The Nib compiles approximately fifty webcomics (many of which were previously published on thenib.com) from forty creators on a wide variety of LGBTQ+-related topics into this Kickstarter-backed anthology. The comics run the gamut from one-page funnies to ten-plus-page detailed glimpses into queer history. Associate Editor Matt Lubchansky’s introduction explains the origin of the title’s source, the phrase “Be Gay, Do Crime.” Lubchansky also discusses the significance of comics as a means to express queer identity in a singularly accessible manner.
Some of the most interesting comics in the anthology serve to educate readers about various aspects of the queer experience. These include histories, cultural and national disparities in treatments of queer people, and procedures like embryo adoption and securing birth control as an asexual person. One historical highlight is The Life of Gad Beck, written by Dorian Alexander, which details gay Jewish Beck’s resistance under Nazi Germany. Levi Hastings’ gorgeous illustrations are rendered in black, white, and pale blue, with thick outlines (there is no art tool information in the book, but it looks like Hastings used oil pastels). Another particularly informative contribution is Sam Wallman’s A Covert Gaze at Conservative Gays, an illuminating piece about historical and contemporary right-wing activism among queer people. At first glance, Wallman’s panelless comic closely resembles a infographic by a Mad Magazine artist; Al Jaffee comes to mind. But this black, white, and pink comic strikes a perfect balance between discussing “gay supervillains” like Milo Yiannopolous and more sympathetic conservatives like gun advocates in the wake of the Pulse Nightclub shooting. Kazimir Lee’s What’s It Like to Raise Kids in Malaysia When You’re LGBT? is another interesting piece which details political perspectives and individual experiences of queer people in Malaysia. The standout art is reminiscent of a mid-20th century picture book; the full-color illustrations are predominantly in earthy reds, pinks, yellows, and browns, and there are minimal outlines in the characters’ block-like head and body shapes.
The anthology balances its drier informational pieces with funny one-page strips and relatable memoirs. A memoir highlight is Dancing with Pride by Maia Kobabe (Gender Queer) and is about eir experience in a folk dancing class where dancers are assigned different roles based on their perceived genders. The simple illustrations appear to be in pencil and watercolor, and feature a page where the dancers are lined up in order so their shirts make a rainbow, a very subtle and sweet nod to queerness in non-queer spaces. Another moving piece is written by Sarah Mirk and details activist Pidgeon Pagonis’s experience as an intersex child. The piece, Gender Isn’t Binary and Neither Is Anatomy, is illustrated by Archie Bongiovanni (A Quick & Easy Guide to Pronouns, Grease Bats). A couple laugh-out-loud funny highlights include Joey Alison Sayers’s The Final Reveal, in which the extremes of gender reveal parties are spoofed, and Shelby Criswell’s Astrological Signs as Classic Queer Haircuts.
As is always the case when I read comic anthologies, there were pieces that didn’t resonate as well with me as those I’ve named above. Rather than specify them, I will argue that it is because this book features something for every reader. If a piece didn’t resonate with me, it is sure to resonate with someone else. The queer representation is so varied, with gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, nonbinary, intersex, and ace representation, and with countless intersectional queer identities, that I am confident every queer reader will find something to relate to in this book. Due to its array of art styles and queer representations, I would particularly recommend Be Gay, Do Comics for fans of Iron Circus’s anthologies, like FTL, Y’all, Smut Peddler, and The Sleep of Reason.
Be Gay, Do Comics Edited by Matt Bors ISBN: 9781684057771 IDW, 2020
Title Details and Representation NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18) Character Traits: Asexual, Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Queer Gender Nonconforming, Genderqueer, Intersex, Nonbinary, Trans Creator Highlights: Black, Filipino-American, Puerto Rican Asexual, Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Queer Gender Nonconforming, Genderqueer, Nonbinary, Trans
Harley Quinn has become a controversial character in recent years, as some fear the character glamorizes abusive relationships. While different writers have their opinions on whether or not The Joker is capable of feeling love in any capacity, it cannot be denied that he manipulated Dr. Harleen Quinzel to his own ends, regardless of whether or not he did come to care for the woman who gave up everything in her efforts to try and redeem him. Still, the question remains; how did this young doctor, once so full of promise, come to subvert everything she was in the name of what she thought was love?
Harleen is an exploration of that question and it’s a damn good one. Rather than dismiss Harley’s problems as simple Stockholm Syndrome, Stjepan Šejic presents Harleen as a fully-developed and complex character. While Harley’s original background in the graphic novel Mad Love suggested that Harleen Quinzel slept her way through medical school and possessed a mercenary mindset that sought to use psychiatry as a road to fame and fortune, Šejic establishes Harleen as an idealistic young doctor who is good at her job but held back by her own lack of confidence. Yes, she did sleep with one of her professors in medical school, but it was out of an honest attraction to older, intelligent men and a complete naivety as to the problems their relationship would cause, leading her colleagues to gossip about how she’s known as Harley because “every old dude in a mid-life crisis has ridden her.”
As Harleen opens, Harley is trying to find financial backing for her research. Harleen’s theory is that people have a mental auto-immune system which protects them from trauma in the same way that the physical auto-immune system protects the body from infection. Harley’s idea is that psychosis develops when this mental auto-immune system is overtaxed and the ability to feel empathy for others is overridden by the survival instinct. It’s a compelling idea, at least in the mind of Lucius Fox, who arranges a Wayne Foundation grant to get Harleen special access to the Gotham City Police Department and Arkham Asylum. This brings her into the crosshairs of both District Attorney Harvey Dent (who isn’t crazy about doctors suggesting that there’s no such thing as absolute evil) and The Joker, who shares with Harley his own idea that all people are monsters and that most normal people would live like him if they weren’t so scared.
For the most part, Šejic’s script avoids psychobabble, though the medical angle of the story is a compelling one. The main focus of Harleen is upon the characters and Šejic does a phenomenal job of presenting these characters in a new light while remaining true to their classic interpretations. Harleen Quinzel is still a literal fool for love, but the story of Harleen makes a convincing case for how a woman who should know better falls for someone who is no good for them… and just plain no good. The damnable thing is Šejic also writes a Joker who is honestly funny and, at times, charming. However, Harleen does not pretend to be a romance novel on any level, nor does it inspire sympathy for the devil. This is a cautionary tale for every Bella Swan out there who thinks she can find the heart of gold in the brooding bad boy and the final scenes, in which Batman and Alfred Pennyworth debate to what degree Harleen Quinzel fell from grace or was pushed in her journey to becoming Harley Quinn, make that message clear for anyone who missed it when Harleen said her story was not one where “the girl helps the beast regain his humanity.”
Šejic’s artwork is as amazing as his scripting. The linework in Harleen is so fine that one can barely believe it was penciled at all, with everything looking like it was painted. Šejic is also a master at drawing expressions and his knack for subtle detailing results in some pages where one hardly needs the dialogue balloons or narrator captions to know the story. It is Šejic’s use of color that is most astounding, however, and it is unsurprising that Sejic got his start in professional comics as a colorist.
Harleen is a must read for every fan of Harley Quinn and anyone who enjoys a good psychodrama. It was released under DC Comics’ Black Label for mature readers for good reason. While there’s no overt nudity, there are a lot of adult situations, salty language and sex scenes, as well as a number of scenes of an insomniac Harleen Quinzel writhing in her bedclothes or lounging around her apartment in her underwear. There are also several violent scenes, including people being shot in the head and one man being thrown through a windshield. Older Teens should be okay, but this is far more risqué than Mad Love.
Harleen By Stjepan Šejic ISBN: 9781779501110 DC Comics, 2020 Publisher Age Rating: 17+
Browse for more like this title NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+) Character Traits: Bisexual
Doctor Cecelia Cobbina can process thoughts faster than the rest of us. After developing this power during an intense standoff with armed men while working in the Congo for Doctors Without Borders, Cecelia will analyse a situation and develop plans in a split second. She is the ultimate problem solver. So she commits to using this power to help others.
And there are ample opportunities for her to help. People are developing powers after being ‘ignited’. Some use these powers for good and others are lashing out with them. Cecelia travels around the country with her friend Mae looking for others who have been ‘ignited’. While Mae sees this as adventuring, Cecelia views what they do as a medical procedural. She knows something is wrong with their world and believes it is happening on a global scale. Once she understands it, she can help correct the problem.
Omni flirts with being a superhero book, but takes pains to say that it isn’t. Cecelia tells her partner there will be no capes and that she’s not that heroic. Eventually, they connect with a secretive group known as OMNI, who will provide much needed resources to help Cecelia continue her research. There is clearly much Cecelia needs to learn about OMNI as well.
The unique catch about Cecilia’s powers is that they are founded on Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences. For those unfamiliar, this theory posits that people have nine different intelligences. Cecelia is attuned to all of them. This translates to the comic page by showing her thoughts in multiple colors that correspond to Gardner’s theories, for example: red text boxes are related to bodily-kinesthetic analysis while orange text boxes relate to verbal-linguistic analysis and so on. On the page, these text boxes of various colors are visually appealing and confusing. The reader is constantly trying to remember which color corresponds with which intelligence. Yet it makes more sense the longer you read the book.
Cecelia is an interesting main character. She comes across as the smartest person in the room much like Tony Stark or Reed Richards, yet being an African American woman injects more realism into the plot than you would have in a traditional superhero tale. When she is confronted with a police standoff, one of her intelligences cites statistics on police brutality concerning Black men and women and it informs her actions. The story relies heavily on her intellect and ability to reason with others to get them out of tough situations. If only reasoned speech was as effective in real life as it is depicted in this comic, our world would be a better place.
The artwork by Alitha Martinez tells the story effectively and is very reminiscent of a lot of art from 90s and early 2000 comic books. It is not as detailed as more high profile comic books being published these days, but it does what it needs to do.
Omni would be a good purchase for teen or adult graphic novel collections. It’s an early book from a new universe created by Mark Waid for Humanoids, which usually publishes European comics. It’s got a Black, queer main character, an experienced writer and a Black artist attached. Future stories have a Black writer stepping in to write as well. It deserves to have time to find an audience. I’m concerned that the multiple intelligences angle may drag down the storytelling in the long term as it will have to be explained frequently, but it is definitely a unique plot point and an arresting visual.
Omni, Volume One By Devin Grayson Art by Alitha E. Martinez ISBN: 9781643376196 Humaniods, 2020 Publisher Age Rating: (Teen 13+)
Browse for more like this title NFNT Age Recommendation: Teen (13-16), Older Teen (16-18), Adult (18+) Character Traits: Black Lesbian Creator Highlights: BIPOC Creator
After two years, the long-awaited Snotgirl series is back! Fans have become anxious to see new Snotgirl content from creators Bryan Lee O’Malley and Leslie Hung, as single-issue releases seem to be fewer and farther between. In fact, just after the release of this volume the creators of Snotgirl announced an indefinite hiatus. With that said, let’s take a close look at the latest from Snotgirl, as it may be the last look we get for quite a while.
Snotgirl Vol. 3: Is This Real Life? continues the saga of Lottie Person. Lottie—affectionately referred to as “Snottie” by her beautiful, elusive Coolgirl crush, Caroline—is a fashion blogger, social media influencer, and personal disaster. Lottie’s allergies and runny nose pose a constant threat to her image. After being prescribed a mysterious new allergy medication, Lottie’s reality begins to change. A sequence of strange occurrences turn this series from a millennial melodrama into a supernatural mystery thriller.
Though Lottie is your archetypal vapid, self-absorbed influencer, Is This Real Life? highlights the most growth of Lottie’s character thus far. In preceding volumes; Vol. 1: Green Hair Don’t Care and Vol. 2: California Screaming, Lottie was simply a fun trainwreck. However, Is This Real Life? shows the audience a slightly more likeable, more complex version of Lottie. She is no longer just a fashion sensation with a lot of self-imposed personal issues. Lottie is a 20-something woman dealing with both the mysterious circumstances surrounding her and her overt desire to confront her sexual identity. Though previous volumes have hinted at Lottie’s sexual identity, this volume provides the most in-depth exploration. As Lottie’s relationship (and unhealthy fixation) with Caroline develops, so does the enigma of Caroline’s existence. Is This Real Life? adds a new layer of supernatural mystery that fans will either love or find frustrating due to the lack of substantial answers to readers’ ever-expanding list of questions.
Snotgirl Vol. 3: Is This Real Life? is an excellent addition to the Snotgirl series. Hung’s artwork is consistently high-quality. Her attention to detail is impeccable. Every chapter is filled with beautiful clothing, designed in conjunction with the personal style and social media presence of each character. In addition, O’Malley, notable for his Scott Pilgrim series, writes dialogue filled with colloquial language, quippy back-and-forths, and tons of homoerotic subtext. O’Malley’s writing paired with Hung’s illustrations have earned the Snotgirl series a well-deserved cult following. Snotgirl is a great purchasing choice for any library collection. Given that, thus far, only three Snotgirl volumes have been released, purchasing the series for library patrons is an easy feat. Though fans have no idea when the Snotgirl hiatus will end, Snotgirl, Vol. 3: Is This Real Life? will hopefully tide over both old fans and new until the return of Lottie Person.
Snotgirl Vol. 3: Is This Real Life? By Bryan Lee O’Malley & Leslie Hung Art by Leslie Hung ISBN: 9781534312388 Image Comics, 2020 Publisher Age Rating: Series Reading Order: https://www.goodreads.com/series/182773-snotgirl (Wikipedia or Goodreads)
Browse for more like this title NFNT Age Recommendation: Older Teen (16-18), Adult (18+) Character Traits: Bisexual Creator Highlights: BIPOC Creator
Everything is Beautiful and I’m Not Afraid: A Baopu Collection explores the identity, imagination, and struggle of cartoonist Yao Xiao. Baopu is a monthly, serialized comic published in Autostraddle, a online community dedicated to publishing independent, progressively feminist, queer media. Thus, Everything is Beautiful and I’m Not Afraid: A Baopu Collection allows us to enter the universe of a bisexual, Chinese-American emigrant woman, an identity not often, if ever, shown in popular media. The collection includes both never before seen comics and fan favorites.
Baopu is a Taoist word used to illuminate the importance of simplicity and the ideal of living in a simpler state. Xiao clearly exemplifies this ideal through her work. The artwork is understated and the writing is accessible. The use of simplicity in Xiao’s artwork conveys a feeling of intimacy. Every comic in this compilation seems like it could have easily come directly from Xiao’s diary. And, frankly, this makes her comics likeable. Regardless of your identity, Xiao’s artwork is relatable. Xiao portrays herself in pseudo-minimalist drawings throughout each comic. In fact, her line work is so uncomplicated that her character is often only identifiable by a triangular hat differentiating her from the characters around her. While some readers may find the lack of detailing in her work frustrating, others will find it endearing.
As for the actual writing in this collection, once again readers may find themselves divided. Some of Xiao’s writing, such as one comic highlighting her frustration to pick a—literal—box, may read as cliched and a bit saccharine. However, other comics, such as those highlighting her loneliness as an immigrant, are quite poignant. One notable comic, titled “Quiet Night Thoughts” illustrates a poem by famed 7th century Chinese poet Li Bia. Xiao beautifully applies a poem written during the Tang Dynasty to her experience as a Chinese-American in the 21st century.
Given the independent nature of this publication, no particular age group is ascribed to the book. However, this book will mostly likely be appreciated by teens and emerging adults. Another issue with the independent publishing of this book is availability. This title most likely will not be available to libraries unless purchased from the publisher, Andrews McMeel Publishing, or Amazon. And, ultimately, may not be worth the investment.
Everything is Beautiful and I’m Not Afraid: A Baopu Collection is a sweet, engaging book. However, for a comic collection, the book is short at 128 pages. The collection feels incomplete. As a reader, I found myself wanting more. Xiao is clearly a young, very promising comic artist. I would love to read a more comprehensive volume of work from her. While I cannot recommend that this particular book be added to your library’s graphic novel collection, I would highly recommend that prospective readers take a look at Xiao’s professional Instagram account (@yaoxiaoart) and published work on Autostraddle. Xiao is a competent artist and cartoonist. More is certainly to come.
Everything is Beautiful and I’m Not Afraid: A Baopu Collection By Yao Xiao ISBN: 9781524852450 Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2020 Publisher Age Rating: (16+)
Browse for more like this title NFNT Age Recommendation: Older Teen (16-18), Adult (18+) Character Traits: Chinese American Bisexual, Queer Creator Highlights: Own Voices, BIPOC Creator, LGBTQIA+ Creator
Madison Jackson, intern for the Boston Lede, is determined to be a reporter—and be taken seriously as a reporter. Her editor hasn’t said more than five words to her, the more seasoned journalists look down on her, and she keeps getting scooped by the competing newspaper. All she needs is one lead, one big break, to prove herself.
One night, she gets what she has been looking for: a dead body, a missing kid, and a guilty wife. It’s exciting, and Madison soon finds herself wrapped up in the middle of it all. Except, instead of telling the story, she becomes the story. The wife will only talk to Madison, and only through a series of cryptic messages. She wants Madison to figure out the mystery, and sends her on a wild chase throughout the city, which ultimately involves a lot of powerful people. In the end, Madison seemingly gets what she wanted: a big story. But at what cost?
Gaby Dunn is well-known on the internet. She used to work for Buzzfeed, had a popular YouTube channel, and now hosts podcasts and writes young adult books. This crossover into graphic novels draws on her past as a journalist, and it shows. The characters and setting feel realistic. Madison is naive, but smart and ambitious. She’s a perfect protagonist for readers to follow through the mystery.
Claire Roe’s illustrations are dark, but have a neon undertone. This is perfect for the noir-ish storyline and complements the action well. There is also a fully diverse cast with plenty of people of color and differing sexual orientations. This adds to the realism of the story and makes the characters relatable and authentic.
I would recommend this for older teens and adults due to violence and mild nudity. But Dunn and Roe make a good team and I look forward to more stories of Madison and the Boston Lede. This is a strong addition to the realistic graphic novel genre.
Bury the Lede By Gaby Dunn Art by Claire Roe ISBN: 9781684154272 Boom! Studios, 2019 NFNT Age Recommendation: Older Teen (16-18), Adult (18+)
Browse for more like this title Character Traits: Bisexual Creator Highlights: LGBTQIA+ Creator
Some people just seem a little too obnoxiously talented to be true. I’d say the Canadian music artist who goes by the name Lights has entered that category. She recently released her fourth studio music album alongside her self-drawn, written, lettered, and colored comic series, both of the name Skin & Earth.
Whether you or not you are a fan of the music or the comic or neither or both, you have to be impressed (or if you’re jealous like me, annoyed) by how much talent Lights Poxleitner-Bokan shows off in this project. The album’s songs interweave with the comic’s storyline, and accompanying music videos provide live action portrayals of the plot. The series has even been optioned by Entertainment One for television and digital and gaming content. So is the hype worth it?
Of course the answer is both yes and no.
The comic is set in Madison Oasis, the last known habitable area of the Earth that has been split into two sectors: Red and Pink. Those who are affluent live in the Pink, reaping the profits of the Tempest Corporation and grasping for escape and indolence at the cost of the environment. The poor live in the Red sector, an area that is toxic after being destroyed by Tempest for its resources. Enaia (En) Jin lives in the Red, but thanks to an inheritance from her mother, she goes to school to study geology in the Pink. En struggles to find hope in a world that’s ravaged by the Tempest corporation, finding beauty where she can, whether on the banks of a toxic City Center river or in the arms of Priest, her summer fling. When Priest gives her a tattoo one night but tells her they’re done the next, En is confused and embittered that she’s lost one of the few things that brought her joy. In the midst of her anger, she meets Mitsuki, who encourages her to channel her anger and to take hold of the power within herself. When Mitsuki opens up another world and way of living to En, En must decide who she is and who she wants to be.
The story is set up as a popular dystopian trope, complete with classism, forbidden love, and a destroyed ecosystem, but Lights manages to bring a new twist to the genre. Instead of being reunited with her lost love or finding a way to save the world, the female protagonist must fight a personal battle to decide what she values in life. We are left on the last page of the last issue wondering what En will choose if the series continues. It’s nice to not know, for once.
On one hand, the art in Skin & Earth is clearly the work of an amateur. You see this most clearly in facial expressions and some attention to detail, like fingernails or toenails. On the other hand, it is amazing that Lights illustrated, lettered, and colored the comic on her own. It’s an impressive debut for an untrained artist. The panels flow well from one emotion and action to the next, and different chapters are marked by dominant color schemes. Lights was clearly thoughtful in how she laid out her work and how she wanted to communicate ideas. In interviews, she gives credit to her favorite comic artists and to YouTube for helping her learn the art. She cites her favorite comics as artistic influences, and I can see a similar style to that in The Wicked + the Divine.
In the end, I advise you to try Skin & Earth for yourself. The art and the music can exist independently of each other, but they do pair well. While rated M, the comic is appropriate for teens and up. I can see this comic and the accompanying album as a part of a display on genre crossovers and media tie-ins at a high school or public library. Or maybe you can start a reading list of people who are just too obnoxiously talented to be true.
Skin & Earth, vol. 1 by Lights Poxleitner-Bokan Art by Lights Poxleitner-Bokan ISBN: 9781524106034 Dynamite, 2018 Publisher Age Rating: M
A little while ago we put together a post of the best LGBTQAA+ comics for kids. It’s taken longer than we intended, but here’s the follow-up list featuring comics for teens and adults!
[Editor’s note: Many of these titles have multiple volumes and in those cases we have just listed the first in the series.]
Another Castle: Grimoire By Andrew Wheeler and Paulina Ganucheau Published by Oni (2017)
Elevator Pitch: In this colorful comic, Princess Misty is kidnapped by Lord Badlug, a tyrant who rules over a land of ruin populated by monsters. He plans to marry her and use her to conquer her father’s kingdom, while Princess Misty plans to take down Badlug’s reign from the inside. Then she learns more about Badlug’s realm and realizes that overthrowing him might not lead to a simple happily ever after for anyone.
Appeals to: Fans of fantasy and cute, punchy retro art. Content Notes: Mild violence Suggested Age Range: Teens and older kids Contributed by Nic Willcox
The Backstagers, vol. 1 By James Tynion IV and Rian Sygh Published by BOOM! Box (2017)
Elevator Pitch: Jory is the new kid in school and needs somewhere to go while his mom’s at work. He ends up joining his school’s drama department, where he discovers a hidden, magic world backstage. Putting on a great play will require strong bonds and enough bravery to dive into a fantasy portal and return unscathed.
Appeals to: Theater kids, quirky outcasts, lovers of cute and colorful art. Suggested Age Range: Teens Contributed by Thomas Maluck
Batwoman: Elegy By Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams III Published by DC Comics (2011)
Elevator Pitch: Batwoman is the Jewish lesbian DC superhero you didn’t know you were missing. In this volume Batwoman takes on a maniac known as Alice, who believes Gotham is Wonderland and everyone who lives there are expendable extras in her story. Batwoman (aka Kate Kane) is the female version of Batman (aka Bruce Wayne) with the same amount of tech, the same amount of women, and because of her military background, more guns.
Appeals to: Those who enjoy different takes on Alice in Wonderland, are looking for a more grown up Batgirl, or like superheroes with military backgrounds like Captain America. Content Notes: The usual street level superhero fighting. Suggested Age Range: Teens and Adults Contributed by: Danielle Boyd
Cry Havoc, vol. 1: Mything In Action By Simon Spurrier and Ryan Kelly Published by Image Comics (2016)
Elevator Pitch: A lesbian werewolf soldier, Lou, is recruited with other supernatural beings to take down a rogue military operative in Afghanistan. The story uses color-coded panels to depict three different eras in Lou’s life. Lou is living her “normal” past life in one stage, preparing to attack in Afghanistan in the second stage, and has already been captured in the third.
Appeals to: Fans of Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse Now who’d like a supernatural angle. Content Notes: Violence, language, sex Suggested Age Range: Adults Contributed by Thomas Maluck
DC Bombshells, vol 1: Enlisted By Marguerite Bennett, Marguerite Sauvage, and others Published by DC Comics (2016)
Elevator Pitch: Your favorite female DC superheroes (and villains) are reimagined and plunked into World War II to fight for truth, justice, and freedom. Based on the incredibly popular DC Bombshells Collectibles line and set in a universe where—when the world is on the brink of disaster—the Allies call in the superheroines.
Appeals to: People who like to read alternate takes on their favorite superheroes like DC Elseworlds or Marvel What If’s, also fans of WWII settings and female superheroes falling in love with each other. Content Notes: Regular superhero violence Suggested Age Range: Teens and Adults Contributed by Danielle Boyd
The Heart of Thomas By Moto Hagio Published by Fantagraphics (2013 (originally serialized in Japan, 1974))
Elevator Pitch: Thomas and Juli’s relationship is cut short by Thomas’s untimely death. However, a new student arrives who looks exactly like him! How will the student body react and will Juli project on the poor student to an unhealthy degree?
Appeals to: Shojo and yaoi fans, sparkles and roses, boys boarding schools featuring dramatic slaps. Suggested Age Range: Teens Contributed by Thomas Maluck
The Imitation Game: Alan Turing Decoded By Jim Ottaviani and Leland Purvis Published by Harry N. Abrams (2016)
Elevator Pitch: Alan Turing was a gifted mathematician whose genius made him indispensable to the Allies in World War II. His valuable work with codebreaking machines collided with social norms as the British government punished homosexuality.
Appeals to: Math geeks in need of another patron saint, historians of World War II and queer life in England. Suggested Age Range: Teens Contributed by Thomas Maluck
Kim and Kim, vol. 1: This Glamorous, High-Flying Rock Star Life By Magdalene Visaggio and Eva Cabrera Published by Black Mask Comics (2017)
Elevator Pitch: A space bounty hunting team made up of two Kims. When their bills pile up they decide to take on a bounty that far exceeds their pay grade and end up on a wild universe spanning adventure.
Appeals to: Fans of space team up books like Guardians of the Galaxy, people looking for books about trans characters who aren’t transitioning any longer, but just living their life, and fans of quirky independent publishers. Content Notes: Some language Suggested Age Range: Teens and Adults Contributed by Danielle Boyd
Kisses, Sighs, and Cherry Blossom Pink By Milk Morinaga Published by Seven Seas (2013)
Elevator Pitch: This collection of romantic short stories follows teen girls at two all-girl high schools. It explores a variety of different situations and debunks some myths and misunderstandings about lesbian relationships. And it’s cute and sweet!
Appeals to: Anyone who wants stories that take lesbian relationships seriously in a wide variety of forms, but is also light and fun. Content Notes: Brief nudity, implied sex Suggested Age Range: Teens and adults Contributed by Nic Willcox
The Last of Us: American Dreams By Neil Druckmann and Faith Erin Hicks Published by Dark Horse (2013)
Elevator Pitch: Ellie and Riley have grown up in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a parasitic fungus. Military authoritarians rule inside the walls of society, while zombie-like hordes ravage outside. They cannot resist an invitation to join the insurgent “Fireflies” and live a life of free rebellion.
Appeals to: Gamers who enjoyed The Last of Us and look forward to its sequel. Content Notes: Violence Suggested Age Range: Teens Contributed by Thomas Maluck
The Less than Epic Adventures of T.J. and Amal By E. K. Weaver Published by Iron Circus Comics (2015)
Elevator Pitch: Amal, running away from dealing with the fact that he just came out to his parents, meets up with TJ, who’s looking for a quick escape out of town. They take off across the country on a road trip that ends up an adventure, a playlist fueled conversation, and just maybe a powerful romance.
Appeals to: Anyone who’s a sucker for a good road trip tale will love this, and the romance is beautifully wrought in body language, heated glances, and so much humor. Content Notes: A number of explicit sex scenes keeps it for adults. Suggested Age Range: Adults. Note: This one is available in an omnibus from Iron Circus Comics, and I do recommend getting the omnibus edition if you can. Contributed by Robin Brenner
The Movement, vol. 1: Class Warfare By Gail Simone and Freddie Williams II Published by DC Comics (2014)
Elevator Pitch: A group of superpowered teens fights corruption in Coral City. Along the way, they will also confront some of their personal demons. This two volume series packs a punch—both due to its action-packed plot and the diverse cast.
Appeals to: Superhero fans. Content Notes: Superhero violence Suggested age range: Teen and Adults Contributed by Megan Rupe
My Brother’s Husband By Gengoroh Tagame Published by Pantheon (2017)
Elevator Pitch: When a Canadian arrives at Yaichi’s door and introduces himself as the husband of Yaichi’s late brother, everyone in the household must learn to deal with this new normal. From the neighbor’s blatant prejudice to Yaichi’s own latent homophobia, to Yaichi’s young daughter’s swift acceptance of her new uncle, the book shines a spotlight on Japan’s largely closeted gay culture, the pervasive cultural discrimination of homosexuals, and the notion that one must be “taught to hate.”
Appeals to: Anyone who may be facing difficult conversations, both on the giving and receiving ends. Content Notes: Some minor nudity (butts), but only in the bath, where it makes sense to be naked. Suggested Age Range: tweens, teens, adults Contributed by Eva Volin
Nimona By Noelle Stevenson Published by HarperTeen (2015)
Elevator Pitch: Lord Ballister Blackheart is, like most villains, usually unsuccessful against his heroic nemesis. But that’s before he gains an enthusiastic and incredibly powerful sidekick, the mischievous shapeshifter Nimona. How will Ballister handle actually winning, especially when it turns out the stakes are higher than he realized and Nimona may not be who he thinks she is?
Appeals to: Fans of snarky takes on fantasy and superhero stories. Content Notes: Some violence, but nothing gory or detailed Suggested Age Range: Teens and adults Contributed by Nic Willcox
O Human Star! By Blue Delliquanti Self published as webcomic (2015)
Elevator Pitch: A man wakes up to discover that he is sixteen years in the future and now inhabiting a robot version of his original body. Uneasily reunited with his old partner (and old flame) and his adopted robot daughter, who is trans, they start to unravel their history and build their future. With two gay protagonists and a trans teen, this is a wonderful, funny, smart look at what makes us “human”.
Appeals to: If you want Blade Runner minus the ominous pomposity and grim outlook plus a lot more diversity in the cast of characters, this is for you. Content Notes: There is romance on an adult level and on a teen level, none of it especially explicit. Suggested Age Range: Teens and adults Note: This is available currently only directly from the creator’s website, but it’s worth it. Contributed by Robin Brenner
The Other Side: An Anthology of Queer Paranormal Romance By Various Published by Other Side Press (2016)
Elevator Pitch: Nineteen stories by 23 different creators, representing a diverse assortment of queer narratives. The majority of these stories achieve a sweet kind of charm, often portraying romances between a human and a ghost or creature.
Appeals to: Anyone howling at the moon for more queer representation in comics. Content Notes: Brief nudity Suggested Age Range: Teens Contributed by Thomas Maluck
Rat Queens, vol. 1: Sass and Sorcery By Kurtis J. Wiebe and Roc Upchurch Published by Image Comics (2013)
Elevator Pitch: The Rat Queens are a misfit party of women adventurers on the lookout for cash in a sword and sorcery world. Comprised of an elven mage, a dwarf warrior, an atheist cleric, and a halfling, the Rat Queens face all manner of unique trials involving assassins, grotesque monsters, and Lovecraftian cultists.
Appeals to: Fans of Dungeons & Dragons. The sword and sorcery theme makes it accessible to fantasy fans, however the imaginative script and the hilarious banter among the women sound like they could come from a most spirited D&D session. Content Notes: Language of a sexual nature and nudity make this a title strictly for adults. Suggested Age Range: Adults. Contributed by Allen Kesinger
SuperMutant Magic Academy By Jillian Tamaki Published by Drawn and Quarterly (2015)
Elevator Pitch: Marsha is crushing on Wendy but doesn’t know how to approach her. Her predicament is the closest to “normal” among the superpowered students of this prep school that contains all the drama of a normal high school plus massive doses of non-sequitur humor.
Appeals to: Webcomic addicts (this started online), high school dramatists, existential absurdists. Content Notes: Language, nudity (brief and non-detailed) Suggested Age Range: Teens Contributed by Thomas Maluck
Wandering Son, vol. 1 By Shimura Takako Published by Fantagraphics (2011)
Elevator Pitch: Shuichi is a boy who wants to be a girl, and Yoshino is a girl who wants to be a boy. Both are trying to keep their identity exploration secret but are subject to prying eyes and childhood gossip. This series treats both their journeys into gender identity with sensitivity and insight rarely seen in comics.
Appeals to: Coming-of-age enthusiasts, anti-bullying narratives, compassionate trans narratives. A lot of the book’s strengths lie in fairly subtle social interactions. Content Notes: Content-wise, this series is pretty clean in the first volume, but in subsequent volumes, the children develop a friendship with an adult trans woman, Yuki. She and her boyfriend’s scenes breach some sexual topics and use risque humor; Nic’s review goes into detail. Also, Takako acknowledges how some of her characters look confusingly alike. While the English editions of this series have been discontinued, the eight available volumes are absolutely worth reading! Suggested age range: Teens and Adults Contributed by Thomas Maluck
Weirdworld, vol. 1: Where Lost Things Go By Sam Humphries and Mike Del Mundo Published by Marvel (2016)
Elevator Pitch: Becca is an ordinary Earth girl in a dangerously weird world, but her new friend Goleta the Wizardslayer will help her get home. Becca’s got some regrets about the Earth life that awaits her when she comes back, but for now she has to survive the perilous realms before her and outwit sorceress Morgan Le Fay.
Appeals to: Fantasy fanatics, those who enjoy swords ‘n’ sorcery. Content Notes: Fantasy violence Suggested Age Range: Teens Contributed by Thomas Maluck
The Wicked + The Divine, vol. 1 By Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie Published by Image Comics (2014 – present)
Elevator Pitch: The world’s greatest pop stars are manifestations of the gods. Downside: they will die two years after receiving their holy form. The latest batch of musical demigods have plenty of baggage and more than a few deadly secrets.
Appeals to: Fans of Young Avengers or Phonograph (same creative team). Content Notes: Nudity, swearing, blood Suggested Age Range: Adults Contributed by Thomas Maluck
The Woods vol. 1 By James Tynion IV and Michael Dialynas Published by BOOM! (2014)
Elevator Pitch: A high school is transported to an alien planet, and nobody knows what to do next. The teachers and faculty want everyone to stick together. The bullies want to treat their classmates like trash. A select few run off to take their chances in…the woods.
Appeals to: Fans of Kazuo Umezu’s The Drifting Classroom, high school mysteries like Morning Glories but with dangerous alien flora & fauna. Content Notes: some violence Suggested Age Range: Teens Contributed by Thomas Maluck
Zodiac Starforce By Kevin Panetta and Paulina Ganucheau Published by Dark Horse (2016)
Elevator Pitch: A group of magical demon fighting high schoolers come together to fight mean girls and intergalactic demons set on conquering our universe.
Appeals to: Fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Sailor Moon Suggested Age Range: Teens Contributed by Danielle Boyd
June was Pride Month, which commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Riots, a key point in the fight for gay rights in the USA. Pride Month is full of events to unite the queer community and allies in celebration, provide opportunities to reflect, and shed light on issues the community still faces. Due to scheduling mishaps, this list did not go up during Pride Month as originally intended, but to continue to celebrate and encourage including queer titles and creators all year round, the staff here at No Flying, No Tights have compiled a list of graphic novels that feature LGBTQAA+ characters.
Princess Princess Ever After By Katie O’Neill Published by Oni (2016)
Elevator Pitch: Amira and Sadie are both princesses, who meet when Amira rescues Sadie from her tower. Adventures, friendship, and love soon follow. Appeals to: Fans of Steven Universe, Princeless, and people who love cutesy/chibi style comics. Suggested Age Range: Children Contributed by: Danielle Boyd
Compass South (Book one in the Four Points series) By Hope Larson and Rebecca Mock Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (2016)
Elevator Pitch: A treasure hunt with multiple players, taking place in 1860 and starring 12-year-old twins Cleopatra and Alexander. They each head to San Francisco by separate means, but are secretly being chased by pirates. Cleo takes on a male identity, which s/he prefers. Appeals to: Fans of historical fiction, twins, high seas adventure, gender-queer identities, Amulet, and Three Thieves. Suggested Age Range: Children Contributed by Thomas Maluck
Goldie Vance (series) By Hope Larson and Brittney Williams Published by BOOM! Box (2016)
Elevator Pitch: Goldie’s? a plucky teen who uses her social disadvantages to her crime-solving advantage. When she wants intel on one of the guests at the hotel where she works, she disguises herself as a housekeeper, confident that as a woman of color, she won’t be remembered. Goldie’s wistful yearning for a minor female character—including the disappointment that she has a boyfriend—will ring as real for teens and preteens. Appeals to: Lovers of other fun and female-strong series like Lumberjanes. Suggested Age Range: Tweens and teens Contributed by Amy Estersohn
Lumberjanes (series) By Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis, Brooke A. Allen, and Noelle Stevenson Published by BOOM! Box (2015-present)
Elevator Pitch: Summer camp was never quite as wacky as Lumberjanes imagines it, but that’s all the better for the reader. As five girls sleuth, fight, snark, and forge friendships at Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady Types, they always have each other’s backs and prove that friendship can be the key to any mystery. Appeals to: Lumberjanes is pretty unique on the young readers stage for style and humor—Nimona fans will gobble the series right up, and young fans of the animated series Steven Universe, Gravity Falls, and Over the Garden Wall will be delighted to find more weird happenings in the woods. Content Notes: Lumberjanes is great for middle grade on up. Suggested Age Range: Children, teens, and adults all adore this series, as there’s something there for everyone. Contributed by Robin Brenner
Drama By Raina Telgemeier Published by Graphix (2012)
Elevator Pitch: This bright, funny, relatable comic tells the story of Callie, a theater kid who is psyched about being the set designer for her middle school’s upcoming musical. This will give her a chance to hang out with two cute brothers who are part of the show! What could go wrong? Appeals to: Fans of Telgemeier’s other books, theater kids. Suggested Age Range: Teens and older kids Contributed by Nic Willcox
Picking up right where volume 1 left off, Lumberjanes, vol. 2: Friendship to the Max follows Jo, April, Molly, Mal, Ripley, and Jen as they try to figure out why all those freaky things keep happening at summer camp. In this second volume, we meet even more campers, specifically Diane, who definitely knows more about the weird occurrences than she’s letting on. The campers have to band together to fight some raptors that appeared in the outhouse and dominate an epic game of Capture the Flag.
Volume 3 begins with the girls working on their “If You’ve Got It, Haunt It” badge by telling ghost stories around the campfire. Each of the six mini ghost stories is illustrated by a different artist, capturing the personality of the girl telling the story. Starting with the next issue, the girls have a free day at camp. Mal and Molly go off to have a quiet picnic lunch together, while the other girls decide to earn some of the regular “boring” badges. Naturally, nothing goes according to their plans. Mal and Molly spot the Bearwoman, decide to follow her and end up stuck in a lost time and place hiding from vicious dinosaurs. April, Ripley, and Jo discover they’re not great at the boring, mundane activities.
With the exception of “If You’ve Got It, Haunt It,” the art for volume 3 was done by Carolyn Nowak rather than Brooke Allen (the artist for volumes 1-2). The change in artist is a little jarring at first, after getting so used to Allen’s style, but after a few pages, I stopped noticing. Nowak’s style fits really well in the Lumberjane universe, and her facial expressions are amazing. Maarta Laiho continues to do the colors for the series, which provides a sense of familiarity despite the artist switch.
The story continues to provide the snappy dialogue and action we’ve come to expect from the Lumberjanes. Stevenson, Ellis, and Watters have managed to keep this series totally engaging and charming. If anything, I find myself liking it more and more with every volume that is released, as we get to know the girls better. The characters are so endearing, and the depictions of awesome lady friendships thrills me.
This is a series that I think belongs in every library. It’s fun, action packed and has such a great cast of diverse characters. I shelve it in the teen section at my library, but I wouldn’t hesitate to give it to a 9 or 10 year old girl or boy looking for a fun fantasy adventure.
I just discovered that the single issues have character mixtape track lists at the end, and I wish those of us reading the trades got those! Also, I would love if there were a quick rundown of each of the women referenced by the girls as part of the book’s backmatter. These are just nitpicks, though. This series continues to be a total delight to read and definitely one I could unequivocally recommend to just about everyone.
Lumberjanes, vol. 2: Friendship to the Max Lumberjanes, vol. 3: A Terrible Plan by Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis, Shannon Watters Art by Brooke Allen, Carolyn Nowak ISBN, vol. 2: 9781608867370 ISBN, vol. 3: 9781608868032 Boom! Box, 2015-2016
The Nib compiles approximately fifty webcomics (many of which were previously published on thenib.com) from forty creators on a wide variety of LGBTQ+-related topics into this Kickstarter-backed anthology. The comics run the gamut from one-page funnies to ten-plus-page detailed glimpses into queer history. Associate Editor Matt Lubchansky’s introduction explains the origin of the title’s source, the phrase “Be Gay, Do Crime.” Lubchansky also discusses the significance of comics as a means to express queer identity in a singularly accessible manner.
Madison Jackson, intern for the Boston Lede, is determined to be a reporter—and be taken seriously as a reporter. Her editor hasn’t said more than five words to her, the more seasoned journalists look down on her, and she keeps getting scooped by the competing newspaper. All she needs is one lead, one big break, to prove herself.
Some people just seem a little too obnoxiously talented to be true. I’d say the Canadian music artist who goes by the name Lights has entered that category. She recently released her fourth studio music album alongside her self-drawn, written, lettered, and colored comic series, both of the name Skin & Earth.
Another Castle: Grimoire
The Backstagers, vol. 1
Batwoman: Elegy
Cry Havoc, vol. 1: Mything In Action
DC Bombshells, vol 1: Enlisted 
The Heart of Thomas
The Imitation Game: Alan Turing Decoded
Kim and Kim, vol. 1: This Glamorous, High-Flying Rock Star Life
Kisses, Sighs, and Cherry Blossom Pink
The Last of Us: American Dreams
The Less than Epic Adventures of T.J. and Amal
The Movement, vol. 1: Class Warfare
My Brother’s Husband
Nimona
O Human Star!
The Other Side: An Anthology of Queer Paranormal Romance
Rat Queens, vol. 1: Sass and Sorcery
SuperMutant Magic Academy
Wandering Son, vol. 1
Weirdworld, vol. 1: Where Lost Things Go
The Wicked + The Divine, vol. 1
The Woods vol. 1
Zodiac Starforce
Princess Princess Ever After
Compass South (Book one in the Four Points series)
Goldie Vance (series)
Lumberjanes (series)
Drama
Picking up right where volume 1 left off, Lumberjanes, vol. 2: Friendship to the Max follows Jo, April, Molly, Mal, Ripley, and Jen as they try to figure out why all those freaky things keep happening at summer camp. In this second volume, we meet even more campers, specifically Diane, who definitely knows more about the weird occurrences than she’s letting on. The campers have to band together to fight some raptors that appeared in the outhouse and dominate an epic game of Capture the Flag.
