

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Marvel’s merry mutants take center stage in this year’s Marvel’s Voices: Pride one-shot! Titled X-Men: The Wedding Special #1, this annual anthology celebrates Pride Month with stories crafted by incredible LGBTQIA+ talent and hits stands on May 29. Fans can preview the drama, action, and romance that awaits in a special preview of each of the five stories!

Join the X-Men as they come together to honor one of the most beloved and longest-lasting queer couples in comic book history—Mystique and Destiny! This landmark comic book special marks Marvel Comics’ first woman-to-woman wedding, and with a pair as complex as these two, you know there will be plenty of drama, secrets, and surprises!

From the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants to the Quiet Council, Mystique and Destiny have been steering the fate of mutantkind for decades. The Krakoan Age saw the long-awaited resurrection of Destiny, and after pivotal roles in the era’s biggest storylines, their love has never been more prominent. Before Krakoa comes to an end, fans and characters alike will celebrate the iconic pair by witnessing the renewal of their marriage vows!

X-Men: The Wedding Special’s spectacular main story will be written by X-Men mastermind Kieron Gillen, who’s penned some of the couple’s recent adventures in Immortal X-Men, and drawn by acclaimed artist Rachael Stott. In addition to new insights into Raven Darkholme and Irene Adler’s breathtaking 100-year romance, fans will get a glimpse at their original and never-before-told wedding and discover the pair’s secret motivations for hosting the event.

In the same tradition as the iconic Hellfire Gala and classic Marvel wedding issues like Fantastic Four Annual #3 and X-Men #30, X-Men: The Wedding Special #1 will be a wedding extravaganza with multiple stories all centered around a single night that will go down in mutant history!

Here are the other tales fans can look forward to:

  • A Betsy Braddock and Rachel Summers adventure by the writer who brought them together—Excalibur scribe Tini Howard! Joined by rising star Phillip Sevy, Howard pits the hot new couple against the Omniversal Majestrix, Opal Luna Saturnyne! Just about everyone in the Marvel Universe is invited to the vow renewal…except for Saturnyne. And she’s not happy. But why is she taking it out on Betsy and Rachel?
  • Writer Tate Bombal and artist Emilio Pilliu make their Marvel Comics debut with a touching and action-packed story starring Wolverine! Logan has a long—and bloody—history with Mystique and tasks Anole, Pixie, Indra, and Bling! with finding her the perfect gift. On a whirlwind journey that takes them from the Savage Land to Limbo, they’ll learn a valuable lesson about the importance of queer representation.
  • It’s her mothers’ big day, and Rogue has entrusted their favorite son-in-law with their wedding bands. But can Gambit stay out of trouble long enough to deliver them? Find out in this story about one of mutantkind’s most complicated families by two Marvel Comics newcomers, writer Wyatt Kennedy and artist Jenn St. Onge. 
  • Mystique and Destiny receive some pre-marriage psychic counseling courtesy of Emma Frost! See how the inspiring love of two former villains holds up against a telepathic onslaught of hard truths in this twisty tale by writer Yoon Ha Lee in his exciting Marvel Comics debut alongside acclaimed artist Stephen Byrne!

Check out all four stunning covers from Jan Bazaldua, Russell Dauterman, Jessica Fong, and Lucian Vecchio along with new preview art and preorder X-Men: The Wedding Special #1 at your local comic shop today!

X-Men: The Wedding Special reveals the secrets behind Mystique and Destiny’s eternal love story!

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Marvel’s merry mutants take center stage in this year’s Marvel’s Voices: Pride one-shot! X-Men: The Wedding Special reveals the secrets behind Mystique and Destiny’s eternal love story! #1, this annual anthology celebrates Pride Month with stories crafted by incredible LGBTQIA+ talent and hits stands on May 29.

Join the X-Men as they come together to honor one of the most beloved and longest-lasting gay couples in comic book history—Mystique and Destiny! This landmark comic book special marks Marvel Comics’ first woman-to-woman wedding, and with a pair as complex as these two, you know there will be plenty of drama, secrets, and surprises!

From the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants to the Quiet Council, Mystique and Destiny have been steering the fate of mutantkind for decades. The Krakoan Age saw the long-awaited resurrection of Destiny, and after pivotal roles in the era’s biggest storylines, their love has never been more prominent. Before Krakoa comes to an end, fans and characters alike will celebrate the iconic pair by witnessing the renewal of their marriage vows!

X-Men: The Wedding Special main story will be written by X-Men mastermind Kieron Gillen, who’s penned some of the couple’s recent adventures in Immortal X-Men, and drawn by acclaimed artist Rachael Stott. In addition to new insights into Raven Darkholme and Irene Adler’s breathtaking 100-year romance, fans will get a glimpse at their original and never-before-told wedding and discover the pair’s secret motivations for hosting the event.

In the same tradition as the iconic Hellfire Gala and classic Marvel wedding issues like Fantastic Four Annual #3 and X-Men #30, X-Men: The Wedding Special #1 will be a wedding extravaganza with multiple stories all centered around a single night that will go down in mutant history!

Here are the other tales fans can look forward to:

  • A Betsy Braddock and Rachel Summers adventure by the writer who brought them together—Excalibur scribe Tini Howard! Joined by rising star Phillip Sevy, Howard pits the hot new couple against the Omniversal Majestrix, Opal Luna Saturnyne! Just about everyone in the Marvel Universe is invited to the vow renewal…except for Saturnyne. And she’s not happy. But why is she taking it out on Betsy and Rachel?
  • Writer Tate Bombal and artist Emilio Pilliu make their Marvel Comics debut with a touching and action-packed story starring Wolverine! Logan has a long—and bloody—history with Mystique and tasks Anole, Pixie, Indra, and Bling! with finding her the perfect gift. On a whirlwind journey that takes them from the Savage Land to Limbo, they’ll learn a valuable lesson about the importance of queer representation.
  • It’s her mothers’ big day, and Rogue has entrusted their favorite son-in-law with their wedding bands. But can Gambit stay out of trouble long enough to deliver them? Find out in this story about one of mutantkind’s most complicated families by two Marvel Comics newcomers, writer Wyatt Kennedy and artist Jenn St. Onge. 
  • Mystique and Destiny receive some pre-marriage psychic counseling courtesy of Emma Frost! See how the inspiring love of two former villains holds up against a telepathic onslaught of hard truths in this twisty tale by writer Yoon Ha Lee in his exciting Marvel Comics debut alongside acclaimed artist Stephen Byrne!

Bram Stoker Monster Hunter debuts February 2023

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Bram Stoker Monster Hunter #1

Writers: Olivia Cuartero-Briggs & Adam Glass 
Artist & Colorist: Emilio Pilliu 
Letterer: Sal Cipriano 
Cover: Emilio Pilliu 
Incentive Cover: Pat Olliffe
$4.99 / 32 pages / Color / On Sale 02.01.23

The writing team behind MARY SHELLEY MONSTER HUNTER reunites! 

Through memories spurred by Oscar Wilde’s 1895 gross indecency trial, a young and troubled Bram Stoker discovers there’s a secret hiding in his new workplace of Dublin Castle, one that will either end his life, or change it forever. 

Written by Olivia Cuartero-Briggs (SILVER CITY, MARY SHELLEY, MONSTER HUNTER) and Adam Glass (Suicide Squad, Teen Titans, ROUGH RIDERS), and illustrated by Emilio Pilliu (Monkeys, Evil Hunt: Mammauth), comes a new take on the origins of the most monstrous legend of them all – one that we dare you to sink your teeth into. 

Bram Stoker Monster Hunter #1
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