Author Archives: Allen Thomas

Health and Inclusivity: Sparking “The Fire Within” with Pryor, Kambadais, Birch, Franklin and Stewart

Health and Inclusivity: Sparking “The Fire Within” with Pryor, Kambadais, Birch, Franklin and Stewart

This Black History Month hit a little different. There was a new spirit, and it’s hard to put a name to or to hold, but I could see it in the bright eyes of my skinfolk, in people’s determination to not just celebrate but spur on change. I know so many people in my community

Health and Inclusivity: Considering Identity in Okura’s ‘I Think Our Son is Gay’

Queerness occupies a strange place in the world, pun not quite intended. From what I gather, which I hope is not my own projection, the queer and trans people I know just want to live and thrive, be nerds, have sex if we so choose or have people respect us if sexual or romantic attraction

Health and Inclusivity: Through Blackest Nights to Brightest Days with Jessica Cruz

Writing does not come as easily lately, in large part because *too much* is going on. As a result of the *too much*, my mind easily goes to places that are great for survival and making sure I still have an income, but at the cost of my own mental health, and, unfortunately, my creativity.

Health and Inclusivity: Exploring the Gay Journey in GIVEN by Natsuki Kizu

Music can be an equalizer. It can reveal things hidden within us or help us dive into our feelings. We can express joy, despair, happiness, anger, and many other emotions. So, what if music was the way to see yourself? To see others? To forge pivotal connections? In Given, we get to see not only

Health and Inclusivity: Breaking the Code in MY VIDEO GAMES ATE MY HOMEWORK

It’s one thing for video games to be a distraction, but I never imagined they could literally devour my schoolwork. Unfortunately for Dewey Jenkins, he is very much aware. Dustin Hansen and Corey Breen come together in My Video Game Ate My Homework, which details Dewey’s journey to recover a science project, leading him, his

Health and Inclusivity: Embracing the New in SCHOOL FOR EXTRATERRESTRIAL GIRLS

Adjustment is basically a synonym for adolescence. In Jeremy Whitley, Jamie Noguchi, Shannon Lilly, and Wilson Ramos Jr.’s School for Extraterrestrial Girls, Tara has to make some adjustments that neither she nor we would ever expect. In a matter of moments, Tara finds out she isn’t human, like at all, the people who raised her

Health and Inclusivity: The Past, Present, and Future of STE(A)M in Gifted’s P.B. SOLDIER

Without knowledge, what do you do? When you don’t know the outcome, how do you take a step forward and challenge unhelpful vestiges of your past? Nat Cummings is an assassin employed by The Establishment, a seedy government group that often leaves its motives hidden. In the course of doing his job, he begins to

Health and Inclusivity: Coming into Power with Jessi Zabarsky and WITCHLIGHT

What would you do if you were all you had in a world that felt at odds against you, if the expectations placed on you diminished your ability to live life on your terms? That is the question asked of Lelek and Sanja, the protagonists of the upcoming graphic novel Witchlight.   Written and illustrated

Health and Inclusivity: The Hard Road to Peace in FAR SECTOR

Sometimes, our journeys take us further than we ever expected. What we end up reaching has its own vestiges of our past as we uncover new experiences. In similar fashion, Sojourner Mullein, or Jo, is a new Green Lantern sent to the far reaches of space in N.K. Jemisin, Jamal Campbell, and Deron Bennett’s Far

Health and Inclusivity: Finding Commonality in Weaver, Lee, and Robles-Valdez’s THE UNCOMMONS

In an effort to do more to highlight the work of diverse creators, I recently sent out a message on Twitter about the column. One of the first people to interact with me was Tony Weaver, Jr., writer of The Uncommons through Weird Enough HQ, a publisher dedicated to enhancing representation and discussing the role

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