There’s a never-ending tide of amazing indie comics being released every day. Digital media makes it even easier for artists to get their work out there for the public to enjoy. With this new wave of comics comes an exciting new trend, the openly LGBTQA superhero.
There have been queer heroes in the past but never before has such a wide range of sexualities and gender expressions been represented. If you’re looking for a great read full of adventure and fantastic representation check out one of these titles. These are just a small sampling of what’s out there.
10 Agents Of The Realm
This comic is not only a fantastic and engaging story but it also does some important work. Agents Of The Realm tell fantasy stories from the perspectives and real-life experiences of young adult balk women. The comic book industry has long been dominated by white men so the current wave of stories created by people of color is long overdue.
When Mildred Louis created Agents Of The Realm, her cast of characters was dynamic from the onset. Most of the women are black with one Latina and one white agent joining them. They all express a diverse range of sexualities without labeling themselves or each other.
9 Beyond and Beyond 2 Anthologies
This series was crowdfunded on Kickstarter and can now be found in both digital and print format. The anthologies are edited by SFE R. Monster and Taneka Stotts. What sets this anthology apart is how diverse and inclusive the series is. It's written by authors of all ages, gender expressions, and sexualities.
For sci-fi and fantasy lovers, the Beyond series offers great reading from a wide variety of new voices. Hearing the same perspective can be boring and repetitive. These collections breathe fresh life into timeless tropes and bring fresh ideas to the table.
8 America
America Chavez is a groundbreaking character. Created by Gabby Rivera and Joe Quinones Miss America is one seriously amazing hero. She's Marvel's first Latina heroine. The series wasn't long lived but its tough female lead holds a place in comic book history. America is a critically acclaimed series which follows teen superhero America as she enters college.
This series offers blistering action and hard-hitting heroism. Fans were heartbroken when America was canceled. Due to the titular hero's power over space and time, she can easily appear in almost any timeline. The character will have to live on in crossovers.
7 Midnighter And Midnighter & Apollo
This series truly lets the Midnighter character develop into a 3-dimensional gay male hero. A fleshed out love life is a luxury few queer male comic book characters are ever afforded. Midnighter's may be somewhat troubled, but at least it's present and celebrated. In Midnighter & Apollo, our hero is reunited with his longtime partner.
The two face seemingly insurmountable odds including braving hell itself together. Their courage, bond, and skills are tested. Writer Steve Orlando and a group of artists including AOC and Fernando Blanco. Midnighter has all the charm and panache of his heterosexual counterparts.
6 The Old Guard
The Old Guard is written by Greg Rucka. The art is by Leandro Fernandez. The story includes a handful of lead characters across the queer spectrum. These characters seem to be immortal, living across centuries. This begs the reader to wonder if heterosexuality is something a person eventually evolves beyond.
This story captures the angst and pain of living across millennia and watching everything you love die around you. The characters approach to life and love across the endless march of time is fascinating. The art is brooding and deep. This is a great choice for those who are comfortable with the melancholy.
5 Witchblade
This incredible supernatural series ran for an incredible 20 years. At the center of the story is a mystical gauntlet known as the Witchblade. It imbues its female wearer with incredible powers. This comic has always been at the forefront of representation by featuring so many strong female lead characters.
One bearer of the gauntlet was Danielle Baptiste. She's a firey and impulsive woman from New Orleans. After a kiss from her love interest Finch, Danielle discovers that her own sexuality is more complex than she had thought. She's a strong bisexual character.
4 Jade Street Protection Services
Jade Street Protection Services is a mix between wholesome anime Sailor Moon and 80s cult classic The Breakfast Club. This girl-positive comic is written by Katy Rex and brought to life by a team of artists. It follows a group of plucky high school students who are more than they seem.
The gang is pretty diverse coming from Muslim, Philipino and Japanese backgrounds. These varied perspective add to the depth and flavor of the story. If you're looking for a comic about kick-ass girls who fight the patriarchy, look no further.
3 Freelance
Co-written by Jim Zub and Andrew Wheeler, Freelance reboots a character from the 1940s: Canadian hero Lance Valiant. The property became public domain and the writers, along with artist Vandera Vireak bring this gay hero back to life.
Lance is accompanied by a pirate and a spy to round out this cast of vivid characters. Valient is like a grown-up, gay Johnny Quest or James Bond. He's a dashing hero who delivers on some sizzling action and adventure. Lance Valiant proudly carries on the legacy of gay male superheroes.
2 Kim & Kim
Kim & Kim is a wild ride that follows best friends on an interdimensional bounty hunt. This engrossing story by Magdalene Visaggio has more than just a great story and fantastic art to boast. It's also created by one of the most well known transgender talents in the comic book world.
Artist Ava Cabrera captures the spectrum of gender identity and sexuality of both Kims with a whimsical, punky aesthetic. If you love stories about exes who become friends and have spacey adventures, this book is right up your alley.
1 Moonlighters
The art of Cal Moray and stories of Katy Schenkel come together to tell the tale of a gang of college kids who have a secret. They're all secretly werewolves. This group of problem-solving friends calls themselves the Moonlighters. They boast a pretty diverse group with bisexual, lesbian, and asexual members.
There are several examples of great gay and bisexual comic book characters. Along the spectrum of human sexuality, asexual characters suffer from some of the lowest representation. This inclusion makes Moonlighters a significant work.