Kelly Lynne D'Angelo

Kelly Lynne D'Angelo is a Tuscarora Native American screenwriter, musical artist, cartoonist, and activist.

Early years From an early age, D'Angelo developed an interest in literature. Around the age of 13, she committed herself to writing, starting with stage plays in middle school and continuing to explore this form of writing throughout high school. While studying at Syracuse University, she also wrote sketch comedy, a pursuit she began in high school. Further, she had completed two musicals, several television pilots, and a feature film by the time she graduated from Syracuse.

In 2022, she was involved in a controversy within the comic book industry after criticizing the character Matoaka, introduced by writer Jason Aaron in King Conan n°3, inspired by the historical figure of Pocahontas. In the story, Matoaka replicates stereotypical roles associated with Native/Indigenous people, wears an outfit that exposes all of her body, and maintains a relationship with a white man, which can be understood as a comparison with the story of Pocahontas. Eventually, the complaints of D'Angelo and other social media users led Aaron to publish a statement apologizing and donate the money obtained by writing that number.

On August 19, 2024, Disney-owned publisher Marvel Comics announced the publication of the first comic written by D'Angelo. The comic, entitled Kahhori: Reshaper of Worlds, stars the Mohawk superheroine Kahhori, which was originally introduced in the Disney+ webseries What If...?. The comic was published on November 6, 2024, in celebration of the National Month of American Indigenous Heritage. The title was also collaborated on by Native/Indigenous creators Ryan Littles, Arihhonni David, David Cutler and Jim Terry, as well as a cover by Afua Richardson.

As a musical artist, she has served as co-creator of the musical Starry, centered on Holland-living brothers Theo and Vincent Van Gogh.

Filmography

As a screenwriter

As an actress

Cinema

Television

Works

Lore of Lurue (2021, short story) Kahhori: Reshaper of Worlds (2024, Marvel Comics)

Awards and recognitions

2019: Writer of the Year at the annual LA Skins Fest gala She also has some Italian ancestry.