Best gay comics
Twenty Key LGBTQ+ Comics from the Last Five Years
An Eisner Award–nominated and SPACE Award–winning cartoonist, MariNaomi serves as the founder and administrator for the Cartoonists of Color, Queer Cartoonists, and Disabled Cartoonists databases. Her graphic novel,Losing the Girl, featured among those titles that were banned within the Katy, Texas, school district back in two thousand twenty-two. Fieldmouse Press is scheduled to release her ninth book, a graphic memoir titledI Thought You Loved Me, this coming May.
These books encompass an array of topics, themes, sensibilities, including art styles, all being queer books penned by queer creators. In an effort to provide some insight into the extent of diversity present in LGBTQ+ comics, I’ve mixed things up, doing so through my distinct perspective; generally, I favor mature individual stories and indie drawings. This should be viewed as just a sampling rather than being considered as comprehensive.
1. One Thousand and One Black Men by Ajuan Mance (via Stacked Deck)
Within her book, Mance delivers a passionate tribute devoted towards Black gentlemen considered by her to be frequently overlooked by mainstream media sources. At times, short stories or verses supplement such artworks, although on occasion the artwork will simply express thoughts without words.
2. Are You Listening? by Tillie Walden (via First Second)
This ethereal graphic novel, which unfolds throughout a captivating rendition of West Texas, wonderfully expresses the beginnings of companionship existing among a naive queer person including an older lesbian individual. It presents us with an emotional mentorship that is seldom seen, although is actually quite prevalent among individuals familiar with the act of seeking out their chosen relations.
3. Be Gay, Do Comics, edited by Matt Bors (via IDW)
Having originally appeared on the site for The Nib, these comics span from the intimate towards the historical, placing much emphasis on narratives associated with experiencing a sense of being an outsider. The list of contributors reads like a veritable “who’s who” within the world of contemporary cartoonists.
4. Blackward by Lawrence Lindell (via Drawn & Quarterly)
Lindell’s narrative concerning a motley group of friends endeavoring to foster community is scheduled for release around September. It has joy, charm, and most importantly, it keeps the reader interested.
5. Fungirl by Elizabeth Pich (by Silver Sprocket)
To be sure, Fungirl serves as an embodiment of unchecked impulse - your beloved, reprehensible, coarse, attractive, captivating former flame whom you just can’t seem to shake. It represents one of the most truly funbooks I've had the pleasure of encountering for quite a while now.
6. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe (via Oni)
In recent times, Kobabe's memoir, focusing on their personal quest regarding identifying their individual identity, represents the most frequently challenged book. Clearly, no more needs saying.
7. I'm a Wild Seed by Sharon Lee De La Cruz (via Street Noise)
With this memoir, the author achieves peace with their own sexuality without too much ballyhoo. Despite its brevity, De La Cruz manages to squeeze a substantial amount of information, encompassing explanations concerning intersectional feminism, and moving onto the underlying reasons regarding why safeguarding Black trans lives proves essential for sustaining the security of all disadvantaged groups.
8. Klaus Nomi: A Graphic Biography and Collaborative Anthology by Liz Yerby et al. (via Sound Grounds Wreckin' Crew)
A new wave star, Klaus Nomi enjoyed a remarkably impactful career that experienced an abrupt end whenever he turned out to be among the initial celebrities that would unfortunately succumb as a result of AIDS. Yerby teams up in conjunction with some exceptionally fantastic artists that are up-and-coming in order to compose this magnificent biography.
9. Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki, with illustrations by Rosemary Valero-O'Connell (via First Second)
This visually striking YA graphic novel explores the experiences associated with being romantically led on as well as highlighting what friendships could endure as a consequence. The characters come across as flawed and relatable.
10. The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen (via Random House Graphic)
This story of a Vietnamese American boy's journey of coming-out is presented in a masterful manner, using beautifully expressed fables. I actually urge everyone to give this book a read.
11. Marry Me a Little by Rob Kirby (via Graphic Mundi)
Comics icon Kirby explores their lifelong disinterest concerning marriage (at the same time as formulating preparations concerning their very own wedding ceremony) while additionally exploring the origins regarding same-sex marriage within America.
12. Men I Trust by Tommi Parrish (via Fantagraphics)
Centered around the intricate friendship existing between a struggling poet together with her devoted admirer, this really is. Each individual page exemplifies pure mastery.
13. Messy Roots by Laura Gao (via HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray)
Originally hailing from Wuhan, China, Gao journals the experiences associated with growing up throughout the U.S. while simultaneously being a queer woman and moreover encompasses the unpleasant sentiments they've felt originating from white Americans when the Covid-nineteen pandemic came to pass.
14. Our Wretched Town Hall by Eric Kostiuk Williams (via Retrofit Comics)
Williams’s comics tend to be like getting gradually awakened because of the most brilliant of drag queens. This specific compilation will not disappoint.
15. The Secret to Superhuman Strength by Alison Bechdel (via Mariner)
To bring the reader inside her extremely cerebral perception, Bechdel records her constant search when it comes to physical stamina. What she created employing her MacArthur grant is nothing short of true brilliance, indeed a worthwhile use of resources.
16. Smahtguy by Eric Orner (via Metropolitan)
Here we have a graphic biography regarding the famous congressman Barney Frank together with his hard, exciting journey as he unintentionally moved towards getting involved in politics. With truthfulness, wit, as well as empathy, Orner conveys this narrative.
17. Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall, illustrations by Lisa Sterle (by Greenwillow)
When it comes to this YA graphic novel, a group of top-tier it-girls from high school bring this new girl into their own werewolf gang where these people hunt down sex offenders at the time of full-moon celebrations. Honestly, I found myself laughing, then weeping, only to start laughing all over again.
18. Stone Fruit by Lee Lai (via Fantagraphics)
Expressed through line work that stands out as so breathtaking, it made it hard to actually look away, is a trans woman's tangled interactions involving herself, her family, and her girlfriend. I found myself really impressed with Lee's discovery and study regarding boundaries.
19. The Third Person by Emma Grove (via Drawn & Quarterly)
Grove carefully lays out her consultations along with her therapists whenever she wanted gender-affirming procedures, along with the unpredicted obstacles that cropped up. This specific memoir nearly nine hundred pages in length turns out to be a captivating mystery that, despite its considerable size, flies by rapidly.
20. To Whoever Even Listen by Michiko Wild, together with Lulu and Michiyo Gargiulo (self-published)
Wild collaborates in conjunction with their aunt and mom and utilizes old letters and even healthcare data files to explain the background relating to their grandmother, Michiyo. Michiyo's mental health battles tie their everyday life experiences with one another plus paints an image concerning displacement along with multi-generational trauma, in addition to showing warmth, affection, as well as tolerance. This stands for a really outstanding debut.
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