Queereaders discussion

Discuss here. Titles do not have to be exclusively LGBT.

Reading Black Butler, Vol. 1 right now, and it is very mysterious. Did anybody else who reads manga notice that manga is often metrosexual, and you really don't know sometimes the sex of the characters.. they have very androgenous looks. This is an interesting saga so far, but I am not very far along.. I think there are four books in the series.

My favorite all time GN is Neil Gaimon's Sandman series. For Christmas, Chris got me this beautiful 4 volume set: The Absolute Sandman.

I did hear that the anime was pretty good. I am enjoying the manga.

I have read those Ryan! I am a big X fan from way back, and I love X-Factor. I have many of the single issues, and some of the collected graphic novels!

What's the difference between a comic and a GN?

Ian Rankin, who writes very good mysteries, recently wrote a GN- it looked tough, sort of Noirish. My son read it

Thanks Charles. The one thing I could come up with was the GN are adult oriented and comics kid oriented. I think "mature themes" says what I mean better.

Another tangent to this discussion would be about adult oriented cartoons - like Wizards and Fire and Ice

What Gay comics, GN and animated features are there (not anime)? I do remember when the Rawhide Kid came out in the comic book.

The history of the terms is confusing. As a comic book collector I follow the convention that a 'Graphic novel' is a novel length self-contained story. Usually a graphic novel will be an original story. But the first volume published as a 'graphic novel' wasA Contract With God which is a collection of short stories.

Yes, comic book are changing.. there are a lot of adult oriented comics out there, and when they reprint a collection of them as one hard bound story, I guess that makes it a GN. While some GN are printed as just that. It can be confusing when you go to your old comic shop!

Hey Doug. The term used for a bunch of stories bound together in a single volume is a 'Trade Paperback'.

Hey Charles. The early comic books included westerns, spy, detective novels, satire, romance and horror. It was only in the 50s that the entire medium was redefined as being targetted at pre-teen boys. A lot of the horror titles went out of business while Mad had to change its format to stay an 'adult' publication.

Does anyone remember those little porno comics from the '40s and '50s, about 3 x 6 inches and 8 or 10 pages. Cheaply made. I have one of Captain Marvel Jr. doing the deed and have seen Superman, Popeye and other cartoon heros in flagrante delicto

I can't remember what they were called, and it's bugging me. Anyone remember?

Hey Kernos. The most common name for those early comics is kind of racist:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tijuana_...

They started in the 1920s and were often pastiche.

Porn comics and drug comics were published durng the period that comics were designated for children only as 'underground comics'. Myself, I have a fondness for Tom of Finland and some of Sean or Etienne.

My favorite gay graphic novel is
Stuck Rubber Baby

That's it. Thanks Doug.

I am really looking forward to reading Stuck Rubber Baby; thanks for endorsing my choice, John!

I am a huge fan of Alison Bechdel and have just recommended The Essential Dykes to Watch Out For to a friend; I recommend her work to just about everyone I know! :)

This afternoon I happened to stumbled across Love & Rockets: Maggie the Mechanic: v. 1: Maggie the Mechanic v. 1 by Jaime Hernandez and wondered if any of my fellow Queereaders have read this graphic novel or any others in the series by the author...and if so are you able to share some of your thoughts with me, please? I get so confused about where to begin, especially when I see so many collections!

Prism Comics is a nonprofit organization that supports LGBTQ comics, creators, and readers. I am sure that one of my friends here was responsible for drawing my attention towards the site, I find it can be very helpful, so I just thought that I would share the link with you too in this new graphic novels genre thread.

Some graphic novels I have recently read:
Alison Bechdel's Fun Home - Tells about Alison's youth and her coming out while simultaneously learning that her Dad is secretly gay.
Best American Comics 2011 - Alison Bechdel edited this collection and there are some great gender/LGBTQ storylines included.
Ross Campbell's Wet Moon - Lesbian punks. Nice art style.
Skim - tells the story of a girl learning about her sexuality.
Buffy Season 8 - The series continues in graphic novel format, and still includes our beloved lesbian Willow Rosenberg as well as a same-sex encounter for another major character.
Y: The Last Man - This series by Brian K. Vaughan is incredible. Features lots of ladies and lesbian characters. Srsly. Even beyond the LGBTQ friendliness this series is amazeballs.

Stephanie, do you think Emiko Superstar is LGBTQ? It was never explicitly said what Emiko's sexuality is, but I reckon she as at least bi-curious judging by the events. It's by the same author as Skim, too.

Batwoman: Elegy gets a mention because it's Batwoman, one of the first openly-lesbian characters in the DC universe, but also because it's absolutely mindblowing. The art, the writing - even if you don't generally like superheroes, it's worth at least borrowing.

Ultra: Seven Days has... Well, I think you have to read it. Very female centric read, too. I don't think much of it, personally, but I know some rate it very highly. I have to say I enjoyed parts of it, and really the superhero aspect doesn't really matter.

As for the guys, there's the upcoming Kevin Keller release from Archie Comics. This has had SO much praise from gay groups, and everything I've seen is amazing. I believe early next year brings the first gay marriage in comics, and Kevin Keller is one of the grooms. They've dealt with him properly, they've confronted the thankfully obsolete Don't Ask, Don't Tell and so many other things. I would urge anyone with a spare £10/$20 kicking around to buy it simply out of support.

I haven't read Emiko Superstar, but it's on my list now!

Awesome! It's a pretty good read, if a little odd. It's completely different in style to Skim, and in a way I think it's better. I don't think Skim was bad, just kind of... out there, if that makes any sense?

I noticed Nancy said this doesn't have to be LGBT-themed, and I have a recommendation to make.

Anya's Ghost is the single best graphic novel I've ever read ever. You may have noticed I often use Anya as an avatar. It's beautifully written, it's beautifully drawn, and it sucks you in. It's funny but sad, bright but dark. It's really, really worth getting.

Under the yaoi category, Ayano Yamane is my favorite, particularly the The Crimson Spell 1 series.

An artist I recently found and really like with several series and graphic novels is Patrick Fillion but his work is very explicit and wonderfully erotic is you like that kind of thing. http://patrickfillion.com/pf9/

If you're looking for a publisher of many gay themed graphic novels and comics (besides novels, etc.) Bruno Münder is quite popular here in Germany. They are available in English also, and often by English speaking writers and artists who've happen to publish with Bruno though they may be from Switzerland or other countres. http://www.brunogmuender.com/products...

Some of their graphic novelists and comics: Mioki, Michael Broderick, Zack's Bike Boy series, Franz's Black Wade: The Wild Side of Love but there are many more.

I agree with Red, The Crimson Spell, Volume 1 is amazing. The art and the story is really wonderful.

I like also and another good yaoi is .

And not yaoi, I'm a big fan of , and of course also Sandman, and my favorite sandman graphic novel is (because it's Amano illustrations, and I love his work)

Recently I bought and felt in love with this sci-fi manga.

:-)

I would have to add Mirage of Blaze by Kuwabara Mizuna (桑原 水菜) to this list also, probably my favorite anime in the drama genre of yaoi, that is for adults (but not meaning hentai). The graphic novels provide a far wider background that was able to be presented in the anime, both for location and history, as well as characterization and back story.

I own them in Japanese, but for translations you can find them at Asphodel's Heaven, if anyone is interested http://www.asphodelshaven.com/transla...

I'd add the following that are girl-centric:

12 Days
Whiteout
Hayate X Blade Vol 1
Sasamekikoto, Tome 1 :
Revolutionary Girl Utena, Vol. 1: To Till
Burst Angel Volume 1
Secret Six Vol. 1: Unhinged
The Complete Strangers in Paradise Volume 1
Yu+Me: dream Volume 1
R.O.D.:Read or Die

If you are into Japanese manga I highly recommend Erica Friedman's blog (she is also a publisher) where she reviews tons of lesbian (yuri in Japanese) manga: http://okazu.blogspot.com/

She reviews English and Japanese works.

Speaking of comics, does anyone remember The Rawhide Kid the Gay cowboy whose irregular series ran from 1955 to 1985 by Atlas, Marvel and AMI. There was also a short 2003 series by Max/Marvel much more modern.

I collected them for a time. They are quite subtle by today's standards. #1 in NM condition is only ~$1000 according to Overstreet.

Fiona wrote: "I am really looking forward to reading Stuck Rubber Baby; thanks for endorsing my choice, John!

I am a huge fan of Alison Bechdel and have just recommended The Essential Dykes to Watch Out For to..."

Hi Fiona -

A year and half after your question, I can say that I am a HUGE fan of Jaime Hernandez's Love & Rockets graphic novels. Maybe you've read more of them by now, but you started at a good place. They only get better from there! But he does have a lot of flashbacks on top of flashbacks, so they are worth re-reading. His publisher has a guide to how to proceed in an orderly fashion here: http://www.fantagraphics.com/index.ph...

Love to hear what you think! I've also been a long time fan of Alison Bechtel and would love to get a hold of The Essential DTWOF. She's also published two more auto-biographical works about her parents. The one about her mom is supposed to be really good and I think the one about her dad just came out this spring....

John wrote: "Porn comics and drug comics were published durng the period that comics were designated for children only as 'underground comics'. Myself, I have a fondness for Tom of Finland and some of Sean or Etienne."

As you mention Tom of Finland, I wonder how you feel about my partner, the comic-strip author and illustrator Zack (aka Oliver Frey), who is a Goodreads author, and group member? *Plug coming!* Although it's not a GN or a comic-strip compilation like Bike Boy, the just released Zack The Art has received two 5/5 ratings on Amazon—although the shorter is a bit confused as to his true identity, which is kind of super-hero-ish…

I have Ultra: Seven Days, as well as Gotham Central by Greg Rucka (The ENTIRE series).

I'm reading the current series of Batwoman & Batgirl.

Loving them both.

I've read a bit of The Authority.

And plenty of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman, some bits of Love & Rockets, & the first two volumes of Strangers in Paradise by Terry Moore. :)

As a kid I grew up reading Peter David's Supergirl series.

It had a great supporting character in it, named Andy/Andrea Martinez/Andy Jones/Zed One/ The Post-Crisis Comet. :)

Fiona wrote: "Prism Comics is a nonprofit organization that supports LGBTQ comics, creators, and readers. I am sure that one of my friends here was responsible for drawing my attention towards the site, I find ..."

PRISM's a great non-profit organization!!!!

I love reading their updates!!!

:D

Ah, that's PRISM, the non-profit for gay superheroes and creators published by Northwest Press. :-D

Dale wrote: "Ah, that's PRISM, the non-profit for gay superheroes and creators published by Northwest Press. :-D"

Indeed! :D

Esther wrote: "Dale wrote: "Ah, that's PRISM, the non-profit for gay superheroes and creators published by Northwest Press. :-D"

Indeed! :D"

I didn't mean it as praise. :-D

Talking about manga, has anyone read Fumi Yoshinaga? Her BL manga are great and her latest series, Ōoku: The Inner Chambers is brilliant.

Stephanie wrote: "Some graphic novels I have recently read:
Alison Bechdel's Fun Home - Tells about Alison's youth and her coming out while simultaneously learning that her Dad is secretly gay.

I read that a couple of years ago and loved it.

I am a huge fan of Alison Bechdel and have just recommended [book:The ..."

I have The Essential Dykes To Watch Out For and it's really interesting seeing how her drawing style change.

Alex wrote: "I am a huge fan of Alison Bechdel and have just recommended..."

I have The Essential Dykes To Watch Out For and it's really interesting seeing how her drawing style change."

Bechdel is fantastic - I'm really impressed that our library in Huntsville, Alabama has Fun Home , Are You My Mother? , AND The Essential Dykes to Watch Out For .

I've read all three, and love Bechdel's writing and her art.

Kathryn wrote: "Anya's Ghost is the single best graphic novel I've ever read ever. You may have noticed I often use Anya as an avatar. It's beautifully written, it's beautifully drawn, and it sucks you in. It's funny but sad, bright but dark. It's really, really worth getting."

I'll have to check this out - my library has several copies :)

Kernos wrote: "What's the difference between a comic and a GN?"

I think the main difference is that when you are advertising a movie, and you want to make it sound cooler, and not like it's for small children, you say "graphic novel" instead of "comic book".

They're all comics to me :)

I love the Sandman series, too, Kernos. Bechdel's Fun Home was terrific. Her Are You My Mother? was more flawed, but still good. Did you know Bechdel is appearing at this year's Lambda Literary Awards ceremony? I really want to read Anything That Moves, a new collection of bi comics that's up for both the Lammies and the Bi Book Awards. I absolutely loved Ilike Merey's a+e 4ever, a 2011 graphic novel both genderqueer and bi.

Just listened to Bad Idea by Damon Suede. It's a traditional text-based MM romance but one of the main characters is a cartoonist whose new beau convinces him to do a "very graphic novel." The story is actually quite good and there is even a spin-off book of sorts Horn Gate featuring his sex-demon Scratch.

Has anyone read Horn Gate yet?

Blankets by Craig Thompson is my most favorite graphic novel, though unfortunately heterosexual.

Did anyone read Le bleu est une couleur chaude (Blue is the Warmest Color)? If you saw the movie, it's much more sensual and less concerned with language and politics, but the graphic novel is more a lesbian coming of age, and discusses being gay much more. I thought both were good!

I haven't read a large number of graphic novels, but I recently read The Complete Persepolis and thought it was excellent. I also recently read American Born Chinese, which was pretty good, and I thoroughly enjoyed Y: The Last Man, Vol. 1: Unmanned and the rest of the series (plus I found the art quite .. attractive).

Also, I never generally read romance books, but I ended up with a copy of the sci-fi/M/M romance graphic novel Artifice, and I have to admit, I found the art and story amazingly sexy as well as quite an enjoyable read.

I realize someone already brought this book up two posts ago, but that was back in October. Has anyone read Blue is the Warmest Color or seen the film? It's gorgeous and I'm currently halfway through it.

Celise wrote: "I realize someone already brought this book up two posts ago, but that was back in October. Has anyone read Blue is the Warmest Color or seen the film? It's gorgeous and I'm current..."

I saw the film, Celise, but my niece told me the book is better.

I just finished the book last night and I think they're both good for different reasons. The film explores the character a little more in depth, but the novel is beautiful!

Celise wrote: "I realize someone already brought this book up two posts ago, but that was back in October. Has anyone read Blue is the Warmest Color or seen the film? It's gorgeous and I'm current..."

I'm such a bad moderator - that was one of our books of the month in the group I mod, and I never got around to purchasing it, since I wanted to get it for my comic library. I still need to see the movie, too. It's supposed to be fantastic.

Ellie wrote: "Blankets by Craig Thompson is my most favorite graphic novel, though unfortunately heterosexual."

I loved Blankets. I related to the main character's life in a lot of ways.

I really enjoyed reading Tomboy: A Graphic Memoir. I'm also looking forward to The Sculptor.

13 Great LGBTQ Comics

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by...

Some of those look interesting - thanks for the link Nancy!