Marvel Pride 2025: Zoe Tunnell Talks Black Cat, Felicia Hardy's Queerness, and More.

Zoe Tunnell (she/her) is the co-creator and writer of the critically acclaimed webcomic Blade Maidens with Valentine M. Smith, as well as the writer for Godzilla Valentine’s Day Special with IDW with Sebastián Piriz. This week, Tunnell makes her Marvel Comics debut in Marvel United: A Pride Special #1 in a new Black Cat story with Federica Mancin, Tamra Bonvillain, and Ariana Maher. We spoke with Tunnell about getting the chance to tackle Felicia Hardy and the continued importance of the anthology.

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How did this opportunity come to be, and what's your personal experience with Black Cat? How exciting is it to make your debut at Marvel?

It came about via sheer luck, honestly. I was watching wrestling with my partner on a Friday night when I got an unexpected email from Michele Marchese over at Marvel offering a shot to pitch a story for the special! Came completely out of nowhere, in the best way. Felicia is one of my all-time favorite characters. While she has always been wonderful, the work Jed MacKay and his many incredible collaborators did over his time with her really pushed her into one of the most entertaining leads in the Marvel Universe for me, it was a joy to write her. Making my Marvel debut still feels absolutely surreal. The first comic I ever read was Ultimate Fantastic Four and here I am, 20 years later, and telling stories with these characters I've loved all my life. Could not be more thrilled or grateful.

What was it like working with Federica Mancin and the creative team on this book?

Federica is a true double threat, both an incredible artist and one of the most lovely people I've been lucky enough to work with in comics. She not only executed on the script I wrote, she improved it with her own work and gave us a stronger story in the process. Throw in one of the absolute best colorists in the game today with Tamra Bonvillain and the wonderful Ariana Maher and I feel so deeply grateful to have landed such an absurd team for my first Marvel work.

How would you describe Black Cat and her relationship to queerness? While it's been more prominent recently, I recall Tom DeFalco and Patrick Olliffe more than 20 years ago being the first outwardly bi version of the hero, but she's always felt like she's for the boys, girls, gays/theys, right?

I think Felicia has always felt like a woman who wants to experience all the finer things life has to offer, whether that's in the form of stolen goods or beautiful people doesn't matter. She is a confident--maybe a little cocky--and charismatic charmer who is more than happy to wrap someone around her little finger. While she was first queer on-page in the pages of Spider-Girl I don't think it came as much of a surprise when that unfolded in the proper Marvel Universe during her solo run a few years back. If anything, her relationships with women and men being such a beautiful collage of mess of so many varying flavors really just solidifies her as the Marvel Universe's premiere disaster bisexual.

How important are these anthologies in terms of representation, but also opportunity for new, diverse faces in the industry? Why should readers pick up this new collection?

Oh, extremely. Even putting aside my own debut, another trans artist (and personal friend) makes her debut in the special as well in Bayleigh Underwood. Folks like us getting chances to tell stories with characters like Felicia or Mystique is so lovely and helps strengthen not only those characters but their relationships to queerness. It's also a chance for lesser-known characters to get some time in the spotlight, such as Sera in Federica and I's story and Charlene McGowan in Al Ewing and Kei Zama's delightful tale. Providing a place for queer talent to tackle these characters and give them a chance to shine and hopefully get some more prominence in the wider universe is always a special thing.

How exciting is it to see G. Willow Wilson and Gleb Melnikov on Black Cat later this year?

Oh, unbelievably! G. Willow is one of my favorite writers in comics, from her work on Ms. Marvel to the outstanding The Hunger and The Dusk, I'm not sure she's even capable of writing anything less than a wonderful comic. With Gleb Melnikov--another personal fave--throwing his chunky, bombastic personal flair in there? Cannot wait to read it.

Is there anything else upcoming that you're excited to be working on?

I've got Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind coming from BOOM in August, which is a beefy 40-page romp featuring some absolutely stunning art by Tango! Beyond that, you can always read Blade Maidens at our website (Mature Readers only!) for free. Fingers crossed I'll have some more books to announce soon!