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7 LGBTQ+ Comics to Close Out Pride Month
Pride Month kicked off the summer in a rainbow-splattered series of events and celebrations, and we’re still feeling the love. Queer presence in mainstream pop culture and comics has been on a slow but progressive burn of late, yielding a collection of dynamic characters running the gamut of LGBTQ+ representation. Within the past few years, the comics industry has gifted us a leading DC Comics title featuring an out gay vigilante, a whirlwind of out artists, writers and creators such as Kevin Wada and Kris Anka, who add queer perspectives to the medium every day, allowing readers to finally engage with queer characters they can relate to.
In addition to new queer characters, comics has shown us progressive gender-swapped narratives, from the female iteration of Thor to Spider-Gwen, an alternate take on the ill-fated Gwen Stacy. Race, gender, and sexual orientation have been blended to create astonishing character additions. From the pantheon cast of The Wicked + The Divine, to the vibrant world of sci-fi otherness on display in Saga, it’s clear: comics are changing, a fact we couldn’t be happier to celebrate. Here are 7 prime examples to close out Pride Month in style.
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The Wicked + The Divine, by Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie, & Matt Wilson
The Wicked+ the Divine, created by the all-star creative team of Jamie Mckelvie and Kieron Gillen, is a tale of pop stars who double as modern-day gods. Think Sahkmet, Egyptian lion goddess of war, as a seductive, pansexual take on Rihanna; or Baal, the god of thunder, as a bisexual comic counterpart to Kanye West. Of course, a pantheon of pop star gods wouldn’t be complete without the great seducer herself, Lucy, a David-Bowie-inspired, gender-swapped version of fallen angel Lucifer. Each god/pop star has two years to make an impact on earth before they are fated to die. Filled with sex, obsession, music, and sin, The Wicked+ the Divine offers one of the most delicious takes on pop culture and fandom in comics.
Midnighter, by Steve Orlando, Aco, Stephen Mooney, & Alec Morgan
It’s no secret many have swooned over the idea of a queer Batman. (I may or may not be guilty of said charge.) Well, daydream no more: DC’s Midnighter is the hero those dreams are made of! A vigilante with a tendency to break bones and asks questions later, Midnighter is brooding, witty, and pretty dang sexy. Major butt kicking aside, Midnighter is more than a queer hero with bite. He’s human and humble, and he has an adorable crush on Nightwing. He’s a refreshing addition and a hero for the people. Get to know him a little more.
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Rat Queens, by Kurtis J. Weibe, Tess Fowler, Stjepan Šejić, & Roc Upchurch
Combine the RPG fantasy games you’ve grown to love with a group of deliciously rowdy women and you’ve got Rat Queens. Based in medieval lore, the book’s cas is ripe with representation, from fully-bearded lady dwarves and pansexual elf mages to the most adorable halfling thief you’ll ever meet. The fearsome quartet works as a dependable all-women heroes-for-hire corps to handle your standard medieval woes.Happen to stumble upon a troll rummaging for gold in your back yard? The Rat Queens have your back. Filled with evil ex-girlfriends, magic ‘shrooms, and bar romps, this one is equal parts sass, swords, and sorcery.
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Adrian and the Tree of Secrets, by Hubert & Marie Caillou
Adrian lives in a small town, attends Catholic school, and secretly reads philosophy. He’s berated by a homophobic mother and has little hope of finding any joy in life…until he falls for the coolest kid at school, Jeremy. A poignantbalance between melancholy and bliss, the book unearths the beauty of those awkward teenage years. If you loved The Perks of Being a Wallflower, chances are, this comic is the one for you.
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Massive: Gay Japanese Manga and the Men Who Make It, by Anne Ishii, Graham Kolbeins, & Chip Kidd
This astonishing anthology of manga invites you to the take a further look at the men that occupy manga pages, and their creators who put them there. Burly, hairy, and curvy, the machismo-filled collection promises to immerse you in a world filled with artistic male beauty. Featuring interviews with some of manga’s biggest queer presences, the book is as insightful as it is mesmerizing. (Though its important to note this one is decidedly NSFW.)
Jem and the Holograms, by Kelly Thompson & Sophie Campbell
Jem has long been a gay staple. Bright colors and sci-fi extravaganza aside, the character represents an important element in the gay community: the power of transformation. That transformative state, combined with ’80s glamour, makes it a no-brainer that she’s a queer favorite. To evolve the title, comic publisher IDW and the creative team have made leads Kimber and Stormer a lesbian couple, and added a significant transgender character in Blaze, guitarist for J&tH rivals The Misfits (co-creator Sophie Campbell is openly transgender). And you thought you couldn’t love Jem more than you already did. (Truly outrageous.)
Angela: Asgard’s Assassin, by Kieron Gillen, Marguerite Bennett, & Stephanie Hans
An angelic assassin meets a trans woman of color, Sera, and the two vie for a place as one of the most compelling, dynamic couples in comics. Angela, originally a Spawn character, made her way to the Marvel universe as the half-sister of Thor and Loki, and has since been busy been shaking things up. It’s when she meets her soon-to-be lover, Sera, that we see intriguing new dimensions to the warrior. Together, the women are a vibrant maelstrom of wit and grit, while Sera hilariously breaks the fourth wall (something for which you can thank Wicked+Divine alum Kieron Gillen). Angela makes for a relatable queer hero as she often struggles with her emotions, while Sera, metaphorically and sometimes literally, exists to challenge and elevate her partner’s ideals.
What representative titles would you add to our list?