10 LGBTQ+ Comics That Aren't Marvel Or DC | Screen Rant
The medium of comic books makes way for all kinds of stories to be told, over a wide range of genres and about a diverse collection of people, so it seems natural that many fantastic LGBTQ+ stories have been told through their panels.
Although Marvel and DC comics do occasionally feature LGBTQ+ heroes, their identities are usually not explored with as much depth as their counterparts from other publishers. Whether they're concerned with intergalactic warfare or the trials of college life, these comics treat their LGBTQ+ characters with the care that they deserve.
Space opera epic Saga from Image Comics, written by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Fiona Staples, follows parents Alana and Marko, who hail from planets at war with each other, and the life of their daughter Hazel as they roam the galaxy fleeing from persecution on both sides.
The series, which has just returned from a long hiatus, has a vivid supporting cast of characters representing a range of genders and sexualities and gives each attention without reducing any character's story to just their labels. Some of the best characters from Saga are LGBTQ+, with Marko's ex Gwendolyn, journalists Upsher and Doff, and the family's ally Petrichor just a few of them.
Giant Days is a comic from Boom! Studios written by John Allison, and drawn by Lisa Treiman and Max Sarin. The series follows three young English women and their lives at university.
A comedic series, Giant Days sees its protagonists Esther, Daisy, and Susan tackle the new challenges of adulthood in an easy-to-read slice-of-life style. A major narrative in the comic sees Daisy struggling with her sexuality, and tells the story with emotion and subtlety as she becomes more confident in herself, and starts dating women.
Originally published as a webcomic, Check, Please! was written and illustrated by Ngozi Ukazu, and tells Eric Bittle, a former figure skater who joins his college's hockey team.
Eric, also known as Bitty, is gay, and the story tracks his life through his college years as he navigates the world of college hockey, his sexuality, and his love of baking. The series was later published in two print volumes by First Second Books, the second of which received an Eisner Award nomination.
The Wicked + The Divine is set in a world where every 90 years, 12 gods are reincarnated as regular people. Once awakened, they live fantastical lives, but the first issue declares they will all be dead within two years.
Full of odes to pop culture, this series —illustrated by Jamie McKelvie and written by Kieron Gillen— has LGBTQ+ main characters from the outset, not only through protagonist and fangirl of the gods Laura, but others including reporter Cassandra, and god Lucifer. Published by Image Comics, The Wicked + The Divine is a fantastical yet character-driven story.
Space Battle Lunchtime by Natalie Riess, published by Oni Press, centers on protagonist Peony, a chef from Earth who competes in an intergalactic competitive cooking show.
The perfect pick for those who've wished to eat Studio Ghibli food in real life, Space Battle Lunchtime mixes vibrant colors with otherworldly ingredients in a visually compelling series. Peony later develops a sweet romance with one of her competitors Neptunia, as the pair learn more about cooking and one another.
From Oni Press, Stumptown is a detective series written by Greg Rucka and illustrated by Matthew Southworth, following private investigator Dex as she takes on cases in the city of Portland.
A many-layered protagonist with a troubled past, Dex is bisexual, and the comics follow the interplay of her personal and professional lives. The TV adaptation of Stumptown did a good job translating aspects like Dex's most badass fight scenes to the screen, showing her career prowess even as she deals with internal struggles.
Heartstopper by Alice Oseman is firstly a webcomic and tells the story of teenage boys Nick and Charlie as they meet and develop a romantic relationship at their all-boys school.
Set in Britain, the series is being published in print by Hodder, and is also set to be adapted as a Netflix series. Heartstopper shows Nick and Charlie not only in their relationship with one another but also in the relationships they have with themselves, dealing with themes of mental illness and friendship as they handle growing up.
One of the best Image Comics series for new readers, Paper Girls follows four 12-year-old girls on their paper round who stumble across a deadly and cryptic conflict between invading time travellers.
Written by Brian K. Vaughan with illustrations by Cliff Chiang, Paper Girls balances mystery and sci-fi with '8os nostalgia as its central characters try to unravel the mystery they find themselves caught in. During their journey, the girls learn more about who they are and who they could become, which for some includes revelations around their sexuality.
Written by Warren Ellis and illustrated by Jason Howard, Trees is a series from Image Comics that takes place years after the arrival of gigantic alien structures on Earth, which stand like trees, not reacting to the human world.
Each volume of the series focuses on people in different areas of the world where the 'trees' stand, and some of the comic's earliest stories have LGBTQ+ characters as the protagonists, including a bisexual woman and a transgender woman. Trees explores the many ways that humanity reacts to the presence of the uncanny monoliths, politically and socially.
Boom! Studios-published The Backstagers, which is written by James Tynion IV and illustrated by Rian Sygh. It follows Jory as he transfers to an all-boys private school.
Once there, Jory joins his school's backstage crew in the theatre department only to discover that it is home to a door that leads to a magical world. This young adult comic has a very sweet story that mixes its surreal elements with the joys of friendship. Its wholly LGBTQ+ crew of main characters work together to save their school, build connections, and ensure that the show goes on.