In conjunction with Prism Comics, the preeminent website for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) comics and creators, every day this month I will be detailing one good comic book/graphic novel with LGBT themes.



Here's an archive of the featured works so far!

Today we look at an intriguing work by a favorite artist of mine!



how loathsome is a tour de force performance by aritst Ted Naifeh, who folks might know best from his amazing work on Gloomcookie, Courtney Crumrin, Polly & The Pirates and Death Jr.

how loathsome is decidedly less All Ages-friendly, as it follows a young lesbian (or as Naifeh calls her, a "gender outlaw") exploring the "freak" scene in San Francisco - S&M clubs, drag bars, etc.

Catherine Gore, our protagonist, is an engaging and spirited character, which is due both to Naifeh's unique artwork as well as the dialogue that scripter Tristan Crane delivers for her. Crane really does a marvelous job taking Naifeh's ideas and making them into a story that both entertains and enlightens, especially in the way that the various stories of the collection (it collects the four individual issues of how loathsome) combine by the end to make an overall statement about how we are all basically searching for love and acceptance, both with others and also with ourselves.

Here is a sample from early in the comic, in probably the story that I found most engaging, when Catherine becomes enthralled with the transgendered Chloe...











Naifeh perfectly creates a "scene" for the reader to see the characters engaging in, while also giving them an engaging personality. I especially love how open Catherine is to her own faults. Very intriguing.

Naifeh is such an amazing creator - I really would read anything by him, I'm just glad he has chosen such quality projects over the years.

Click here to visit Naifeh's website where you can read more about how loathsome (and his other projects).