There’s been a lot of talk about diversity lately in the comic book industry, and not all of it good. But while some publishers are still talking about substantial LGBTA inclusion, others are out there doing it. We’ve been here before, with 70 other books that are offering significant queer representation. It’s time to wrap up an even 100 with 30 more indie titles that are giving queer fans life.
To check out the first 70 titles we looked at, go here and here.
Drama
Published by Scholastic
Written by Raina Telgemeier
Art by Raina Telgemeier
One of the most popular graphic novels of the past few years didn’t even hit most comic book shops. Written and drawn by multiple Eisner Award-winning and New York Times best-selling author Raina Telgemeier, Drama tells the story of Callie, a middle-school girl who loves set design for the theater. It touches on all aspects of love, from crushes to homosexuality.
Quantum Teens Are Go
Published by Black Mask Studio
Written by Magdalene Visaggio
Art by Erik Donovan and Claudia Aguirre
Teenagers in love working on building a homemade time machine out of parts stolen from different labs. What could go wrong? The writer of Kim & Kim and the artist of Memetic brings us queer and trans leads, punk sci-fi, and alienation on a wild ride.
The Old Guard
Published by Image Comics
Written by Greg Rucka
Art by Leandro Fernandez
Imagine living for centuries, learning a thousand ways to kill a man, but knowing you’ll outlive everyone you meet. With three of four lead characters on the queer spectrum, The Old Guard has barely begun telling the story of what it’s like to love (or languish) across centuries — only to light up in battle.
Gumballs
Published by Top Shelf Productions
Written by Erin Nations
Art by Erin Nations
Transforming his comic strip style to a brand new anthology, cartoonist Erin Nations tells a semi-autobiographical tale of his gender transition, depression, and just general awkward life.
Long Red Hair
Published by Conundrum Press
Written by Meags Fitzgerald
Art by Meags Fitzgerald
A graphic memoir that features a young pre-teen just realizing her bisexuality and struggling with being average, Long Red Hair takes readers through first kisses, sworn celibacy, witches, and the cultural allure of red hair throughout history.
Jade Street Protection Services
Published by Black Mask Studio
Written by Katy Rex
Art by Fabian Lelay, Mara Jayne Carpenter, and Taylor Esposito
Billed as a mash-up between The Breakfast Club and Sailor Moon, the young women of the Jade Street Protection Services care for people, fight the patriarchy, and just generally kick ass. The girls come from different backgrounds — Muslim, Japanese, Filipino — and there’s more to their powers and their school than meets the eye.
Transposes
Published by Northwest Press
Written by Dylan Edwards
Art by Dylan Edwards
Telling the stories of six different queer transgender men, Transposes takes on the idea of gender and sexuality being completely separate ideas through humor, information, and heartbreaking narrative.
Shirtlifter
Published by Northwest Press
Written by Steve MacIssac and various
Art by Steve MacIssac and various
Named for the British slang for a homosexual man, Shirtlifter features queer comics from a variety of writers and artists, but is first and foremost the brainchild of Steve MacIssac. Everything is tackled, from marriage to safe sex, passing to online dating.
Fun Home
Published by Mariner Books
Written by Alison Bechdel
Art by Alison Bechdel
Now a Broadway musical, Fun Home is a fully autobiographical graphic novel from the writer/artist of Dykes to Watch Out For. From Bechdel’s own coming of age and coming out arises a story of family drama, a funeral home, and a daughter’s relationship with her father.
Declaration
Self-published
Written by Joshua Trujillo
Art by Levi Hastings
Not your typical romance set in the American Revolutionary War period, Declaration introduces us to Zacherius and Hiram, who have to work out their feelings about the colonies and each other.
Spell on Wheels
Published by Dark Horse Comics
Written by Kate Leth
Art by Megan Levens and Marissa Louise
Three young witches set off on a road trip across the East coast, determined to recover some very special items stolen from them before any bad mojo can happen.
Adrian and the Tree of Secrets
Published by Arsenal Pulp Press
Written by Hubert
Art by Marie Caillou
Adrian is a young boy growing up in Catholic school, dogged by (true) rumors that he’s gay, and having to deal with a very strict mother. He manages to steal kisses with his best friend Jeremy in a tree house — until Jeremy’s girlfriend rats them out.
Flutter
Published by 215 Ink
Written by Jennie Wood
Art by Jeff McComsey
15 year old Lilly has a special power. She can transform from a girl to a boy in order to get a girl to like her (him). What she realizes along the way, however, is that changing gender is not really as simple as it seems.
Strangers in Paradise
Published by Abstract Studio
Written by Terry Moore
Art by Terry Moore
One of the longest-running, fully independent comics ever, Strangers in Paradise tells the story of Katchoo, who is in love with her best friend Francine, who is also loved by a young man named David. Much of the series is about Francine’s ambivalence as Katchoo’s history catches up to her.
Snapshots of a Girl
Published by Arsenal Pulp Press
Written by Beldan Sezen
Art by Beldan Sezen
An autobiographical graphic novel about a woman’s coming out as lesbian in both Western and Islamic cultures, Snapshots of a Girl is a thoroughly modern take on dyke culture, sexual politics, and family drama.
Freelance
Published by Chapter House Comics
Written by Jim Zub and Andrew Wheeler
Art by Vaneda Vireak
Full of international mystery and super-hero adventure, Freelance revitalizes a 1940s Canadian hero — Lance Valiant — now in public domain and gay. Joined by a spy and a pirate, Lance is the James Bond every young gay man really wanted, growing up.
Kim Reaper
Published by Oni Press
Written by Sarah Graley
Art by Sarah Graley
Kim is a college student and part-time reaper of souls, helping those on their way to the afterlife. Becka is a really shy girl who has a really big crush on Kim, not knowing anything of her job.
Love and Rockets
Published by Fantagraphic Books
Written by Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez
Art by Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez
Maggie and Hopey started off as best friends. Slowly but surely, their relationship blossomed into much more — more than romance even. Just two of the characters that encompass the world of Love & Rockets, but by far, they are two of the most memorable.
I.D.
Published by Image Comics
Written by Emma Rios
Art by Emma Rios
Originally serialized in the anthology series Island, I.D. features three characters — Noa, Charlotte, and Mike — who wish to undergo an experimental, cutting-edge treatment that will place their consciousnesses in another body. The series looks at identity, propriety, body language, and more.
Namesake
Published by BOOM! Studios
Written by Steve Orlando
Art by Jakub Rebelka
Jordan lost both his fathers and he has one shot to honor their wishes and dispose of their ashes in Ektae, a world where alchemy is considered science, that only overlaps with Earth every seven years.
Memetic
Published by BOOM! Studios
Written by James Tynion IV
Art by Eryk Donovan and Adam Guzowski
It’s the end of the world and it’s all because of an internet meme. Starring a young gay man named Aaron who survives because he has a hearing impairment, Memetic is a modern day horror story set in New York City with tinges of sci-fi and cyber-fantasy.
Stuck Rubber Baby
Published by Vertigo Comics
Written by Howard Cruse
Art by Howard Cruse
A graphic novel looking at homosexuality and racism in the 1960s, Stuck Rubber Baby is a literal classic gay graphic novel by underground cartoonist Howard Cruse. The main character tries to cure his homosexuality by marrying, and ultimately finds acceptance in the Black community.
Skim
Published by Groundwood Books
Written by Mariko Tamaki
Art by Jillian Tamaki
Kimberly Keiko Cameron, nicknamed Skim, is in private girls’ school in the 1990s, heavy-set and goth, and falling in love with her English teacher. When a (possibly) gay boy kills himself, the school goes into mourning, and that leaves Skim even more confused and alienated.
Honor Girl
Published by Candlewick Press
Written by Maggie Thrash
Art by Maggie Thrash
Camp Bellflower seems like the perfect place to fall in love for 15 year-old Maggie Thrash. Unless it’s with another girl. One innocent moment blossoms something in Maggie and a crush on the older camp counselor throws everything in her head into a whirlwind.
Nimona
Published by Harper Collins
Written by Noelle Stevenson
Art by Noelle Stevenson
Wracking up more awards than you can count, Nimona is subversive, charming, and fun. A shapeshifter who likes to cause trouble teams up with a queer villain, Lord Ballister Blackheart, to prove the heroes aren’t as great as they seem.
Princess Princess Ever After
Published by Oni Press
Written by Katie O’Neill
Art by Katie O’Neill
Sadie and Amira are two very different princesses, but they have one thing in common. They just need each other — not a prince charming — to have adventures, be saved, and live happily ever after.
Fight Club 2
Published by Dark Horse Comics
Written by Chuck Pahlaniuk
Art by Cameron Stewart
A seminal breakdown of masculinity and queerness, the story of Fight Club (the novel, not the film) continues in graphic form with the 10-part comic series and now graphic novel, written by the author himself.
Multiple Warheads
Published by Image Comics
Written by Brandon Graham
Art by Brandon Graham
Radioactive wastelands. Organ bounty hunters. Russia. Another serial from the anthology Island, Multiple Warheads stars a woman named Sexica and it gets even more crazy from there.
Moonlighters
Published by Space Goat Productions
Written by Katie Schenkel
Art by Cal Moray
A group of college-age kids who just happen to also be werewolves, the Moonlighters are a team of problem-solvers who count among their number gay, lesbian, bi, and asexual members. Currently a digital title that will be packaged as a Backpack Edition, Moonlighters is releasing its second issue next week.
I Like Your Headband
Self-published
Written by Elizabeth Beier
Art by Elizabeth Beier
An autobiographical graphic novel about a young woman exploring her bisexuality in childhood and her dating life in adulthood, I Like Your Headband was the winner of the 2016 Queer Press Award.
All told, that’s 100 independent comics with queer content, just waiting for you to enjoy! They’re just the beginning … the future is bright for LGBTA comics, comic creators, and fans. And Comicosity will be here for all of them, starting with:
Bingo Love
Just funded on Kickstarter! And coming from Image Comics in February 2018!
Self-published
Written by Tee Franklin
Art by Jenn St-Onge, Joy San, and Cardinal Rae
See what’s cooking with this beautiful queer love story now.