Posted in: Comics, Marvel Comics | Tagged: empyre, gay wedding, Hulkling, lgbt, LGBTQ, marvel, wiccan

Marvel Officially Spills The Beans About Empyre #4 Finale (UPDATE)

Bleeding Cool ran the story last night. And this morning, with visuals. And now Marvel has pushed out the PR, regarding the finale of Empyre #4, published today.

As the intergalactic conflict known as EMPYRE rages on, love has prevailed for two of Marvel's most beloved heroes! In an exciting surprise for readers everywhere at the conclusion of today's EMPYRE #4, Marvel Comics unveiled that Teddy Altman, the Kree/Skrull hybrid Hulkling, and his longtime boyfriend Billy Kaplan, the powerful magic-wielding Wiccan, made a decision to change their lives forever – when they were married prior to the start of this galaxy-spanning epic!

"I've got a lot of love for Hulkling and Wiccan, both individually and as a couple," Empyre writer Al Ewing said. "So it's a good feeling to be able to deliver this kind of 'shock ending' for readers, which hopefully lifts fans' spirits a little rather than bringing them down."

Earlier this year, Hulkling, the son of a Skrull Princess and the original Captain Marvel, fulfilled his destiny by uniting the Kree and Skrull empires against the universal threat of the Cotati. As Emperor of the new Kree/Skrull alliance, the Young Avenger takes center stage in this summer's EMPYRE saga alongside Wiccan and Earth's Mightiest Heroes.

Created by writer Allan Heinberg and artist Jim Cheung, Hulkling and Wiccan burst onto the scene in 2005's groundbreaking Young Avengers series. Since then, the two have been major players in the Marvel Universe and in iconic titles such as Avengers: Children's Crusade, New Avengers, and Strikeforce.

"When I was first asked to design Wiccan and Hulkling for the Young Avengers, I had no inkling of the longevity they would have, or even their impact on the hearts and minds of the readers," said Cheung. "Billy and Teddy really became fully fleshed people to me, thanks to Allan's incredible writing, and it's been wonderfully rewarding to follow their growth and evolution under the guidance of other creators over the years. Now that they're taking their relationship to the next level, I can't wait to watch where their next adventure takes them!"

"I'm eternally grateful to writers Al Ewing and Dan Slott, artists Valerio Schiti and Marte Gracia, editor Tom Brevoort, — and of course cover artist Jim Cheung — for telling Teddy's story so gorgeously — on such an epic scale — and with so much heart," said Heinberg. "AND for inviting me and Jim to the wedding!"

Hulkling and Wiccan's story continues in Empyre #5 next week and in Empyre: Avengers Aftermath #1 in September – look for that silhouetted cover to be revealed before then. (UPDATE: It has been…)

EMPYRE #5 (OF 6)
MARVEL COMICS
APR200851
(W) Al Ewing, Dan Slott (A) Valerio Schiti (CA) Jim Cheung
• Love and war – in the midst of cosmic cataclysm!
•  One fan-favorite Marvel hero reveals their secret – as another faces the ultimate showdown with a monstrous foe!
•  Meanwhile, an outer-space jailbreak leads to a trial by combat you'll have to see to believe…
• …but is it all too late to save Earth from two world-ending threats at once? Rated T+In Shops: Aug 12, 2020 SRP: $4.99

EMPYRE AFTERMATH AVENGERS #1
MARVEL COMICS
JUL200650
(W) Al Ewing (A) Valerio Schiti (CA) Jim Cheung
• The end of EMPYRE begins a new age for the Marvel Universe!
•  In the aftermath of the cosmic conflict, the forces gather one last time… but why? And at whose bidding?
•  New bonds will be forged, new families will be founded, and there's a new role waiting for Earth… but new destinies bring new dangers – and new enemies!
•  Welcome to the new Marvel Space Age, true believer –  hope you survive the experience! Rated T+In Shops: Sep 09, 2020 SRP: $4.99

Enjoyed this? Please share on social media!

Stay up-to-date and support the site by following Bleeding Cool on Google News today!