While Pride is celebrated in June, comics and graphic novels featuring LGBTQ+ characters can be enjoyed all year round. Check out these recent, new, and upcoming books that offer adventure stories, personal recollections, a contemporary twist to a famous novel, and more.
‘The Dog Knight’ Graphic Novel
‘The Dog Knight’ follows the journey of Frankie Jude Bryant, a nonbinary middle school student who is dealing with identity, academic challenges, and trying to become the Dog Knight, a champion for humans and canines. The story, which includes magical talking pooches, feels grounded thanks to captions that get into the head of Frankie, who prefers they/them pronouns. Written by Jeremy Whitley, with art by Bre Indigo and colouring by Melissa Capriglione, this graphic novel is an inspiring tale of heroism and self-discovery. (Published by Feiwel & Friends, available now.)
‘Marry Me a Little: A Graphic Memoir’
Cartoonist Rob Kirby chronicles his 2013 wedding to his longtime partner, John Capecchi, in Minnesota in ‘Marry Me A Little.’ The graphic memoir highlights where gay marriage stood at the time and looks back at the journey of Jack Baker and Michael McConnell, who were able to obtain a marriage license in Minneapolis in 1971, despite the fact that same-sex unions were not legal at that time. Kirby’s personal recollections are powerful and honest, revealing his own ambivalence about marriage, even as he casually uses the word ‘husband’. The memoir affirms that marriage does not define a relationship unless one wants it to. (Published by Graphic Mundi, available now.)
‘Gatsby’ Graphic Novel
‘Gatsby’ is a contemporary take on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic ‘The Great Gatsby’. The provocative story reimagines the primarily white, straight cast with a more racially and sexually diverse ensemble cast. The stand-in for Nick Carraway, Lu Zhao, is a man from Singapore summering in Long Island where he encounters a Black tech millionaire, Gatsby. The characters’ sexual identities are generally accepted by the others in the story. Alexis, Lu’s girlfriend, asks him, “How do you identify?” but the question isn’t of primary importance. Written by Jeremy Holt, with art by Felipe Cunha and color by Dearbhla Kelly. (Published by AWA, available now.)
‘Hex Americana’ Graphic Novel
‘Hex Americana’ by Bree Wolf is a thrilling tale about auto racing, teen romance, monsters, and ghosts. Ken forms an alliance with Dante, who, having died in a previous race, now haunts his car as a ghost. Ken is gay, and his relationship with Karen, his mother, is particularly nuanced. Karen is supportive of her son but reckons with her overbearing friend James when he makes thoughtless jokes about Ken. (Will be published by Iron Circus Comics on August 30, 2021.)
‘Death Drop: Drag Assassin’ 5-part Series
‘Death Drop: Drag Assassin’ is a five-part comic series that follows the journey of Death Drop, a former hitman, and current drag queen as he tries to find a missing drag queen named Lunaira. The comic’s setting, ‘The Gayborhood’, has seen better days, and thugs feel empowered to assault young gay men. Death Drop is motivated by the queen of color’s disappearance and pushed by Mother Henny, the hostess of the club they frequent, to aid the investigation. Written by David Hazan and illustrated by Alex Moore. (Will be published by Scout Comics on June 14, 2021.)
‘Turtle Bread’ Graphic Novel
‘Turtle Bread’ is a story that explores the experiences of Yan, a young woman struggling with low self-esteem and social anxiety. She finds a local baking club but is plagued with doubts about fitting in. However, she soon learns that everyone in the group struggles in different ways. The story, from British baker and cookbook writer Kim-Joy, is drawn by artist Alti Firmansyah and includes characters who are gay and lesbian and Yan, who becomes an ally to them. (Published by Comixology Originals, available now.)
