Comic of the Week
There's a moment in issue #5 of Frater Mine where you can see true genius at work. The author, Sean McGrath, and the artist, Juan Romera, work seamlessly together to bring a truly goosebumps-inducing series of panels. I literally felt a chill as one of the main protagonists woke up from a nap and watched a number of black shadows silently marching down her staircase.
Mysticism, angst, and relationships are combined in Mr. McGrath's first two story arcs, which encompass issues 1-6 (issue 6 is forthcoming and should be published soon). The first story arc (issues 1-3) finds main character Matt, an unhappy high school teacher, being called back for an unexpected reunion with his former mystical friends. With a focus on nostalgia and the ties that bind friends together, McGrath takes us on a magical romp through heaven and hell. While this first arc is engaging, albeit confusing at some points (there's a lightsaber, an angel, and a few betrayals involved in the confusion), McGrath shines in his characterizations in the second story arc.
In issues #4-#6, the story takes an unexpected, yet welcome, focus on Matt. The mysticism is still there (in the form of a supernatural force that threatens Matt's family life), but it takes a backseat to McGrath's brilliant multi-faceted portrayal of a frustrated man trying to find his place in the world as he balances his family life. Heavier on the drama and character relationships, the second arc also sees Romera's pencils improve with each issue. By issue 6 both writer and artist have reached remarkable levels of professionalism and storytelling. [Editor's Note: I was fortunate enough to receive an advanced copy of issue 6]
But wait, you may be thinking, what the hell does all this have to with the LGBT community?
Though it's not the main focus of the series, Matt's homosexuality is often referred to throughout the book and McGrath's subtlety in his portrayal is much appreciated. Frater Mine serves to continue to demonstrates the variety of LGBT portrayals in comic books.
And so, with great pleasure, we induct Frater Mine as our LGBT Comic of The Month. No, you read that correctly. We're changing our format to give each LGBT comic more exposure.
Make sure to order your copies of Frater Mine via IndyPlanet.
This week's LGBT Comic of the Week is none other than writer Tommy Roddy's Pride High. Now in its 6th issue, Pride High is set in a high school full of super heroes that compete in squads (think New X-Men: Academy X) in a championship. The titular squad consists of entirely LGBT and LGBT-friendly characters.
Now let me start off by saying that the comic book has its share of flaws. The art at first didn't work for me, as guys were drawn with exaggerated bums and prominent crotches, but as the series went on, the art (thankfully) focused less and less on the over-sexualization of these characters. There's a time and a place for that type of art (I'm thinking more adult titles that are easily available at certain shops) and it seemed at odds with Roddy's story. There were also too many cuts, confusing panels, and way too many indistinguishable characters that were introduced (I don't know if it was just me, but I struggled to identify K.O., Kid Mischief, Beowulf, Smash, Crash, and the new freshman).
OK. That's the bad. Now for the good, and for the reasons as to why you should pick up this title!
As most television and comic book series, Pride High starts to hit its stride later on around the end of issue 2. The characters start working as a team and you can see the dynamics within the group. It is when the story focuses on the team and the main cast that Roddy's writing shines. The messages about friendship, tolerance, diversity, and love are interwoven into an engaging story arc that finds our heroes depending on each other in order to win the ISC (Inter-Squad Championship). Once I knew who the key players were, I went back and re-read the series and I was able to follow it a lot easier. I was incredibly disappointed when I reached the end of the available issues, only because I had found myself hooked!
Be sure to purchase your copies either online at http://pridecomics.com/ or at Whatever..., and A Different Light in San Francisco, and Comic Smash! in Studio City, California.
And don't forget to check out Prism Comics for some of the best resources in checking out LGBT comics!
After having a doom and gloom filled weekend with the latest DMZ trade and the first DVD (of four) of Lost Odyssey, I found it quite refreshing to read LGBT indie creator Brian Andersen's superhero satire, So Super Duper. The comic stars Psyche, a newly inducted superhero whose powers involve "sensing evil." Yep, that's it. Oh and did I mention he's part of a demented JLA-like team and that he's stuck so far deep into the closet that he's found himself in Narnia? The comic delivers on the comedy, as well as some surprisingly touching scenes. While the main character's introduction may leave you grating your teeth in annoyance, he slowly matures into a likable everyday guy who has great responsibility thrust upon him. The art may not win any awards, but Brian's passion is inherently addictive and you'll soon find yourself wanting to read the next issue. You can order Brian's comic online via his comic's website at http://www.sosuperduper.com/ .
You can also find the comic at the following fine comic shops: Isotope Comics, Whatever..., and Foto-Grafix Books in San Francisco, Hub Comics in Somerville, MA, and Austin Books in Austin, TX.
Don't forget to support other LGBT creators like Brian by visiting Prism Comics. They have a ton of comics for sale, as well as interesting articles and creator profiles. Stay tuned for future collaborations!
I'd like to introduce you all to our first installment of LGBT Comic of the Week, in which we will pick an LGBT comic of interest for you guys to check out.
For our inaugural edition, we have chosen Los Bros Hernandez's (Gilbert and Jaime) seminal book, Love and Rockets. Specifically, Jaime's Locas series, which revolves around the on and off relationship of Hopey and Maggie. The realistic portrayal of the romance over the years (beginning with the early years of the California punk rock scene) between the two is what gives this book the title of Comic of the Week.
Refreshing, smart, and completely engrossing, Jaime has crafted a brilliant, intricate piece of storytelling that warrants a revisit if you're one of the few that already have experienced Love and Rockets.
Check out the latest collection, starting with the 25th anniversary trade, Maggie the Mechanic.
We'll save the equally brilliant Palomar stories, by brother Gilbert, for another feature.
Seriously effed up. That's really all there is to say about Johnny the Homicidal Maniac. A creation of Jhonen Vasquez of Invader Zim fame, JTHM centers on the titular Johnny C. who is a serial killer and mass murder, but all around good guy. Through Johnny, Vasquez explores various elements of our urban-blighted, post-consumerist hell (I think he has just lived in LA too long) that we call the US. Major themes are evil, urban life, Heaven and Hell, tenuousness of personal relationships.
An exquisite elderly gay gentleman from Alabama with white hair and beard, jocular face, and mischievous smile showed up unexpectedly at my birthday party this year and pressed Scott Pilgrim into my hand. Leaning in close he whispered into my ear that this book needed to be mine.
"Odd," I replied, still taken aback by his presence/presents. "What is it?"
"Canadian manga."
"Really?" Disdain acridly hanging between us.
"Oh shut the fuck up and read it you ungrateful bitch!" And with that he was gone, and the absinthe flowed and I don't remember much of the rest of the night.
Months later I did finally, in a fit of boredom brought upon by the successful completion of BioShock and the utter lack of anything else on the market, spy Mr. Pilgrim peeking up at me from under back issues of Genre, XY, and Instinct. I relented and reluctantly cracked open the cover. I was doomed. I could not put the damn thing down. Seriously screwed up characters, total blurring of gender roles and identities, smart clever writing, physic powers...God I love this so much I must need therapy! Well, aside from that obvious statement, I wholeheartedly recommend this eventual six part series.
I always viewed kids with imaginary friends as a little...well let's just say I thought they were EFFIN NUTS. I think the suburbs do it to you. Too much uniformity in your life, too much expectation to conformity; it's just not going to end well.
Now imagine if your imaginary friends show back up in your late teens, and it turns out they are harbingers of an even greater evil intent on the destruction of your small hamlet. Well evidently the protagonist of the story see this as a bad thing. Personally, if the suburb I grew up in were wiped off the map, I think I might have a hard time noticing/caring/putting down Mass Effect/blinking. Nevertheless, Suburban Glamour is a four-part mini series, issue two is due out in December. Check it.
My temporary roomie introduced me to this; she's evil.
So um God comes back, looses all the demons of Hell on earth, takes away the people he likes, and leaves Michael the archangel to protect people he sorta likes. No one really notices, demons become flatmates, working in Marketing, life is pretty much normal...oh and Michael gets captured by Lucifer. God then picks a new champion, the beer-guzzling, womanizing, cigar-smoking, foul-mouthed, combative pontiff, whom he had previously disavowed. With Jesus H. Christ as his new sidekick, they take on the hordes of hell.
Yes, this actually got published. Yes, you should read it. Yes, you will need several showers.
Buffy #6 reintroduces us to Faith, and the one thing that sets her apart from Buffy--her line in the sand, or lack thereof. A very nice touch with her characterization is the explicit recognition that she and Giles are far more alike than Buffy and Giles could ever hope to be. She and Giles are cut from the same cloth, and both aspire to be more like Buffy. Whereas Buffy lives in a black and white world, Faith and Giles live in shades of grey and make decisions accordingly.
"Oh Lois, you SO don't want to know!"
Comic of the Week
Frater Mine by Sean McGrath and Juan Romera
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