Representation in media has always been something that members of the LGBTQ+ community have struggled with, either because there isn’t anything they can see themselves in, or if a character is part of the community, they are usually either a side character, overly sexualized or fulfilling tired and often offensive tropes.
In recent years, however, all forms of media have seen an increase in representation and while there is still a long way to go, people now have a better chance to see a character they can relate to. While graphic novels are typically associated with superheroes, that is not always the case, as many LGBTQ+ writers and artists have taken the media to tell their stories.
10 Batwoman Vol. 1: The Many Arms Of Death (2017)
Katherine Kane, A.K.A. The Batwoman has been a heavy hitter in recent years thanks to her live-action TV show, Batwoman. While she has been around for a while, it wasn’t until her reintroduction in the DC Universe that established her as being openly gay.
While Batwoman Vol.1 isn’t focused on Kate’s relationship, it’s still a part of the story and nice to see the representation associated with The Batman. The story continues with two more entries into the storyline, both with the focus still on Katherine Kane and her relationships along with taking down the mysterious enemy.
9 Cosmoknights (2019)
Following main character Pan, as she navigates her neo-medieval world, readers get the chance to follow a group described by the tag line as a “ragtag band of space gays” while they dismantle the patriarchy. The story combines both the elements of space adventures and medieval tropes and is described as a queer, feminist, Sci-Fi adventure.
While most Sci-Fi stories may have a side character who is part of the LGBTQ+ community and barely acknowledge it, Cosmoknights make sure that the characters’ sexuality is a part of their identity instead of a fun fact that’s brought up in conversation. This story is still ongoing with the second book just being completed in 2019.
8 How To Be Ace: A Memoir Of Growing Up Asexual (2020)
How to be Ace is exactly what the title implies it is, a walkthrough of the main character, and author, Rebecca navigating life while accepting her sexuality.
Taking place in high school where hormones are running wild, Rebecca has to deal with the fact she doesn’t feel the attraction that everyone around her feels. This graphic memoir has helped many readers understand, not only what asexuality is, but for many, what their own feelings are.
7 Gender Queer: A Memoir (2019)
In this heartfelt graphic memoir, Gender Queer follows author and main character Maia Kobabe, who uses e/em/eir pronouns, while e discovers eir sexuality and gender identity. Originally, Maia wrote this as a way to explain to eir family what it meant to be both asexual and non-binary.
While eir family was progressive and accepting, it was still a struggle to break out of the many gender norms that are placed on children from the minute their born and follows them all the way through their childhood.
6 America Vol. 1: The Life And Times Of America Chavez (2017)
America Chavez has taken her place as one of the strongest superheroes in the Marvel universe as a leader of the Young Avengers and The Ultimates. One thing that can be said about America Chavez is she is just as strong-willed as she is physically strong, which is why the topic of her sexuality has never been a secret.
This graphic novel gives America Chavez the next great adventure of her life, college. Readers get to go along with this Latinx superhero while she deals with all the things teenagers go through like girlfriends and homework while also being one of the toughest superheroes around. The story continues with the second and final entry, America Vol. 2: Fast and Fuertona.
5 Check, Please! Book 1: Hockey (2018)
Check, Please! follows the story of fun-loving, openly gay, figure skating, baker extraordinaire Eric Bittle as he starts his new life in the first two years of college, far away from his loving family. Deciding to try something new, Eric joins the school’s hockey program where he catches the eye of a very moody captain, Jack.
Check, Please! is an upbeat story that deals with heavy topics for multiple different characters like accepting sexualities, being 100% authentically yourself, and living up to parent’s expectations. The second entry, Book 2: Sticks and Scones, continues the story where it left off and furthers the relationships and themes built in the first.
4 You Brought Me The Ocean (2020)
Jake Hyde, better known in the DC universe as Aqualad, takes the lead in this story as a high schooler who has a distaste for swimming after watching his father drown. Starting with a fresh story, he has no knowledge of his powers until he touches the water and the blue markings start to glow.
Readers get to follow along with Jake as he learns more about his powers while also developing feelings for the male high school swim captain, Kenny Liu. While this may not pack the usual intense battles that fans of DC are used to, it provides a real look into Jake’s life and accepting who he is as both a gay man and a superhero.
3 Young Avengers (2013)
The Young Avengers puts members and notorious couple, Wiccan and Hulkling, at the center of the story. Following Wiccan’s misguided attempt at bringing back his boyfriend’s mother, the team must fight an evil being who can control adults while also dealing with Loki attempting to siphon Wiccan’s powers.
The story sees Hulkling and Wiccan take a break due to worries that Loki put in Hulkling’s mind that Wiccan subconsciously warped reality to make them fall in love, only to reunite and put an end to Mother’s plans. Their relationship has spanned many different comics and storylines, including one where they are finally married, but this story sees them learning to not only trust each other but trust their feelings.
2 Bloom (2019)
Combining both romance and baking, Bloom follows two high school characters with vastly different dreams who end up coming together. Ari is sick of working in his family’s bakery and longs for a chance to move out of his small town to get his band signed with a label. Hector moved into his grandmother’s home to help clear up the clutter when he starts working at Ari’s family bakery.
Bloom offers fans a heartwarming story of a blooming romance while also highlighting that sometimes dreams can change in life but that doesn’t make you a failure. An added bonus is the recipes that the authors put in so the reader can bake along with the main characters.
1 Heartstopper Volume One (2020)
Alice Osman’s Heartstopper takes the trope of the jock falling for the loner but adds a twist to it. Nick, a rugby player, develops a friendship with Charlie, the loner, and even convinces him to join the rugby team. While it’s clear to all his friends that the straight Nick is getting closer and closer with Charlie, it still takes him some time to fully understand his feelings and then come to accept them.
The series, which is releasing its fourth entry, is mostly an upbeat and heartening story but it also covers heavy topics such as eating disorders, self-harm, bullying, and of course, accepting sexuality. Fans were thrilled to learn that this is getting a TV adaptation from Netflix, with the cast just recently being announced.
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