This batch of queer centric titles includes a high school tale of discovery, an exploration of LGBTQIA people from history, a reincarnated heroine romancing a villainess, a taboo-breaking queer thriller, and a charming self-portrait of a young woman becoming herself.
BOY MEETS MARIA GN
(W) Peyo
An LGBT+ manga exploring love and gender at a high school drama club. Taiga dreams of becoming an actor, so the first thing he does upon entering high school is join the drama club. There, he meets the beautiful, enigmatic Maria and immediately falls in love with her. Not long after, Taiga is told that she is actually a boy - but is that all there is to Maria's story? This beautifully illustrated one-volume tale, the debut work of creator PEYO before their untimely passing in 2020, explores the layered nature of personal expression and the fluidity of the power of love.
AUG212347
Why this caught my eye:
I had heard of PEYO's (Kōsei Eguchi) passing, and was hoping to read this title as it was a self contained piece of their work.
QUEER AS ALL GET OUT GN
(W) Shelby Criswell (A) Shelby Criswell
This book paints a picture of the lives of ten specific LGBTQIA people from history, framed by the personal struggles of the author to find acceptance and to carve out a meaningful life. The author, Shelby Criswell shares the reality of life as a genderqueer person, living in the American South, revealing their own personal struggle for acceptance and how they were inspired by the valiant efforts of each of the ten featured historical transgender or queer people to live their own truth. Church being important but their own conflict of how the church traditionally treats the gay community.
AUG212059
Why this caught my eye:
I really like set up of Criswell framing the history aspects with his own struggles, and this sounds like it could potentially be a really solid book to stock for classrooms and libraries.
IM IN LOVE WITH THE VILLAINESS GN VOL 01
(W) Inori (A) Aonoshimo
In this critically acclaimed romantic comedy, a reincarnated gamer pursues her villainous lady love at a fantasy girl's academy! Ordinary office worker Oohashi Rei wakes up in the body of the protagonist of her favorite girls' otome game, Revolution. To her delight, the first person to greet her is her favorite character, Claire Francois - who just so happens to be the main antagonist of the story. Now, Rei is determined to do what the game never allowed: romance Claire instead of one of the male leads. But how will her villainous lady love react to that?
MAY211992
Why this caught my eye:
First I love villain centric romance stories, second I love them addressing how annoying it is when games don't allow you more romance options.
PARTY & PREY OGN
(W) Steve Orlando, Steve Foxe (A/CA) Alex Sanchez
Alan is used to being ignored by younger guys, so he hardly believes his luck when lithe, handsome Scott makes a move on him in the crowded gay club. But there's a wolf on the dance floor tonight, and he's hungry for fresh prey... A taboo-breaking queer thriller from co-writers Steve Orlando (KILL A MAN) and Steve Foxe (Razorblades) and artist Alex Sanchez (The Evil Within), packed with twists sharp enough to draw blood.
AUG211397
Why this caught my eye:
There aren't enough queer horror/thriller tales in comics so it's just great to see more stories like this being released.
THE TIMES I KNEW I WAS GAY GRAPHIC MEMOIR SC
(W) Eleanor Crewes (A) Eleanor Crewes
Ellie always had questions about who she was and how she fit in. As a girl, she wore black, obsessed over Willow in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and found dating boys much more confusing than many of her friends did. As she grew older, so did her fears and a deep sense of unbelonging. From her first communion to her first girlfriend via a swathe of self-denial, awkward encounters, and everyday courage, Ellie offers a fresh and funny self-portrait of a young woman becoming herself.
AUG212015
Why this caught my eye:
This has been out for a bit now but it's the first time Diamond had carried it so hopefully there will be a new wave of people getting exposed to the book, and I think Crewes' style and voice are incredibly charming.
That's it for this batch! We'll hit horror on the next round!