Pride is celebrated in June, but cartoons and graphic novels featuring gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender characters aren’t limited to the month. Check out recent, new, and upcoming books featuring adventure stories, personal recollections, commentaries on famous novels, and more.
“Dog Knight”
Frankie Jude Bryant is a non-binary middle school student with identity, academic challenges, and trying to become a human-canine champion, Dog Knight. Despite the presence of the magical talking dog, this journey of heroism and self-discovery feels grounded thanks to the captions that enter Frankie’s head with a penchant for they/their pronouns. increase. On the first page, think, “Did I ever get confused?” Later, Frankie muses about Dallas, a frenemy who misgendered them. And when Frankie found their tribe, “I looked in the mirror for the first time in a long time, and I didn’t feel any pain in my pit.” Leone. (Faywell & Friends. Available now. )
“A Little Mary Me a Graphic Memoir”
Cartoonist Rob Kirby chronicles a 2013 march down the Minnesota aisle with longtime partner John Capecchi. The story focuses on the state of same-sex marriage at the time (each state had its own rules before same-sex marriage became law in 2015) and somehow managed to marry Jack Baker. recalls Michael McConnell. Personal memories are powerful and honest. Rob remembers the first time he casually used the word “husband,” which felt like “a small but genuine political act.” He also admits that white middle-class privilege has made him ambivalent about marriage. Here are his final conclusions: “Marriage doesn’t define a relationship. Unless you want it to.” (graphic mundi. Available now. )
“Gatsby”
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby’s messages of status, love, and chasing dreams are reimagined today with a racially and sexually diverse cast of characters in their twenties. there is Gatsby is a black tech billionaire looking for his fugitive lover, and Nick Carraway’s stand-in Lu Zhao is visiting from Singapore to spend the summer on Long Island (afternoon shopping for $5,000 or more is casual. (representing wealth). The main characters are refreshingly open about their sexuality. Lou’s girlfriend Alexis asks, “How do you identify yourself?” But as Alexis says, Lou’s answer doesn’t really matter. “I love going on this journey with you.” I’ll be here for you no matter what. Written by Jeremy Holt, illustrated by Felipe Cunha and colored by Diabla Kelly. (Awa. Available now. )
“Hex Americana”
Cartoonist Bree Wolf spins stories about auto racing, teenage romance, monsters and ghosts. The flesh-and-blood Ken makes an unlikely alliance with Dante, who died in a previous race and haunts his car as a ghost. If the partnership is successful, Ken will be able to compete in the annual Grand Prix and help Dante move on to the afterlife. Over 300 pages of story packed with character development, action, flashbacks and drama. Ken’s relationship with his mother, Karen, is particularly nuanced. Karen is supportive of her gay son, but when her overbearing friend James makes a flippant joke about Ken, she’s at a loss for what to do right. (iron circus comic. August 30)
“Deathdrop: Drag Assassin”
What this five-part series calls gay barhood has seen better days. Thugs feel empowered to assault young gay men, and a drag queen named Lunaira has gone missing from the club Posterio Delusion. Residents have little trust in the local police. Former hitman and current drag queen Death Drop is urged by club hostess Mother Henny to find Lunaira. “She’s a queen of color, but she’s been missing for over two days,” says her mother Henny. “You do the math.” Fortunately, Death Drop and Mother Henny used to date. Let’s start investigating. Written by David Hazan, drawn and colored by Alex Moore. (scout comics. June 14th)
“Turtle Bread”
British baker and cookbook author Kim Joy teamed up with artist Arti Firmansher for this story about Yang, who struggles with low self-esteem and social anxiety. When Yang finds a local baking club, he is plagued by doubts about whether he will fit in or be liked, but he soon learns that everyone struggles in different ways. Yang eventually felt confident enough to rally the members of the club together to find and support fellow bakers in need. Yang qualifies as an ally, but there are gay and lesbian characters who play an important role in the story. And there’s even a recipe that contains the title of this story. (original comicsology. Available now. )
