Have You Read Any of My Favorite LGBTQ+ Comic Books?
Pride month is about celebrating queer voices and identities. It’s also the time of year when I get to share my favorite LGBTQ+ comic books!
Comic books have frequently been a place for people to celebrate the things that make them different. These days, there’s no shortage of queer representation in comics, whether it’s on the page or on the other end of the pen. It’s a good time to celebrate the characters and creators who brighten up the colors in our favorite stories.
This list includes my favorite selections for your Pride reading list. It’s great to be inspired by the celebration, and queer creators are publishing stories all year ’round. Check out the books that mean the most to me, and then get to your local comic book shop! I’ll bet the folks who work there have some great LGBTQ+ comics they swear by, too.
DC Pride (2022)
It’s been a good year for queer representation at DC Comics thanks to the comic out of both Jonathan Kent and Tim Drake. DC’s annual anthology of stories to celebrate Pride will feature both characters, plus Nubia, Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, Batwoman, and so many more.
But the book’s biggest draw may perhaps be a story written by iconic Batman voice-actor Kevin Conroy. He shares a painfully triumphant story about being a gay man during his time playing the Caped Crusader – right at the height of the AIDS epidemic. The story is called “Finding Batman”, and it’s a valuable contrast to the lovey-dovey stories that comes before it.
Strangers in Paradise (1993)
If you’re looking for top-tier character-driven bisexual love triangles, it has never and will never get any better than Strangers in Paradise. This creator-owned series by Terry Moore started in 1993. The characters’ aesthetics and backgrounds make this comic gloriously nostalgic for 90s kids and teens. But it’s the strongly-developed personalities of Katchoo, Francine, and David that give this book its timeless status. It’s full of amazing conversations about sexuality, friendship, and commitment. It’s also got a damn good crime thriller sub-plot running through it. This story really can’t be missed for any comic book fan.
If you’re unsure, you can read it for free! If you have a Comixology subscription, the first volume is free to read.
My Brother’s Husband (2014)
Yaichi is a single father working hard to raise his bright, curious daughter Kana. After the death of his estranged twin brother Ryoki, Yaichi and Kana find themselves hosting Ryoki’s burly Canadian husband. The book is a heartfelt look into Japan’s views of homosexuality. Through Kana’s questions and her love of her new Uncle Mike, Yaichi is able to look at his own bias through a different set of eyes.
This is perfect for the lover of slice-of-life manga. It’s fully of plenty of adorable moments, and a few that will bring a tear to your eye, too.
The Prince & the Dressmaker (2018)
Frances is just a simple seamstress with big dreams. One day, a boldly-designed dress catches the attention of a mysterious patron. It turns out her new boss will be Prince Sebastian, whose parents are trying desperately to arrange a suitable marriage for him. Together, Frances and Sebastian give life to Lady Crystallia, the mysterious socialite whose daring looks are the talk of the fashion scene.
But as Sebastian continues to hide his true self from the world, his responsibilities begin to weigh on him. Will Frances’ designs get the spotlight they deserve? Can Sebastian take the throne dressed in the fabulous gowns he adores?
Wandering Son (2002)
Another must-read slice-of-life manga for Pride? Wandering Son is the incredibly sweet tale of a group of classmates as they grow up together. It centers around the trans girl Shuichi Nitori and her friend, a trans boy named Yoshino Takatsuki. At the start, the two are navigating their identities as their gender assigned at birth, and through dresses and haircuts begin to understand what it is that makes them so unique.
This is a notoriously beautiful book, and has also been adapted into a popular anime. Sadly, the first volume of the manga is out of print, both physically and digitally. Your best bet to find a copy? Try online thrift stores like Thrift Books.
