Comic-Con 2011: LGBT Writers, Artists Win Big (SLIDESHOW)

Comic-Con, the annual tour of the imagination related to all-things pop culture, had a strong LGBT presence this year in San Diego. Gay comics won big, capping off a noteworthy year, says David Stanley, editor of Prism Comics, a nonprofit that supports LGBT comics, creators, and readers.

At this year's convention, two "out" creators, Eric Shanower and Jim McCann, won Eisner Awards, the comic world's top honor.

Stanley credits the growth and acceptance of LGBT comics to the increase of self-publishing. He tells the Huffington Post that the future of LGBT comics is looking strong -- and it's been a long time coming.

"Some would say gay characters in comics have been around since the 1940s, albeit closeted--with Gay Comics #1 appearing in 1944 when gay meant happy--but the current visibility of "out" characters has been decades in the making."

He says the LGBT comic movement began pushing its way mainstream with Northstar from Marvel Comics, the first openly gay superhero, in the '80s, and has since evolved to characters such as Kevin Keller from Archie Comics today.

See photos of LGBT Comic-Con winners and their work:

1 of 8

Justin Hall: "Glamazonia: The Uncanny Super-Tranny"

1 of 9

First Slide

Previous Slide

@

Justin Hall was a finalist for last year's Lambda Literary Award for Transgender Fiction for "Glamazonia: The Uncanny Super-Tranny" (also published by Northwest Press). He is a San Francisco-based cartoonist, who has been producing independent comics since 2001.
--Prism Comics

Funds For Newtown Shooting Victims

sponsor generated

7 Tips For Keeping Your Kids Safer

Top Charity Stunts Of 2012

GOP's War On Sex

Every Mother Counts

Kathryn Wasserman Davis

Justin Hall was a finalist for last year's Lambda Literary Award for Transgender Fiction for "Glamazonia: The Uncanny Super-Tranny" (also published by Northwest Press). He is a San Francisco-based cartoonist, who has been producing independent comics since 2001.

--Prism Comics

comments(32)

Total comments: 32 | Post a Comment

1 of 9

Rate This Slide

Rank #2  |  Average: 4

• 
  1
• 
  2
• 
  3
• 
  4
• 
  5
• 
  6
• 
  7
• 
  8
• 
  9
• 
  10

Current Top 5 Slides

loading...

Choose your Top 5 Slides

UserName

 | Become a fan

Picked These as the Top 5 Slides in the Slideshow

loading...

Top User Slides

← Prev|Next →

 | Become a fan

Picked These as the Top 5 Slides in the Slideshow

loading...

Users who voted on this slide

← Prev|Next →

loading...

Comments

[jgates31]

01:33 AM on 07/27/2011

I remember hoping to hear an end to the phrases: the first black actor to... or the only women to ... I thought the dream was that the shade of ivorybeigebrown wouldn't matter. Now everything is LGBT. What a brief, soulless descriptor for a person. Who would ever introduce themselves in such a limited dimension as G or T? I'm hoping for the day when we can be ourselves, and not limit ourselves to the "niche of the day/hour." I don't walk into a salon and describe myself as curly. I'm a busy mom with weak upper extremeties. I couldn't blow dry this lampshade if I wanted to. At the grocer's, I'm not a carnivore. I stroll all the aisles and choose a variety of products. These comics seem really ribald, so this audience may not care, but wouldn't it be more becoming and appropriate to avoid announcing one's relationship to penises altogether? I can't remember the last time I referred to myself as a monogamous vaginal intercourse-preferring heterosexual. Regarding role models, I never gaze longingly at Betsy Ross's portrait thinking, "THAT"S a politicking white woman I could imitate!" I look to MLK and strive for his sincere speech. I look to Thatcher for strength of resolve. If my role models are like me, then there's no reason to stretch beyond my boundaries. Let's follow after varied of people who've excelled in a field - it's possible we'll never know what they preferred in bed.

[Spleenz]

07:09 AM on 07/27/2011

The only reason the phrases you listed above have gone away is because of strong women and African-American men/women that have paved the way to make the things they do acceptable. They can get married, they can vote, write books and get published, work any jobs they want...still not saying there isn't problems like equal pay...etc...but for the most part they can do anything now.

The reason why LGBT is still being said as a descriptor for a person is because it isn't widely accepted, marriage isn't allowed in all 50 states, LGBT writers have finally been accepted into certain publishing houses to write along the lines of LGBT. Not too long ago they wrote under pseudonym's (some still do), afraid to write even under their own names due to backlash in their lives.

People are still being beaten, killed and/or harassed EVERYDAY for being LGBT. Until all of that stops and we are able to marry in all 50 states, and it becomes normal in the eyes of society then you will see an end to LGBT being used as a descriptor for a person.

[KJinexile]

05:23 PM on 07/29/2011

monogamous vaginal intercours­e-preferri­ng heterosexu­al. You don't need to identify yourself as such because it is ASSUMED that that is exactly what you and every other person is by most of society. The reality is that not everyone is just LIKE you but people like you want to pretend that they are and that if anyone is different than them that is doesn't affect thier lives. Do you really think that being gay in america doesn't effect anything? It effect everything from employment (it's legal in most states to fire someone for being gay), personal relationships (no marriage or equal legal rights), illness (sorry you've been with that person for 40 years but they can't even being in the hospital room with you), children (no adoption for those gay folks in Florida) and so many more right but yes 'm sure it would be easier if LGBT pretended to be just like you so you wouldn't have to deal with inequality that actually exists.
you having curly hair would be the same if people denied you basic rights because you had curly hair. why is this so hard for ignorant people to understand?

If you truly look to MLK as a role model you might want to read ALL his writings especially those about finding strength in the black community and black identity. Do you think he was advocating for a colour blind world? no he was working from a world where every colour is seen and equally valued.

[jgates31]

07:51 PM on 07/29/2011

Thank you for your passionate response. So that you can better express yourself, you may want to use the verb form "affect" instead of "effect." I misspelled monogamous in one of my posts, so I know errors are easy to miss! One thing that I often try to introduce into this dialog is an economic term: opportunity cost. It costs to make a choice to do one thing over another, or nothing at all. If I choose burgers for Tuesday night, then I can't order pizza, too(assuming funds are budgeted! hello congress! the word is, "no.). If i marry (a woman and a man), then I can't date around. One choice precludes another. Couples who choose to remain childless do not get to invest in colleg savings programs for the future. People who choose to live as homosexuals forgo the opportunity to marry, share insurance bebefits, adopt kids. As to hospital visitation, early on create a legal document allowing rights to another to visit/make decisions/choose treatment. Describing myself as "curly" would be inadequate to help a stylist create a style I can live with and manage. Best wishes to you.

[Larry-bob]

06:59 PM on 07/26/2011

In terms of graphic novels by lesbian artists, Alison Bechdel's "Fun Home" was named by Time Magazine as one of the 10 best books of 2006. Also check out Ariel Schrag's graphic novels (she started writing them in high school and later became a writer for the L Word.

[proggirl]

12:01 PM on 07/26/2011

I've been following Eric Shawnower's career for over 3 decades. Do yourself a favor and check out his Age of Bronze series, amazing work on the Trojan War. Historically accurate and beautifully rendered.

[advocatusdiaboli]

09:17 AM on 07/26/2011

Their sexuality shouldn't even be an issue or cared about. The progressive media help fuel the controversy and division. Their work should stand on it's merit alone.

[r henry]

05:10 PM on 07/26/2011

It's a good thing for younger people who are struggling with their sexuality to be shown examples of gay people who are living fulfilling lives and who are successful in what they've chosen to do. Unfortunately, we still live a culture where this is necessary. The only way to accomplish this is to say, "hey, these guys are gay and look at what they're accomplishing".

[jgates31]

01:43 AM on 07/27/2011

Can we just say, "People are writing/illustrating; you can try, too."

[mados123]

09:16 AM on 07/26/2011

Wow. I wonder if the Ambiguously Gay Duo opened the door (or closet) for them.

[mustardhead98]

09:08 AM on 07/26/2011

I don't understand why comics, art or writing should have anything to do with someone's sexual orientation. It's either a good quality piece or it's not. I just don't understand why it's an issue with the comic or any other art scene.

[r henry]

05:12 PM on 07/26/2011

As I pointed out to another poster here, it's important to show younger generations who are struggling with sexuality that they do have role models in gay people who have accomplished things and who are living fulfilling, happy lives. The only way to do that is to point out that these people are gay.

[KJinexile]

05:27 PM on 07/29/2011

Do you see people of your race, gender and sexual orientation in comic books? do you identify with the characters as many reader do? Imagine loving comic books and never seeing a single character that in any way you can relate to your personal experience. Do you have any understanding now? probably not if you can't understand why this is an issue.

[Black Avenger]

08:35 AM on 07/26/2011

It's called the "nomalization of homosexuality" folks, and all you tree huggers out there need to prepare yourselves for the other things they'll soon be rolling out.

That transvestite comic book hero is a dandy.

Just don't say anything when you come home one day to find your 15-year-old son in your wife's bustier and stiletto heels down in the basement with a bunch of bikers. Just remember it's all good, clean fun -- and besides if he wasn't born with the gay gene, dressing up like a woman and letting guys cornhole him won't have any affect on his sexual orientation at all.

Not at all ...

[Intelligenti Pauca]

09:45 AM on 07/26/2011

And we should listen to what you're saying WHY, exactly?

You've already demonstrated that you have no interest in facts or the truth. You post unsubstantiated hyperbolic drivel & try to pretend that it's fact. Case in point: you tried to make some ludicrous claim that the CDC had said that male homosexual sex was "morbidly unhealthy". When pressed to post a link to the CDC page though, you turned tail & ran away. Furthermore, after searching the CDC site myself, I found absolutely NO evidence that the CDC had ever said anything like that.

Why don't you just admit that you have a problem with homosexuals? What is it about homosexuals that scares you so much that you have to make up & post ignorant, obviously false misinformation?

You have zero credibility because you post unsubstantiated supposition and junk science & then run away when it's ultimately found out to be the BS that we already knew it was.

[Intelligenti Pauca]

02:41 PM on 07/26/2011

Hate to break it to you cupcake, but homosexuality is already considered normal.

Says who? Oh, only the following:

American Medical Associatio­n
American Psychiatri­c Associatio­n
American Psychologi­cal Associatio­n
American Counseling Associatio­n
National Associatio­n of Social Workers
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Child Welfare League of America
American Associatio­n of School Administra­tors
American Federation of Teachers
National Associatio­n of School Psychologi­sts
American Academy of Physician Assistants
National Education Associatio­n
Royal College of Physicians
Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS)
American Associatio­n of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT)

Now, if you'd care to post a list of organizations with similar credentials that consider homosexuality to be abnormal, I'd love to see it. Otherwise, I'm just going to chalk this up as another case of you ranting about homosexuals with nothing to substantiate your baseless hyperbole.

[suzc]

08:29 AM on 07/26/2011

speechless

[enhancedvibes]

07:37 AM on 07/26/2011

It's not every year that both writer and artist win an Eisner for the same comic, this is awesome! Checked out "Return of the Dapper Men" on amazon. Art looks very interesting, worth looking into.

The oz story has amazing art, everyone should check it out.

[LuLou Murder]

09:31 AM on 07/26/2011

You should look at Shanower's Age of Bronze, a retelling of the Trojan War.

[enhancedvibes]

07:32 AM on 07/26/2011

Bite us.

[Occams SawZAll]

08:10 AM on 07/26/2011

says the man child with the name of Warloch !

[Spleenz]

04:31 AM on 07/26/2011

I would love to see more lesbian graphic novels and comics. I own lots of graphic novels and comics, none contain any sort of presence of LGBT...although I'm looking for more "L" personally, lol. I always feel lesbians are underrepresented in mediums. Just look at LOGO channel...tell me how much lesbian programming they have on daily...or just how many lesbian movies they show? Answer is close to none...I hope this doesn't happen in the world of comics too.

[jgates31]

01:41 AM on 07/27/2011

Is this really a crisis in the literary/media world, the underepresentation of lesbians on the homosexual channel? Try one of the other 600 channels, because it's everywhere! Why is it that we demand to see ourselves depicted in the stories we read and the programming we view? It's an interesting psychological/sociological queston.

[Spleenz]

06:44 AM on 07/27/2011

Where did I say it was a crisis? It's really not everywhere btw... oh because I'm supposed to enjoy the the one lesbian plot they throw into a dying drama show to bring up ratings for 3 episodes, every so many years.

I'm also not demanding that every show be LGBT all the time, every episode, every channel. I'm saying it would be nice to see a show that had a consistent LGBT couple in a show.

Since it's on all the "600 channels" and "everywhere" please feel free to tell me what consistently LGBT couple there is on TV...here I'll give you some big-networks to make it easy...NBC, ABC, CBS, CW, FOX, A&E, MTV, VH1....I mean since it's everywhere this should give you a whole list to type.

There is none....I don't know where you are watching TV but it's not everywhere. I would certainly like to watch TV where you are that's for sure.

Straight people have no problem being depicted, now that is everywhere on all 600 channels. It's nice to see ourselves depicted in the things we read and watch because it helps us relate at the end of the day, sit down and see someone going through similar situations. It's not an interesting question at all, it's obvious.

[Marc Felion]

03:52 AM on 07/26/2011

Very Cool!