Joe Glass Recommends These 10 LGBTQ+ Comics to Readers in Celebration of THE PRIDE: SEASON TWO Coming to an End

The second season of The Pride is coming to an end on November 13. This is a comic made to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and features them as superheroes. The series is written by Joe Glass and he’s been kind enough to reach out with a list of 10 LGBTQ+ comic book recommendations. Below, I’ll go ahead and list them along with Glass’ comments. What’s your favorite LGBTQ+ read?

You can purchase The Pride Season Two #6 on November 13 from comiXology as a comiXology Original. Art for the series is by Cem Iroz with color by Mark Dale and letters by Mike Stock.

Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles by Mark Russell, Mike Feehan, Mark Morales, Paul Mounts and Dave Sharpe.

“Who would have thought that one of the most moving comics, telling a powerful and thoughtful narrative of the confluence of Red Scare and homophobic attacks on the entertainment community in mid-20th Century America would star an effete, theatrical, Southern pink mountain lion. But that is what we got in the heart-wrenching, thought-provoking and at times emotionally explosive Snagglepuss Chronicles, one of DC’s recent modern reimaginings of classic Hanna Barbera characters. Exploring the attacks on queer identities and freedoms that made up our past and those that would stand up and say “no more” even at great personal cost, this comic is a powerful read for anyone wanting a good story and inspiration from our past.”

Iceman by Sina Grace, Alessandro Vitti, Nathan Stockman et al.

“Marvel’s Iceman has had a resurgence of late, and has become far more interesting since the revelation of his gay identity. Grace told a great story that both dealt with Iceman’s coming out later in life and adjusting to his new normal as well as finding new strengths in his abilities as he becomes more emotionally open and honest with himself and others. The first volume is a great story about the freedom that can come with coming out and how letting go of the emotional baggage of the closet can give you new strengths. The second volume is a fun, action-packed ride as Iceman settles into his new community.”

Enigma by Peter Milligan, Duncan Fegredo, John Costanza and Sherilyn Van Valkenburgh

“Enigma is itself an enigma. A narrative tale that weaves through a number of strange and colourful aspects in a dark and edgy world, but right at its core is the coming to terms of one’s queer identity and finding yourself in the chaos of the world. Not to mention some gorgeous visuals on display, Enigma is a must for any queer comics reader.”

Batwoman: Elegy by Greg Rucka, J H Williams III, Dave Stewart, and Todd Klein

“Batwoman was reintroduced as a lesbian Gotham crime-fighter in DC’s weekly 52 comic, but this is where the character truly comes into her own. With a team that craft a new corner of Gotham just for Kate Kane with respect, care and unending eloquence, Batwoman: Elegy tackles the burgeoning Gotham career of the titular heroine and also the controversial Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy that the US military ran until very recently. All this and some of the most sumptuous artwork ever committed to the comics page.”

Young Avengers by Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie, Mike Norton, Matthew Wilson, Clayton Cowles and more

“The Young Avengers were created by Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung, but it was the Gillen/McKelvie era that brought perhaps the queerest iteration of the team. While some of comics’ (at the time) very few gay teen characters, Wiccan and Hulkling, were already in the team, it’s this run that ultimately brought together a whole group of young heroes who pretty much all define as anything but straight. Add to this a wildly stylistic and bright superhero romp that reads authentically teen and this is a fantastic read for any teen comic fan, queer or not.”

Generation Hope #9 by Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie, Jim Charalampidis and Dave Sharpe

“This one is a slightly darker turn. And unusual because I’m singling out a single issue more than anything else. For good reason. Gillen/McKelvie et al tackled queer teen suicide in this story, through the lens of Marvel’s merry mutants. The story is entirely self-contained. You can drop in knowing nothing about the characters or situations beyond the idea of what mutants and the X-Men are. The story is heavily modelled on the real life tragedy of Tyler Clementi. And it tackles the subject matter with such tender heart, such grace and such poignant honesty that it’s powerful enough to knock you on the floor. Content warning of course, but this issue told a story that needed to be told, through a comic that would be read by thousands or more. A must read.”

Sandman: A Game of You by Neil Gaiman, Colleen Doran, Shawn McManus, Bryan Talbot et al.

“The fifth collection of DC Vertigo’s Sandman series, A Game of You came out in a different time. By many of today’s standards of gender recognition and discourse, A Game of You might not hold up ideally. However, it is one of the earliest and first examples of queer identities I ever came across as a young teen reading comics, and it still to this day features perhaps the most moving imagery and message on the idea of identity, it’s impermanence and the individual fight to be seen and respected as their true self that you will find anywhere. Worth a read.”

Midnighter by Steve Orlando, ACO et al.

“Midnighter has existed for quite a while longer than this run, and was openly queer back then too. While the character (and his partner, Apollo) was created by Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch, it was this run by Orlando et al. that latched onto Midnighter’s queer identity most effectively and authentically. A kind of bad ass Batman who can kill you with his little finger, Midnighter is a hardcore action hero character, something so often unassociated with queerness by media at large that it was wildly refreshing, entertaining and fist-pumpingly awesome to see.”

Backstagers by James Tynion IV, Rian Sygh, Walter Baiamonte, and Jim Campbell

“Backstagers is an all-ages romp set behind the curtains of high school theatre and the magical mysteries of the backstage world that plays a big part of making the magic happen on stage. But don’t think all the magic happens on the stage in the performance! Backstagers features a diverse cast, with many queer young teens that are perfectly accessible and fun for young readers. It’s a joy to read and filled with unwavering light, showing that the queer experience is so much more than dire drama. It’s full of colour and fun too.”

Kim & Kim by Magdalene Visaggio, Eva Cabrera, Claudia Aguirre, and Zakk Saam

“Kim & Kim is a rollicking, neon-glow sci-fi adventure of the titular bad girls with hearts of gold that are just trying to live life to the fullest on their terms. It’s fun, energetic and colourful, and you should accept no substitutes! Kim & Kim is also one of the few comics out there featuring trans characters and is written by one of the greatest rising voices in comics right now.”