June is Pride Month and we're celebrating with a look at some of our favorite comics that explore LGBTQIA+ stories, characters, and themes!
Zodiac Starforce: By the Power of Astra and Zodiac Starforce: Cries of the Fire Prince
By Kevin Panetta, Paulina Ganucheau, Sarah Stern
Zodiac Starforce has been praised by fans and critics alike for its clever, modern take on the magical girl genre popularized by Sailor Moon. Zodiac Starforce embraces a same sex romance between two of the members of this magical girl team and presents a diverse array of characters. New relationships, backgrounds, and individuals are introduced in Volume 2, Cries of the Fire Prince, expanding the team and giving fans new ships to support as well as those beloved from Volume 1!
The Legend of Korra: Turf Wars and The Legend of Korra: Ruins of the Empire
By Michael Dante DiMartino, Irene Koh (Turf Wars), Killian Ng, Michelle Wong (Ruins of the Empire), Heather Campbell
Korrasami is canon! Ever since Korra and Asami joined hands and entered the spirit world together as a couple, fans have wanted to know more. The popular Nickelodeon series made history as one of the first kid's shows to portray a same-sex romance—one featuring two bisexual women of color. After the series’ conclusion, Dark Horse continued to explore the world of The Legend of Korra, its themes, and its characters. Throughout Turf Wars and Ruins of the Empire, the pair strengthen their bond, come out to family and friends, and together face down the constantly shifting tide of political intrigue and change in Republic City.
Wish Omnibus
By CLAMP
"So you're Kohaku. Is it Mr. or Ms. Kohaku...?" "Just Kohaku." Wish is the story of the purest heart in Heaven, the nonbinary angel Kohaku, who seeks to grant the unknown desire of Shuichiro, a doctor who saved Kohaku from a pecking crow (Kohaku having been stuck in chibi form up a tree at just that awkward moment). Meanwhile, Kohaku's beloved mentor, the powerful Angel of the Wind, Hisui, has contributed to a bit of a cosmic crisis by eloping to Earth together with the heir apparent of Hell, Satan's son, Kokuyo.
Yes, Wish is indeed a CLAMP manga (Kohaku also appears in vol. 2 of CLAMP's Drug & Drop), and one that Brittany Vincent of Otaku USA magazine calls "one of the collective's best works, easily on par with its more famous titles…touching, sentimental, lightly humorous, and above all, gorgeously drawn." Originally published in four volumes in Japan, the Dark Horse Wish Omnibus collects the complete story in one book!
ElfQuest
By Wendy Pini and Richard Pini
ElfQuest has had a strong gay following since it began in 1978 and there has long been speculation about same-sex romances between many of the characters including Dart, Mender, Kimo, Venka, and Aroree due to many tender and seemingly romantic moments between them. While many fans long for confirmation about the sexuality of these characters, ElfQuest creators Wendy and Richard Pini have a different take. According to the Pinis, the Elves don't like labels like "gay" and "straight." With this explanation, it would seem that the world of the Two Moons allows for more fluidity within the experience of love and attraction. This is a powerful way to look at it as a big part of Pride is the ability to love without labels.
The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story
By Vivek Tiwary, Andrew C. Robinson, Kyle Baker
The Fifth Beatle recounts the untold true story of of Brian Epstein--the visionary manager who created Beatlemania and guided the Beatles from basement gigs to unprecedented international stardom. It also beautifully portrays the loneliness and heartbreak Epstein experienced as a gay man at a time when he could not be out and proud as he deserved to be.
The Secret Loves of Geek Girls and The Secret Loves of Geeks
Edited by Hope L. Nicholson
The Secret Loves of Geek Girls is a delightful anthology with contributors including Margaret Atwood, Mariko Tamaki, Trina Robbins, Marguerite Bennett, Noelle Stevenson, Marjorie Liu, Carla Speed McNeil and mor. They tell a delightful diversity of stories across the spectrum of sexuality and gender. The Secret Loves of Geek Girls is a fun and informative read no matter your identity. Features a foreword by Kelly Sue DeConnick.
The follow-up to Geek Girls, The Secret Loves of Geeks is an anthology featuring comic and prose stories from cartoonists and professional geeks about their most intimate, heartbreaking, and inspiring tales of love, sex, and dating. This volume includes creators of diverse genders, orientations, and cultural backgrounds. Featuring work by Margaret Atwood, Gerard Way, Patrick Rothfuss, Dana Simpson, Gabby Rivera, Hope Larson, Cecil Castellucci, Valentine De Landro, Marley Zarcone, Sfe R. Monster, Amy Chu, cover art by Becky Cloonan, and more!
Husbands
By Brad Bell, Jane Espenson, Ron Chan, Natalie Nourigat, M.S. Corley, Ben Dewey, Tania del Rio
Husbands tells the story of famous gay newlyweds Brady and Cheeks, who sparked a media firestorm when they woke up legally wed after a drunken Vegas weekend. Written by Husbands creators Jane Espenson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Brad Bell, this is the comic-book continuation of the popular and hilarious webseries. Now, a mystical wedding gift launches the couple on a series of adventures—a tongue-in-cheek journey through iconic genre realms—filled with obstacles that threaten to tear them apart.
Spell on Wheels
By Kate Leth, Megan Levens, Marissa Louise
Described as Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets The Craft, Spell on Wheels quickly gained a voracious cult following. Fans related to the three powerful women and the fact that so many people were able to relate to the diversity of the characters in body, race, and orientation. The story focuses on three witches who embark on a roadtrip to retrieve their stolen magical items. One of the witches is a gay woman named Jolene who is a tattoo artist and technopath, who infuses her tattoos with blessings (or curses).
The Once and Future Queen
By Adam P. Knave, D.J. Kirkbride, Nick Brokenshire, Frank Cvetkovic
The Once and Future Queen offers a colorful, and contemporary update to a familiar legend when a young chess prodigy from Portland, Oregon pulls Exclaibur from the stone and becomes Queen. Now magic, romance, Fae, Merlin, and more await her! This series charmed fans with a delicate balance of nostalgia and progressive storytelling that added a colorful splash of intersectionality to a traditionally white and male legend.
Olivia Twist: Honor Among Thieves
By Darin Strauss, Adam Dalva, Emma Vieceli, Lee Loughridge
To save a boy she barely knows, teenage orphan Olivia Twist joins the Esthers, a rag-tag girl gang of thieves running free in a dangerous future. This book depicts strong, believable women and nonbinary characters as well as same-sex relationships in this updated, gender-swapped version of the Charles Dickens classic.
The Flutter Collection
By Jennie Wood, Jeff McComsey, Jeff McClelland, Chris Goodwin
The entire Flutter saga in a single volume for the first time! Fifteen-year-old Lily shape-shifts into a boy to get the girl. Chaos ensues from pretending to be someone shes not. While coming to terms with who she really is and what she's done, Lily learns that life as a boy is just as difficult. The Advocate called Flutter one of the best LGBT graphic novels of 2013.
Calamity Kate
By Magdalene Visaggio, Corin Howell, Valentina Pinto, Zakk Saam
Kate Strand is the superhero she always wanted to be: Calamity Kate, the gun-toting monster slayer. Eisner and GLAAD Media Award-nominated Magdelene Visaggio crafts a story alongside Corin Howell featuring female relationships in all their forms: romantic, friendship, motherhood, and even rivalry. As Kate comes face-to-face with the monsters she fights and the demons inside, she must confront her past and work on herself.