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Transposes
Dylan Edwards’ Transposes separates gender from sexuality and illustrates six fascinating true stories of transgender men who also happen to be queer. The result is laugh-out-loud funny, heartbreaking, challenging, inventive, informative, and invites the reader to explore what truly makes a man a man.
Includes a foreword by New York Times bestselling author Alison Bechdel (Fun Home, Are You My Mother?)
Includes a foreword by New York Times bestselling author Alison Bechdel (Fun Home, Are You My Mother?)
Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
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About the author
Dylan Edwards
3 books19 followersDylan Edwards is the author of several comics, including Transposes, a biography of queer-identified trans masculine people. It was a finalist for the 2013 Lambda Literary Award for Transgender Nonfiction. His new book, Politically InQueerect: Old Ghosts and Other Stories, is out from Northwest Press in 2015. His current project is Valley of the Silk Sky, a queer YA science fiction webcomic.
His work has also appeared in several anthologies, including the Ignatz Award-winning QU33R (Northwest Press, 2013); the Lambda Literary Award-winning No Straight Lines (Fantagraphics, 2012); and the queer sci-fi/fantasy anthology Beyond (2015).
His work has also appeared in several anthologies, including the Ignatz Award-winning QU33R (Northwest Press, 2013); the Lambda Literary Award-winning No Straight Lines (Fantagraphics, 2012); and the queer sci-fi/fantasy anthology Beyond (2015).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
April 20, 2018
This book was a gift from Skye (thank you Skye!!!!) and I'm so glad I got a chance to read it.
The art is wonderful. All black and white and shades of gray, which works well here. And the stories, seven "oral histories" adapted to comic form, are enjoyable and interesting. They are stories of people the author knows I believe, and there is an intro by Alison Bechdel. These are stories about coming out, and about finding love, or making sense of one's relationship to love of different kinds.
The stories could have been more in-depth. I was sometimes confused by the transitions, as it were, or the jumping around in people's timelines. And most of the stories in here left me with many questions. That said, it's great to read a book that focuses on "queer" trans men, by which I think the author means trans men who are not "straight" identified.
My main complaint, something I find it really upsetting and in other circumstances I might have given it a significantly lower rating, is that there are no interviews with people that are readable as people of color and yet there are people of color in here for a few frames who are in essence helping bring out a non poc person's story. Which reads to me like emotional labor of a sort. Which is frustrating. Would be great to see a book like this with all poc people's stories. I wonder if something like that exists. Well, either way, I don't think there can be too many oral histories in sequential art form.
The language for transness the author uses is not the language I would use. FTM kind of irks me, because it goes along with this narrative of changing from one gender to another, and that is not how I think of transness. But, terms seem to change all the time, and maybe at some point in my life, however briefly, I used that terminology.
All in all I appreciated these stories, their humor and pathos and beauty, and I'm glad the book exists and I only hope there will be more similar books that represent more (and more) voices and experiences.
The art is wonderful. All black and white and shades of gray, which works well here. And the stories, seven "oral histories" adapted to comic form, are enjoyable and interesting. They are stories of people the author knows I believe, and there is an intro by Alison Bechdel. These are stories about coming out, and about finding love, or making sense of one's relationship to love of different kinds.
The stories could have been more in-depth. I was sometimes confused by the transitions, as it were, or the jumping around in people's timelines. And most of the stories in here left me with many questions. That said, it's great to read a book that focuses on "queer" trans men, by which I think the author means trans men who are not "straight" identified.
My main complaint, something I find it really upsetting and in other circumstances I might have given it a significantly lower rating, is that there are no interviews with people that are readable as people of color and yet there are people of color in here for a few frames who are in essence helping bring out a non poc person's story. Which reads to me like emotional labor of a sort. Which is frustrating. Would be great to see a book like this with all poc people's stories. I wonder if something like that exists. Well, either way, I don't think there can be too many oral histories in sequential art form.
The language for transness the author uses is not the language I would use. FTM kind of irks me, because it goes along with this narrative of changing from one gender to another, and that is not how I think of transness. But, terms seem to change all the time, and maybe at some point in my life, however briefly, I used that terminology.
All in all I appreciated these stories, their humor and pathos and beauty, and I'm glad the book exists and I only hope there will be more similar books that represent more (and more) voices and experiences.
June 18, 2015
I didn't get a whole lot of insight out of this book that I hadn't read or thought about before, but the artwork was great and I think it's a good starting point for people who are interested in learning more about queer transmasculine people.
One complaint I have is that there don't seem to be any stories from the perspective of people of color, which could have been interesting to see, and which is a notably lacking narrative in transmasculine literature.
I recommend this book if you're a cis person trying to learn more, or if you're a queer transmasculine person who's just starting to figure things out. For me, it kind of felt like old hat.
One complaint I have is that there don't seem to be any stories from the perspective of people of color, which could have been interesting to see, and which is a notably lacking narrative in transmasculine literature.
I recommend this book if you're a cis person trying to learn more, or if you're a queer transmasculine person who's just starting to figure things out. For me, it kind of felt like old hat.
March 12, 2014
See the whole text of my review at No Flying No Tights
In short: My only complaint here is that, by design, Edwards gives only a short glimpse of each man. Just as I come to know one character, Edwards is off to the next. While the technique is smart and effective and makes for an easy read, I would have happily settled in for a longer visit with any of these men. But this is a complaint that essentially boils down to “this book was so good I wanted more,” and that’s not so bad.
In short: My only complaint here is that, by design, Edwards gives only a short glimpse of each man. Just as I come to know one character, Edwards is off to the next. While the technique is smart and effective and makes for an easy read, I would have happily settled in for a longer visit with any of these men. But this is a complaint that essentially boils down to “this book was so good I wanted more,” and that’s not so bad.
October 29, 2023
WARNING: I’d recommend this as an 18+ book there is a lot of sexual themes in this book and mentions of kinks and fetishes. If your not 18 then uh at least be of age to handle that kind of stuff in a mature context.
Also I’m not a trans man so your welcome to write off my entire review under the gise this book is speaking to trans men and I’m not one so what do I know?
That said. My opinions of this are rather short.
I appreciate the book for what it tried to do and think it’s essential reading for everyone if only to educate people on different prospectives of the trans identity, and for the book having the balls (pun intended.) to not shy away from telling stories of gay men who are proudly and openly sexual.
If I had to give any reasons why I’ve only given it three stars despite the great representation I’d say this.
1.) almost every story but two or three seemed to revolve around Sex, and many stories seemed to just show the characters only having one nightstands with other men. Which I wasn’t into both probably because I’m asexuel but also because after the third story it became predictable we were eventually going to here another story where a trans man saw a penis, or had sex with a straight guy who saw him as a man and felt empowered. Which is great! But from a writing standpoint very Sameish which is odd because at the start of the whole book we’re given a big speech about how each trans man experience is different in the book, but to be honest I don’t think this book showed off the perspective of a single trans man who wasn’t very sexual and where his conflicts didn’t derive from not being safe about his hookups except maybe one story. Honestly it was sad because I don’t even think there’s anything wrong with having sex but so many of these characters were clearly not educated on having sex safe. (Yes I know some of them were abused and safe sex is a two way street I am not blaming them, but I do still feel it’s needed to be pointed out safe sex and communication matter. I mean at point the book even shows a prospective where two guys are talking and one basically says “oh…I’d never disclose I had STDs.“ and maybe it’s cuz it’s the 80s in this book and so there was huge stigma around it, but idk I’d personally rather be stigmatized for disclosing this than putting it onto someone else because I didn’t. Though I will say in the epilogue we do learn this character eventually learned to have safe sex and open communication which amazing 10/10 as it should be.) and I mean I will acknowledge men who go on T do tend to have a higher sex drive and all, and again I do applause the book for bringing it up and not acting like sex is taboo. But still would have been nice to have more stories that didn’t make the love revole solely around pleasure from sex, or that explained it was about the love sex gave instead of the thrill of a one night stand that lead to complications due to neither party communicating healthily. Also ngl I think another risk of showing such a hyper sexual view of trans men is risking making men out to be only as valid as their sex life which can lead to toxic masculinity and like toxic masculinity is a problem many trans men can feel the need to conform to in order to pass so in that regard trans men just know you don’t have to have an active sex life to be valid.
In regards to sex I think Aaron and James probably had the best use of sex in the stories as in the end they both found true love and happiness with each other and got together and married for their love and it was very clear the sex for them was about growing closer and was very passionate and loving instead of a one night stand for thrills between two people who hardly communicated before sex and would never see each other again after.
Also yes I am aware these are all true stories that really happened and not fiction and he was just telling the stories of real people, which again is why it almost saddens me to know so many people had to go through so many bad sexual experiences due to a literal lack of proper communication and lack of understanding of what healthy sexual engagement is, and they had to learn all that through bad sex.
Sex aside, my second issue is as follows
2.) quite simply each story was very fast paced that I don’t feel like I got to sit with many characters stories and it made for choppy writing at points where things would just happen then their would be time skips. And some stories felt like the author only wanted to write the sex so any time something happened outside of the characters sex life it was just a brief mention of “oh yeah character has a life outside of sex but that’s not what we’re here to discuss.” The worst example of this is the story Blake which was so fast paced I felt like large parts of the story had to be written out for privacy sake maybe? I don’t know but it still felt like it jumped over some elements.
Although I don’t want to seem I’m just hating on this story as it did do a lot of things I enjoyed
1.) it offers positive representation of trans people and is essential reading in order to educate yourself on trans males especially since it’s a quick read. Also if it can speak truth and be relatable to trans men regardless of my opinions on it, then great it’s done it’s job and succeeded
2.) I applaud the artist for choosing to make this whole book in black and white yet using a painterly style and markers (I think it’s markers.) to color this. As usually we only see black and white art done when using graphite or in inked/digital manga art, but the art and coloring here is especially rich and painterly and offered many different hues while still being black and white which I appreciated!
3.) Avery’s story! His was probably my ultimate favorite because he was one of very few characters in the book who felt like he knew what he was talking about and was really sensible and well educated and not just rushing into things. He claimed he didn’t mind being misgendered because he didn’t want to make being called a girl into a bad thing. Of course it’s ok to feel bad being misgendered stand up for yourself, but the fact he pointed this out showed incredible kindness and care towards female issues and confidence in his own skin I applaud. Second he said “and I still have ethical concerns about passing as a guy in a system where this confers privileges I didn’t earn.” Which again shows incredibly good jugement towards gender issues and inequality. There’s often a thing mentioned where it’s “trans men go unrepresented compared to trans woman.” And this is true but there is a reason for that. The media will always find it more interesting to see a man who has more power in his gender and is in a position of gender power transition into a female where she will now be in a position of lower power. The media wants to know why anyone would choose to do such a thing. Yet for a woman to transition into a man who will have more power in their gender identity as a man, makes sense, it’s less interesting to the media to see someone want to gain social status by gender. At least in the medias eyes. So to see this acknowledged in some form in the book made me so happy.
Now this isn’t to say, trans men have it easier, absolutely not, but if a trans man CAN pass to a random stranger as 100% a cis man then they hold a position of higher power in their gender because their not as likely to be susceptible to the gender issues woman face, they won’t be looked down or turned into objects or have to worry about sexual abuse, and they’ll be more respected. (Only if they are privileged enough to pass as a man though.)
While in turn anyone identifying as female is going to be susceptible to the disadvantages of a woman if random strangers on the street can view them as such.
So really when the media gives more attention to trans woman it’s usually negative attention, or intended to somehow sexual trans woman and it goes back to the same issues biological woman face that trans woman now have to face too.
And yes trans men have MANY ISSUES too and that should be discussed and given more representation too, and this book is an amazing place to start in that regard. (I am 100% not against ftm rep and even have ftm characters I’m writing I was simply explaining why we see more mtf rep in the media, not defending it.)
Anyways thank you to this book for featuring a trans man who acknowledges these issues and seems to have a good grasp on gender inequality issues as a whole *cheers and claps*
Overall these are my thoughts on the book I think it’s essential reading to educate yourself regardless of it’s flaws and I’m glad it exists and can mean so much to man trans men, it’s just, the sex, well valid and should be destigmatized and normalized just wasn’t my cup of tea, especially as an ace. But other than that I liked this book! Read it if you haven’t in order to stay educated! Also engaging in SAFE SEX and open communication is manly, sexy and hot, not doing so is very unmanly and lame. (Unless you’ve been abused or taken advantage of, in which case, it wasn’t your fault, your not to blame, your valid, and Fuck your abuser.)
Also I’m not a trans man so your welcome to write off my entire review under the gise this book is speaking to trans men and I’m not one so what do I know?
That said. My opinions of this are rather short.
I appreciate the book for what it tried to do and think it’s essential reading for everyone if only to educate people on different prospectives of the trans identity, and for the book having the balls (pun intended.) to not shy away from telling stories of gay men who are proudly and openly sexual.
If I had to give any reasons why I’ve only given it three stars despite the great representation I’d say this.
1.) almost every story but two or three seemed to revolve around Sex, and many stories seemed to just show the characters only having one nightstands with other men. Which I wasn’t into both probably because I’m asexuel but also because after the third story it became predictable we were eventually going to here another story where a trans man saw a penis, or had sex with a straight guy who saw him as a man and felt empowered. Which is great! But from a writing standpoint very Sameish which is odd because at the start of the whole book we’re given a big speech about how each trans man experience is different in the book, but to be honest I don’t think this book showed off the perspective of a single trans man who wasn’t very sexual and where his conflicts didn’t derive from not being safe about his hookups except maybe one story. Honestly it was sad because I don’t even think there’s anything wrong with having sex but so many of these characters were clearly not educated on having sex safe. (Yes I know some of them were abused and safe sex is a two way street I am not blaming them, but I do still feel it’s needed to be pointed out safe sex and communication matter. I mean at point the book even shows a prospective where two guys are talking and one basically says “oh…I’d never disclose I had STDs.“ and maybe it’s cuz it’s the 80s in this book and so there was huge stigma around it, but idk I’d personally rather be stigmatized for disclosing this than putting it onto someone else because I didn’t. Though I will say in the epilogue we do learn this character eventually learned to have safe sex and open communication which amazing 10/10 as it should be.) and I mean I will acknowledge men who go on T do tend to have a higher sex drive and all, and again I do applause the book for bringing it up and not acting like sex is taboo. But still would have been nice to have more stories that didn’t make the love revole solely around pleasure from sex, or that explained it was about the love sex gave instead of the thrill of a one night stand that lead to complications due to neither party communicating healthily. Also ngl I think another risk of showing such a hyper sexual view of trans men is risking making men out to be only as valid as their sex life which can lead to toxic masculinity and like toxic masculinity is a problem many trans men can feel the need to conform to in order to pass so in that regard trans men just know you don’t have to have an active sex life to be valid.
In regards to sex I think Aaron and James probably had the best use of sex in the stories as in the end they both found true love and happiness with each other and got together and married for their love and it was very clear the sex for them was about growing closer and was very passionate and loving instead of a one night stand for thrills between two people who hardly communicated before sex and would never see each other again after.
Also yes I am aware these are all true stories that really happened and not fiction and he was just telling the stories of real people, which again is why it almost saddens me to know so many people had to go through so many bad sexual experiences due to a literal lack of proper communication and lack of understanding of what healthy sexual engagement is, and they had to learn all that through bad sex.
Sex aside, my second issue is as follows
2.) quite simply each story was very fast paced that I don’t feel like I got to sit with many characters stories and it made for choppy writing at points where things would just happen then their would be time skips. And some stories felt like the author only wanted to write the sex so any time something happened outside of the characters sex life it was just a brief mention of “oh yeah character has a life outside of sex but that’s not what we’re here to discuss.” The worst example of this is the story Blake which was so fast paced I felt like large parts of the story had to be written out for privacy sake maybe? I don’t know but it still felt like it jumped over some elements.
Although I don’t want to seem I’m just hating on this story as it did do a lot of things I enjoyed
1.) it offers positive representation of trans people and is essential reading in order to educate yourself on trans males especially since it’s a quick read. Also if it can speak truth and be relatable to trans men regardless of my opinions on it, then great it’s done it’s job and succeeded
2.) I applaud the artist for choosing to make this whole book in black and white yet using a painterly style and markers (I think it’s markers.) to color this. As usually we only see black and white art done when using graphite or in inked/digital manga art, but the art and coloring here is especially rich and painterly and offered many different hues while still being black and white which I appreciated!
3.) Avery’s story! His was probably my ultimate favorite because he was one of very few characters in the book who felt like he knew what he was talking about and was really sensible and well educated and not just rushing into things. He claimed he didn’t mind being misgendered because he didn’t want to make being called a girl into a bad thing. Of course it’s ok to feel bad being misgendered stand up for yourself, but the fact he pointed this out showed incredible kindness and care towards female issues and confidence in his own skin I applaud. Second he said “and I still have ethical concerns about passing as a guy in a system where this confers privileges I didn’t earn.” Which again shows incredibly good jugement towards gender issues and inequality. There’s often a thing mentioned where it’s “trans men go unrepresented compared to trans woman.” And this is true but there is a reason for that. The media will always find it more interesting to see a man who has more power in his gender and is in a position of gender power transition into a female where she will now be in a position of lower power. The media wants to know why anyone would choose to do such a thing. Yet for a woman to transition into a man who will have more power in their gender identity as a man, makes sense, it’s less interesting to the media to see someone want to gain social status by gender. At least in the medias eyes. So to see this acknowledged in some form in the book made me so happy.
Now this isn’t to say, trans men have it easier, absolutely not, but if a trans man CAN pass to a random stranger as 100% a cis man then they hold a position of higher power in their gender because their not as likely to be susceptible to the gender issues woman face, they won’t be looked down or turned into objects or have to worry about sexual abuse, and they’ll be more respected. (Only if they are privileged enough to pass as a man though.)
While in turn anyone identifying as female is going to be susceptible to the disadvantages of a woman if random strangers on the street can view them as such.
So really when the media gives more attention to trans woman it’s usually negative attention, or intended to somehow sexual trans woman and it goes back to the same issues biological woman face that trans woman now have to face too.
And yes trans men have MANY ISSUES too and that should be discussed and given more representation too, and this book is an amazing place to start in that regard. (I am 100% not against ftm rep and even have ftm characters I’m writing I was simply explaining why we see more mtf rep in the media, not defending it.)
Anyways thank you to this book for featuring a trans man who acknowledges these issues and seems to have a good grasp on gender inequality issues as a whole *cheers and claps*
Overall these are my thoughts on the book I think it’s essential reading to educate yourself regardless of it’s flaws and I’m glad it exists and can mean so much to man trans men, it’s just, the sex, well valid and should be destigmatized and normalized just wasn’t my cup of tea, especially as an ace. But other than that I liked this book! Read it if you haven’t in order to stay educated! Also engaging in SAFE SEX and open communication is manly, sexy and hot, not doing so is very unmanly and lame. (Unless you’ve been abused or taken advantage of, in which case, it wasn’t your fault, your not to blame, your valid, and Fuck your abuser.)
April 24, 2024
This is very light and a bit amateurish but that adds to its honesty and punk rock vibe.
October 12, 2024
I had no idea this book was queer when I picked it out, but I LOVED it! A story of 6 different trans folks with different identities and different experiences share their gender journey with us.
November 7, 2017
I really liked this collection of vignettes about trans men. What fascinates me from a comics perspective is that each of these stories were told to someone who then wrote and illustrated them, instead of being created directly by the person who experienced them.
September 1, 2021
3.5 stars
Art: simplified realism
The 'zine-style sequential art narrative is exceptionally well done. One story, for example, uses a creative technique to tell the two men's stories separately but on the same page, and, over several pages, this technique takes us smoothly into a story jointly told. In another story, instead of going into unnecessary detail as one FTM discovers his identity, the protagonist is only given three speech bubbles over three panels while he speaks with his therapist: "Gender stuff?" "Gender stuff." "Gender stuff!" Ah, punctuation as expressive art that shows both the passage of time and the growth of an individual!
Stories: six one-shots
All six stories are interesting. Some are "a (significant) moment in time"; I don't like those ones as much--they feel jarring, disconnected. The rest are more "this is my transition story, covering up to where I am now" and I love those ones. The variety of relationships is balanced, with some long-term couples and other single men, and the issues are all different, insightful, and sensitive. I don't feel a deep connection with any of the men--although bravely personal, their stories are simply too condensed and crisp. That said, while reading, my attention never wavered from wanting to know their perspectives.
I especially like how each individual--despite all of them being FTM--has a unique gender and sexual identity. Gender is very personal and very fluid! This book is the perfect educational starting place for trans awareness.
Publisher: Northwest Press
Every single print book I have purchased from this publisher is top-rate quality! Ink, paper, colours, formatting, binding--no complaints!
Recommended: Everyone
I wish everyone could read this book, could listen to the people Dylan Edwards has allowed to speak. I want more people to find that brilliant, unforgettable moment of recognition, or to find that place where they mature in their respect and knowledge of others.
Now, who wants to make a similar style book profiling several MTF people? I want that book, too!
Art: simplified realism
The 'zine-style sequential art narrative is exceptionally well done. One story, for example, uses a creative technique to tell the two men's stories separately but on the same page, and, over several pages, this technique takes us smoothly into a story jointly told. In another story, instead of going into unnecessary detail as one FTM discovers his identity, the protagonist is only given three speech bubbles over three panels while he speaks with his therapist: "Gender stuff?" "Gender stuff." "Gender stuff!" Ah, punctuation as expressive art that shows both the passage of time and the growth of an individual!
Stories: six one-shots
All six stories are interesting. Some are "a (significant) moment in time"; I don't like those ones as much--they feel jarring, disconnected. The rest are more "this is my transition story, covering up to where I am now" and I love those ones. The variety of relationships is balanced, with some long-term couples and other single men, and the issues are all different, insightful, and sensitive. I don't feel a deep connection with any of the men--although bravely personal, their stories are simply too condensed and crisp. That said, while reading, my attention never wavered from wanting to know their perspectives.
I especially like how each individual--despite all of them being FTM--has a unique gender and sexual identity. Gender is very personal and very fluid! This book is the perfect educational starting place for trans awareness.
Publisher: Northwest Press
Every single print book I have purchased from this publisher is top-rate quality! Ink, paper, colours, formatting, binding--no complaints!
Recommended: Everyone
I wish everyone could read this book, could listen to the people Dylan Edwards has allowed to speak. I want more people to find that brilliant, unforgettable moment of recognition, or to find that place where they mature in their respect and knowledge of others.
Now, who wants to make a similar style book profiling several MTF people? I want that book, too!
May 12, 2014
Super-great. Writer/illustrated Dylan Edwards does a bang up job framing and telling short stories/scenes from the lives of 7 different QFTMs (female-to-male transguys who are mainly attracted to cisgender men or other transguys). I loved techniques like the one found on pg 52--three panels, showing a budding transman becoming more comfortable with himself over time as he talks with his therapist: dialogue in first panel = Adam, slumped in chair: "Gender stuff?" Therapist: "Gender stuff." 2nd panel: Adam, sitting up a bit straighter, gesturing to self: "Gender stuff." Therapist: "Gender stuff." 3rd panel, Adam, sitting fully straight and making grand gesture with his arm fully extended: "Gender stuff!" Therapist: "Gender stuff." I enjoyed Edwards's funny details in the backgrounds of many scenes (names of vibrators at a sex toy store, for ex), ear for dialogue ("I've made a list of gender- and power-neutral acts in which we may engage"), and skill at capturing insights ("I used to date women exclusively...until I realized that not wanting to date misogynist guys is not the same thing as being a lesbian"). Good stuff. As I often find with graphic novels & other graphic-format books, I appreciated the art and skill of Tranposes more the 2nd time I read it.
January 17, 2018
Beautiful drawn art, some old terminology that feels alienating at least to me, and interesting stories that feel a bit cut short. But perhaps they were just long enough to leave me wondering? No, I don't think so, they weren't long enough to stay in my mind for longer than a few hours, I'm already starting to forget.
Don't get me wrong, it was a good read and probably a meaningful book for many. The stories were diverse. A bit more about sex and sexuality than I expected.
Don't get me wrong, it was a good read and probably a meaningful book for many. The stories were diverse. A bit more about sex and sexuality than I expected.
August 8, 2022
If this had been twice as long I would have rated it 5 stars. The stories felt rushed, trying to pack 7 of them in a hundred pages. Being from 2013 the language is a bit outdated, although I think that the stories held up well regardless.
August 6, 2013
I found that some of the plots were underdeveloped, and the book made me wish that it was twice as long. Devoured it in an hour.
March 26, 2014
It was ok. Very easy read. At points I felt like I was reading a craigslist missed connection ad.
July 11, 2018
I'm glad this book exists, and it's beautifully drawn, but I wish we spent a lot more time with each character; two of the stories cut off quite abruptly for reasons I didn't really understand. I also would have like to see a little more diversity of experience in terms of gender expression and race, but it's still very good. A quick read!
November 29, 2020
This book was really too short, I wanted so much more of an exploration of these characters lives. Each one was unique and interesting and we get such brief snapshots of moments in their lives. But it really had a lot of heart and I’m glad to be able to read it.
March 23, 2023
About the struggles and joys of identity, and everything in between.
—
review: read this for class, and i think it was a fun and touching overview of the trans experience. i definitely have a great deal of respect for the trans community, and this comic did a good job at telling these men’s stories in a way that was genuine, respectful, and fun. it wasn’t anything life-changing or groundbreaking in my personal reading experience, but i enjoyed it all the same. 3.5/5.
—
review: read this for class, and i think it was a fun and touching overview of the trans experience. i definitely have a great deal of respect for the trans community, and this comic did a good job at telling these men’s stories in a way that was genuine, respectful, and fun. it wasn’t anything life-changing or groundbreaking in my personal reading experience, but i enjoyed it all the same. 3.5/5.
August 6, 2018
The last one (with dual perspectives) was confusing to me, but otherwise, I liked it.
March 7, 2021
Insightful and enjoyable reading that explores the stories of queer trans men.
January 5, 2023
I wanted to like this more than I did. I like the idea, but found the stories too short and a bit confusing. Still, well worth reading.
January 22, 2022
Required reading for all allies. Makes the beautiful connection between outward and inward desire, and how both desires are so powerful that they won’t be contained. We desire to have (outward), but we also desire to be (inward). You can obtain each and every object that your body calls out for, but what else is your body saying?
February 25, 2017
Five trillion gazillion stars.
Dylan Edwards says he wrote the book he wishes he had had and it is everything I have been missing without even knowing about it. Seven stories, each unique and different, about queer ftms and they feel so real and familiar, I get this terrible longing towards something I can't quite articulate. These stories make you laugh, and kinda get embarrassed because have thought about that thing too... and they make you go awww (one of the guys has a dad who is a gentle bird whisperer), and sort of really happy and sad at the same time. This book reminded me of so many positive amazing happy hopeful things that come with this journey. A must read.
Dylan Edwards says he wrote the book he wishes he had had and it is everything I have been missing without even knowing about it. Seven stories, each unique and different, about queer ftms and they feel so real and familiar, I get this terrible longing towards something I can't quite articulate. These stories make you laugh, and kinda get embarrassed because have thought about that thing too... and they make you go awww (one of the guys has a dad who is a gentle bird whisperer), and sort of really happy and sad at the same time. This book reminded me of so many positive amazing happy hopeful things that come with this journey. A must read.
January 18, 2018
Powered through author-subject interviews, Dylan Edwards’s graphic novel Transposes presents six biographical stories that take us into the lives of seven diverse FTM transgender individuals, doing so with humor, poignancy, insight, and great empathy. I consider myself no slouch when it comes to awareness of the vast spectrum of queer & gender issues out there and I still learned quite a bit reading this - the power of personal storytelling for imparting information should never be underestimated. I hasten to add, however, that Transposes does not read as a lesson book, polemic or didactic at all. That said, I do believe the book would be a valuable tool for college courses - and maybe even for some really enlightened high school classes, though this may be a far too optimistic hope even in this day and age - that focus beyond strict binaries of gender & sexuality. I've already recommended it to several therapists I know who work with transgender clients; I think anyone struggling with gender dysphoria could find this a really empowering and entertaining resource, not unlike the two issues of the wonderful comic book Just So You Know by Joey Alison Sayers, which explore her MTF transition. Add to all this a fine, eloquent forward by Alison Bechdel and you've got another triumph from Northwest Press.
March 2, 2017
Transposes was a really great read. It was a good way to showcase a variety of FTM identities and experiences that worked well together. At times, it may have seemed very queer and sex-oriented, but it seemed relevant to the book. I live and work in a very queer space and enjoyed it as a piece that explores and shares personal narratives regarding, gender, sexuality, and their intersections. When my mother came to me with fairly basic questions regarding the distinction between gender and sexuality, I asked if she wanted to borrow this book. After she read it, she said it did help answer her questions. I would recommend it to anyone who's looking to understand gender, sexuality, and their effects on relationships, or to anyone who has a fair understanding and enjoys personal narratives.
April 15, 2014
Un libro che spiazza. Dopo aver letto l'introduzione mi aspettavo una graphic novel densa invece sono piccoli "episodi", piccoli flash che mostrano le mille sfaccettature del genere e dell'auto defeinirsi, della ricerca di una identità, del continuare a vivere in momvimento o del trovare un funto di arrivo che soddisfi.
Le storie sono "incomplete" in quanto non vogliono essere le storie di una intera vita ma solo la testimonianza di tratti di vita, di percorsi di ricerca e di cammini.
Le storie sono molto ben rese ed il libro scorre lieve e estremamente piacevole. Ci si puo' specchiare o si possono incontrare emozioni e situazioni sconosciute.
E' un buono spaccato, nessuna definizione assolutista ma solo le storie di Cal, Jmes, Aaron, Avery e così via.
Piacevole e divertente.
Le storie sono "incomplete" in quanto non vogliono essere le storie di una intera vita ma solo la testimonianza di tratti di vita, di percorsi di ricerca e di cammini.
Le storie sono molto ben rese ed il libro scorre lieve e estremamente piacevole. Ci si puo' specchiare o si possono incontrare emozioni e situazioni sconosciute.
E' un buono spaccato, nessuna definizione assolutista ma solo le storie di Cal, Jmes, Aaron, Avery e così via.
Piacevole e divertente.
August 14, 2016
This graphic novel tells the story of seven people who have undergone change. The author has interviewed subjects who identified themselves as queer-identified transmen. These people trusted Edwards with their stories and he has presented them with wonderful illustrations. The stories are diverse and show that the journey for each is both different and the same. How the world sees people and reacts to them is important and can be affirming or confusing. This compilation of stories may help those who are confused to see things more clearly. Have you ever wondered about who you are or who you want to be? Even if you have not questioned your gender or your sexuality, the themes here are universal. Change can be good, can be confusing, can make your life quite different and also can make it ok.
January 26, 2013
This book was first giveaway I ever won. It's different and enjoyable. Dylan Edwards, a FTM transsexual, writes 6 autobiographical accounts of other FTM transsexuals. As someone who prefers women and femininity, I thought I would find it difficult to relate to women who want to become men, even less so to women who want to become men but are attracted to men, but it was never difficult to identify and empathize with the FTMs in this graphic novel.
A recommended and life expanding experience.
A recommended and life expanding experience.
December 11, 2012
I loved the narratives, the variety, the artwork. Great project. Fun read. Nicely done. Good attention to detail. Also, superqueer. Anyway, how could you go wrong with an Alison Bechdel recommendation? I loved the narratives, the variety, the artwork. Great project. Fun read. Nicely done. Good attention to detail. Also, superqueer. Anyway, how could you go wrong with an Alison Bechdel recommendation?
December 9, 2012
Edwards has been drawing for years and it shows. He's able to convey subtleties like the changes in a trans man's body over time as testosterone masculinizes his appearance. The stories told range from the comic to the romantic. Transposes captures a diversity of individual styles that manage to express some of the range of experience within this tiny minority within a minority, gay trans men. Recommended gifting for the queers in your life.
July 18, 2017
die idee hat mir gefallen. und die geschichten meistens auch.
aber irgendwie hab ich das gefühl das es doch sehr oberflächlich war.
und wenn ich dann in den kommentaren hier lese das menschen von "frauen die männer sein wollen" schreiben, frag ich mich was überhaupt ankommt bei diesen menschen, außer sensationsfreude.
aber vlt ist das auch einfach wieder mein problem mit comics. das sie auf gewisse weise oft oberflächlich bleiben.
aber irgendwie hab ich das gefühl das es doch sehr oberflächlich war.
und wenn ich dann in den kommentaren hier lese das menschen von "frauen die männer sein wollen" schreiben, frag ich mich was überhaupt ankommt bei diesen menschen, außer sensationsfreude.
aber vlt ist das auch einfach wieder mein problem mit comics. das sie auf gewisse weise oft oberflächlich bleiben.
December 31, 2012
I bought this at the Alternative Press Expo after seeing Dylan speak on a panel about Queer comic creators. Groundbreaking and very interesting, this graphic book compiles several interviews with different FTM trans men. The art is a little awkward but I can definitely see Dylan developing as an artist. I'm looking forward to seeing what else he makes in the future.
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