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When I Was Me
"Gender euphoria" is the overwhelming feeling of joy a gender-non-conforming person feels when their gender is explored, validated, and celebrated. From being called the right name, to photoshoots with friends, to performing as a different gender in a play; gender euphoria is something that can result from an infinite number of experiences.
When I Was Me is a collection of autobiographical comics about the joyful and euphoric experiences of being transgender, featuring stories from trans people with a wide range of gender identities, ages, and backgrounds! 100% of the team working on When I Was Me fits under the trans umbrella, from pre-press to artists. With 12 interior illustrations and over 60 comics, this book is a wonderful reminder that the trans experience is full of beauty and happiness.
Edited by Eve Greenwood and Alex Assan. Cover art by C. A. P. Ward. Book design by Spire Eaton.
When I Was Me is a collection of autobiographical comics about the joyful and euphoric experiences of being transgender, featuring stories from trans people with a wide range of gender identities, ages, and backgrounds! 100% of the team working on When I Was Me fits under the trans umbrella, from pre-press to artists. With 12 interior illustrations and over 60 comics, this book is a wonderful reminder that the trans experience is full of beauty and happiness.
Edited by Eve Greenwood and Alex Assan. Cover art by C. A. P. Ward. Book design by Spire Eaton.
96 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2021
2 people are currently reading
301 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
January 27, 2022
Το When I Was Me περιέχει αυτοβιογραφικά μονοσέλιδα κόμικς από δεκάδες δημιουργούς από ολόκληρο τον κόσμο.
Τα κόμικς αυτά, που μιλούν για την ευφορία φύλου, αυτό το συναίσθημα χαράς των τρανς και των μη-συμμορφώμενων με το φύλο ατόμων, όταν το φύλο τους γίνεται με οποιονδήποτε τρόπο validate, συγκέντρωσε σε μια συλλογή η Quindrie Press στη Σκωτία και ανέβασε στο Kickstarter τον περασμένο Σεπτέμβριο. Eκεί το είδα εγώ, του έκανα pledge και το βιβλίο έφτασε στα χέρια μου τις μέρες των γιορτών.
Aνάμεσα στ@ καλλιτέχν@ που συμμετέχουν στο βιβλίο είναι και δύο από την Ελλάδα, ο @stivaktis και η @ariadnetzn, ένα ακόμη μεγάλο πλας για να πάρω το When I Was Me στα χέρια μου.
Και είναι φοβερή η αποτύπωση των τρανς εμπειριών όλων αυτών των ατόμων από κάθε μεριά του πλανήτη, που με το ξεχωριστό κομιξικό και αφηγηματικό τους ύφος σχεδιάζουν μικρές στιγμές μεγάλης σημασίας, οι οποίες μιλούν για ποιήματα και video games, παραδοσιακές φορεσιές και όνειρα, χαϊδευτικά ονόματα και τραγούδια στο μπάνιο, αναβάσεις λόφων και σέλφιζ και, τελικά, για την ομορφιά του να είσαι ο εαυτός σου και για την αποδοχή.
Και το κάνουν συναισθηματικά, ευχάριστα, αστεία, λυρικά, συγκινητικά, απολαυστικά, με τον τρόπο που το κάθε άτομο που συμμετέχει στη συλλογή θέλησε να εκφράσει και να μοιραστεί τη δική τ@ στιγμή ευφορίας.
Ως έκδοση γεμάτη χρώμα και για τις εμπειρίες που μεταδίδει το περιεχόμενό του, αυτό εδώ είναι ένα βιβλίο που πραγματικά θα ήθελα να συναντήσω τυχαία σε ένα βιβλιοπωλείο και να ξεφυλλίσω live αλλά, μιας και είμαι μακριά από το Εδιμβούργο, χαίρομαι που ήρθε έτσι στα χέρια μου.
Ορίστε και λινκ για το κόμικ, για όποιον ίσως το θέλει, αλλά προειδοποιώ πως πέρασε από τελωνείο το δικό μου αντίτυπο. Αν και δε με πείραξε καθόλου, τα αξίζει τα λεφτά του.
Τα κόμικς αυτά, που μιλούν για την ευφορία φύλου, αυτό το συναίσθημα χαράς των τρανς και των μη-συμμορφώμενων με το φύλο ατόμων, όταν το φύλο τους γίνεται με οποιονδήποτε τρόπο validate, συγκέντρωσε σε μια συλλογή η Quindrie Press στη Σκωτία και ανέβασε στο Kickstarter τον περασμένο Σεπτέμβριο. Eκεί το είδα εγώ, του έκανα pledge και το βιβλίο έφτασε στα χέρια μου τις μέρες των γιορτών.
Aνάμεσα στ@ καλλιτέχν@ που συμμετέχουν στο βιβλίο είναι και δύο από την Ελλάδα, ο @stivaktis και η @ariadnetzn, ένα ακόμη μεγάλο πλας για να πάρω το When I Was Me στα χέρια μου.
Και είναι φοβερή η αποτύπωση των τρανς εμπειριών όλων αυτών των ατόμων από κάθε μεριά του πλανήτη, που με το ξεχωριστό κομιξικό και αφηγηματικό τους ύφος σχεδιάζουν μικρές στιγμές μεγάλης σημασίας, οι οποίες μιλούν για ποιήματα και video games, παραδοσιακές φορεσιές και όνειρα, χαϊδευτικά ονόματα και τραγούδια στο μπάνιο, αναβάσεις λόφων και σέλφιζ και, τελικά, για την ομορφιά του να είσαι ο εαυτός σου και για την αποδοχή.
Και το κάνουν συναισθηματικά, ευχάριστα, αστεία, λυρικά, συγκινητικά, απολαυστικά, με τον τρόπο που το κάθε άτομο που συμμετέχει στη συλλογή θέλησε να εκφράσει και να μοιραστεί τη δική τ@ στιγμή ευφορίας.
Ως έκδοση γεμάτη χρώμα και για τις εμπειρίες που μεταδίδει το περιεχόμενό του, αυτό εδώ είναι ένα βιβλίο που πραγματικά θα ήθελα να συναντήσω τυχαία σε ένα βιβλιοπωλείο και να ξεφυλλίσω live αλλά, μιας και είμαι μακριά από το Εδιμβούργο, χαίρομαι που ήρθε έτσι στα χέρια μου.
Ορίστε και λινκ για το κόμικ, για όποιον ίσως το θέλει, αλλά προειδοποιώ πως πέρασε από τελωνείο το δικό μου αντίτυπο. Αν και δε με πείραξε καθόλου, τα αξίζει τα λεφτά του.
July 14, 2022
Content warnings are listed at the end of my review!
I backed this project on kickstarter the second I learned about it, absolutely in love with the concept, and I’m unbelievably happy with the final product. It was created to fill in the gap often left in retelling trans stories, emphasizing and focusing on the positive aspects of being trans. It fulfills this goal wholeheartedly as When I Was Me shares such a loving and passionate message of trans joy, healing, and growth which is something the community desperately needs. This book is broken into 9 sections, memory, discovery, exploration, presentation, acceptance, community, family, intimacy, freedom, all started with a full page illustration and a portion of a poem (the full poem being the last work featured in the book!). The sections are filled with comics, each page being its own self contained story, featuring the artists social medias, pronouns, and bio right below the comic.
This formatting does an amazing job at not only providing a large number of concise stories, but also introducing you to various talented trans artists. The art is incredibly diverse, each page having a new contributor and style. Sometimes you receive a collage of self portraits, other times you receive clean and crisp lined art, sketchy doodles, limited color palates, bright and bold colors- the list keeps going! The stories here recollect early signs of being trans, dreams inspiring pursue transition, connecting with community, celebrating culture, accepting oneself, inspiration, reclamation, and so much more. It may be a bite sized book, it it packs a powerful punch!
Summary:
Readability: ★★★★☆, It’s a mostly quick and upbeat read, I really don’t have many complaints! Because of the short nature of the comics, some of the stories can feel vague or confusing without context. Additionally some of the text within the comics is formatted in a way where it is difficult to tell what order to read in, which can make reading some pieces difficult.
Entertainment: ★★★★★, I loved this so much, it’s such a pick me up! It felt like getting a hug with all of the self love and genuine trans representation, and I’ve reread it multiple times now! It would be a great coffee table book with how beautiful the art is and how it can be read in any order or way.
Audience: Everyone, go read this, borrow it, buy a copy, just get your hands on it! Trans folks, this is such a beautiful representation of trans life and happiness, it will likely affirm and comfort you. Cis people, this is a unique and deeply personal look into such an important aspect of trans lives, you’ll likely come away with more appreciation for the beauty and diversity of trans lives.
Content Warnings: anxiety, chasers, deadnaming, dementia, dysphoria, isolation, misgendering, needle imagery, racism, transphobia
I backed this project on kickstarter the second I learned about it, absolutely in love with the concept, and I’m unbelievably happy with the final product. It was created to fill in the gap often left in retelling trans stories, emphasizing and focusing on the positive aspects of being trans. It fulfills this goal wholeheartedly as When I Was Me shares such a loving and passionate message of trans joy, healing, and growth which is something the community desperately needs. This book is broken into 9 sections, memory, discovery, exploration, presentation, acceptance, community, family, intimacy, freedom, all started with a full page illustration and a portion of a poem (the full poem being the last work featured in the book!). The sections are filled with comics, each page being its own self contained story, featuring the artists social medias, pronouns, and bio right below the comic.
This formatting does an amazing job at not only providing a large number of concise stories, but also introducing you to various talented trans artists. The art is incredibly diverse, each page having a new contributor and style. Sometimes you receive a collage of self portraits, other times you receive clean and crisp lined art, sketchy doodles, limited color palates, bright and bold colors- the list keeps going! The stories here recollect early signs of being trans, dreams inspiring pursue transition, connecting with community, celebrating culture, accepting oneself, inspiration, reclamation, and so much more. It may be a bite sized book, it it packs a powerful punch!
Summary:
Readability: ★★★★☆, It’s a mostly quick and upbeat read, I really don’t have many complaints! Because of the short nature of the comics, some of the stories can feel vague or confusing without context. Additionally some of the text within the comics is formatted in a way where it is difficult to tell what order to read in, which can make reading some pieces difficult.
Entertainment: ★★★★★, I loved this so much, it’s such a pick me up! It felt like getting a hug with all of the self love and genuine trans representation, and I’ve reread it multiple times now! It would be a great coffee table book with how beautiful the art is and how it can be read in any order or way.
Audience: Everyone, go read this, borrow it, buy a copy, just get your hands on it! Trans folks, this is such a beautiful representation of trans life and happiness, it will likely affirm and comfort you. Cis people, this is a unique and deeply personal look into such an important aspect of trans lives, you’ll likely come away with more appreciation for the beauty and diversity of trans lives.
Content Warnings: anxiety, chasers, deadnaming, dementia, dysphoria, isolation, misgendering, needle imagery, racism, transphobia
February 12, 2022
It's the first time I read something so so positive about trans identities. It's pure gender afirmation, moments that made people feel good about their gender.
Whenever there's transness involved, we tend to underline the struggle a lot, I know I do this because it's a form of venting, I suppose, because I do struggle, not with my own gender anymore, but because of my surroundings and the society I live in.
When cis people do it, it's either to bring awareness to our struggles (good) or the approach is almost voyeristic and has a "oh, poor you" quality, as if transness is a struggle in itself (bad :P).
Seeing so many stories by so many people with different identities is so hopeful and a breath of fresh air. There should be more of that, I wish such a book was around when I was growing up, or earlier in my life, anyway. People need things to give them hope, things that connect us to ourselves through others' stories.
Recommended to anyone and everyone.
Whenever there's transness involved, we tend to underline the struggle a lot, I know I do this because it's a form of venting, I suppose, because I do struggle, not with my own gender anymore, but because of my surroundings and the society I live in.
When cis people do it, it's either to bring awareness to our struggles (good) or the approach is almost voyeristic and has a "oh, poor you" quality, as if transness is a struggle in itself (bad :P).
Seeing so many stories by so many people with different identities is so hopeful and a breath of fresh air. There should be more of that, I wish such a book was around when I was growing up, or earlier in my life, anyway. People need things to give them hope, things that connect us to ourselves through others' stories.
Recommended to anyone and everyone.
August 9, 2022
Been waiting for this one since the kickstarter launched, since a beloved friend has a story in it.
Loved it but wished the stories were longer.
Loved it but wished the stories were longer.
April 6, 2022
A really gorgeous collection, beautifully curated.
January 26, 2022
I mean, I'm biased because I've made a comic page and the sticker for this, but still.
This is one anthology I'm absolutely delighted and honoured to be a part of. My goal in my work and in my life is to make things easier for the next trans generation, to help them see themselves where I didn't. This book is exactly that. It's trans joy, it's trans pride, it's trans wonder. I can't even begin to explain how much I'd have needed it when I was younger. I cried towards the end. It's wonderful to feel seen, to know you share so many experiences with others, to be able to see the beauty in what you were told was ugly. To truly feel that beauty, without shame, without effort, without limits.
I love, love, love this book. And I'm so honoured to be a part of it.
This is one anthology I'm absolutely delighted and honoured to be a part of. My goal in my work and in my life is to make things easier for the next trans generation, to help them see themselves where I didn't. This book is exactly that. It's trans joy, it's trans pride, it's trans wonder. I can't even begin to explain how much I'd have needed it when I was younger. I cried towards the end. It's wonderful to feel seen, to know you share so many experiences with others, to be able to see the beauty in what you were told was ugly. To truly feel that beauty, without shame, without effort, without limits.
I love, love, love this book. And I'm so honoured to be a part of it.
March 30, 2022
I hesitated giving it more stars because projects like that are extremely important. Making a collection based solely on trans euphoria is amazing, even necessary to some people.
But I gave this collection only 3 stars, based on what I thought (it's my grade and it only concerns my feelings). And, well, I liked it, but that's it.
It didn't talk to me in any way, but I'm not trans, so I'm not the target audience. Some of my friends are so I thought I'd give it a go (and the cover is gorgeous). Truth is, I don't care about gender at all. (I'm technically agender, but I don't even care enough to actually bother with that, I don't feel dysphoria about my assigned gender, nor euphoria from being enby so... yeah I just don't care.)
What I do care about is a good read, and it was very uneven, some plates were really beautiful and sometimes moving, while others were forgotten as soon as I turned the page. And, one plate per artist is really not enough. It looks more like a portfolio with a peephole into hundreds of artists' art. It's a lot and it's too much to remember anything or anyone.
But it's probably more made to read from time to time or to look into, if you're searching for someone, than to read in one go. They're all blurring into each other.
I was gonna say the positive and negative aspects are like every anthology, but no. It's not an anthology, because there's just too many artists and comics too shorts. It's really a collection.
And I don't think I'm very fond of collections... At least I shouldn't have read it in one go.
But I gave this collection only 3 stars, based on what I thought (it's my grade and it only concerns my feelings). And, well, I liked it, but that's it.
It didn't talk to me in any way, but I'm not trans, so I'm not the target audience. Some of my friends are so I thought I'd give it a go (and the cover is gorgeous). Truth is, I don't care about gender at all. (I'm technically agender, but I don't even care enough to actually bother with that, I don't feel dysphoria about my assigned gender, nor euphoria from being enby so... yeah I just don't care.)
What I do care about is a good read, and it was very uneven, some plates were really beautiful and sometimes moving, while others were forgotten as soon as I turned the page. And, one plate per artist is really not enough. It looks more like a portfolio with a peephole into hundreds of artists' art. It's a lot and it's too much to remember anything or anyone.
But it's probably more made to read from time to time or to look into, if you're searching for someone, than to read in one go. They're all blurring into each other.
I was gonna say the positive and negative aspects are like every anthology, but no. It's not an anthology, because there's just too many artists and comics too shorts. It's really a collection.
And I don't think I'm very fond of collections... At least I shouldn't have read it in one go.
Read
October 1, 2023"Narratives around us centre the idea that dysphoria is the thing that makes us trans; that our identities are rooted in conflict between our bodies, our minds, and society. But rarely is the spotlight shone on the joys, the euphoria of being who we are."
WHEN I WAS ME: MOMENTS OF GENDER EUPHORIA is a UK anthology of autobiographical comics edited by Eve Greenwood and Alex Assan. I read it with @queerthology (on instagram) and once again, Kris knocked it out of the park with this pick.
I was honestly surprised at how often I found my eyes prickling despite the shortness (only one page) of each artist's work 🥹.
Some of my favorites, shared on my instagram:
*a spread by Amanda Castillo on the joys of being able to pick a gender in video games
*a spread by Cat Laird on finding poetry by Andrea Gibson and feeling seen
*a spread by Winter J. Kiakas on being able to explore identity through D&D
*a spread by Hari Connor on singing in the shower
*a spread by Winona Powers on being validated by online communities
*a spread by Dante Luiz on dementia, memory, and validation
*a spread by G.C. Houle on pole dancing & queerness
The PDF digital download of this one is only £8.00, so if you too want to spend a little time reveling in euphoria, I highly recommend.
WHEN I WAS ME: MOMENTS OF GENDER EUPHORIA is a UK anthology of autobiographical comics edited by Eve Greenwood and Alex Assan. I read it with @queerthology (on instagram) and once again, Kris knocked it out of the park with this pick.
I was honestly surprised at how often I found my eyes prickling despite the shortness (only one page) of each artist's work 🥹.
Some of my favorites, shared on my instagram:
*a spread by Amanda Castillo on the joys of being able to pick a gender in video games
*a spread by Cat Laird on finding poetry by Andrea Gibson and feeling seen
*a spread by Winter J. Kiakas on being able to explore identity through D&D
*a spread by Hari Connor on singing in the shower
*a spread by Winona Powers on being validated by online communities
*a spread by Dante Luiz on dementia, memory, and validation
*a spread by G.C. Houle on pole dancing & queerness
The PDF digital download of this one is only £8.00, so if you too want to spend a little time reveling in euphoria, I highly recommend.
March 23, 2023
Great for teens to twenties dipping their toes into euphoria info for fun rather than study. It was full of anecdotal tails and frivolity and there’s a place for that on our euphoria shelves.
It missed the detailed data and psych-social framework of happiness ecologies, especially on non-binary youth and intersex people’s euphorias, in something like Tiffany Jones’ ‘Euphorias in gender, sex and sexuality variations: positive experiences’ which covered thousands of people across various studies.
It also lacked the casual adult perspectives of Laura Dale’s 19 stories.
So again one to add to a euphoria library, maybe in the top three, with a set market and not enough for a book geek or study nerd looking to seriously work on lgbtiq issues?
It missed the detailed data and psych-social framework of happiness ecologies, especially on non-binary youth and intersex people’s euphorias, in something like Tiffany Jones’ ‘Euphorias in gender, sex and sexuality variations: positive experiences’ which covered thousands of people across various studies.
It also lacked the casual adult perspectives of Laura Dale’s 19 stories.
So again one to add to a euphoria library, maybe in the top three, with a set market and not enough for a book geek or study nerd looking to seriously work on lgbtiq issues?
December 29, 2021
In their Foreword, editors Eve Greenwood and Alex Assan extend their wish that this anthology will “help you understand yourself better, or help someone else understand you.” Members of the LGBTQ+ community will indeed find recognition, comfort, and happiness in these pages, and the collection serves as a vibrant and inspiring gallery of stories and styles to anyone of any background who is interested in the beauty and diversity of contemporary comic art.
February 9, 2022
This is a collection of one page autobiographical comics about the joyful experiences of being transgender. Immediately I was drawn to this, not just as a trans person, but as someone who would rather talk about the euphoria rather than the dysphoria.
This is a really lovely book that you can dip in an out of. There are some very personal experiences here that will resonate with many trans and non-binary readers. I'm grateful to everyone who shared their story in this beautiful work.
This is a really lovely book that you can dip in an out of. There are some very personal experiences here that will resonate with many trans and non-binary readers. I'm grateful to everyone who shared their story in this beautiful work.
November 25, 2024
I’m only giving 4 stars instead of 5 because I found the lack of titles/page breaks made it difficult for me to tell when one comic ended and a new one began. Especially when two or more comics were back to back with similar subject matter (such as hair or clothing). It took me a while to get that each comic was only one page, and they were made by different artists.
December 10, 2021
Absolutely beautiful. I read it as soon as I could wrestle it out of my mailbox, and was close to crying happy tears pretty much the whole way through. Now I have to check out all of the authors/artists that worked on this book - I have so many new favorites!
December 12, 2021
Very heartwarming and much needed in published collections. Gender euphoria while still present in works that focus on transition and dysphoria still needs some more highlights of euphoria beyond transition. These anthology offers that, hoping for more volumes in the future 💜
December 13, 2021
It’s so refreshing to see a book about gender euphoria, and to see so many different perspectives on what that looked like for people. I had top surgery just over a month ago and it was a really timely read that I devoured almost immediately after I received it.
January 13, 2022
I backed this on kickstarter and I’m so glad I did. Such wonderful and various perspectives on gender euphoria. I’m glad to see people living their best lives as their true selves and being most marvellously happy about it and expressing it freely.
January 10, 2023
Beautiful and touching and so so true to my life.
There's all sorts of trans represented here and they all feel wonderful to read about.
The artwork is all excellent and has a warm comfy feeling throughout.
Just a great book
There's all sorts of trans represented here and they all feel wonderful to read about.
The artwork is all excellent and has a warm comfy feeling throughout.
Just a great book
December 21, 2021
What a lovely collection of euphoric moments!
December 21, 2021
A lovely book, that helps me remember that I'm allowed to be happy in my trans-ness, even when being trans is difficult.
January 1, 2022
50+ trans queer short comic true stories subheaded as Memory, Discovery, Exploration to Freedom. Really great read.
January 19, 2022
Really loved it, backed it on KS, just wish there were more femmes :)
January 27, 2022
I really appreciate the intent behind this book but the one-page format didn't do it for me. Some pages were beautiful while others lacked depths or were simply confusing.
February 3, 2022
A great comics anthology by trans, non-binary, and gender nonconforming artists. More stories about gender euphoria, please!
February 10, 2022
This colourful book of single page celebrations of trans identity is outstanding. I am so pleased to read this joy on the page!
February 17, 2022
A short collection of one-page panels about moments of feeling (often after so long without) comfortable in one's body. Loved the diversity of experiences and art styles.
December 22, 2022
A treasure <3
December 23, 2022
One billion hearts
April 10, 2023
Absolutely loved this, felt true connection to lots of the stories
May 17, 2023
A little too short to get your teeth into (all the comics are 1 page), but the repetition of format makes it clear how different artists use the space. Over all, nice!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews