Archie Comics has put together a video featuring Kevin Keller, the company’s first out LGBT character ever. The It Gets Better Project inspires LGBT youth who might suffer from bullying and worse as they grow up. Words can’t express how happy I am to see Archie Comics do this video and here’s hoping we see some of the other publishers participate by putting together videos of their own.
This is a bit different than the normal review I do on the site as this comic is currently raising money on Kickstarter. The Power Within is a comic entry by Northwest Press for “It Gets Better,” an international campaign to help young gay and lesbian kids get past the bullying many experience every day.
Forgetting the good cause it is, the comic is really good. By the end I let out a gasp and also choked up a bit. The story focuses on Shannon a gay young man who’s told to hide who he is so he doesn’t get bullied. Whether you’re gay, straight, black, brown, yellow, blue, whatever, it’s not easy to be told to lie about who you are.
To deal with the bullying Shannon creates an alter-ego to help him deal with it. Something no one should have to do to cope. The goal of the fundraising campaign is great too:
Money raised through Kickstarter will be put toward the cost of printing the book, and will help us print a larger quantity. (Printing comics is much more affordable per copy with large print runs!)
In addition to sharing a great story, our goal is to get copies of the book into the hands of young people through youth centers, gay-straight alliances, and teachers’ groups. Printing the book in a large print run will help us distribute free copies of the book to people who need to hear its message.
The story by Charles Christensen just hits you. You can’t help but feel for Shannon and what he has to deal with. Gay or straight, many of us have been picked on for just being who we are, so you can easily relate. The story takes you through the progression and it got me to gasp and choke up by the end. Mark Brill‘s art is solid as well.
This is a great example of the comic book industry speaking out on an issue and helping a great cause. No one should get bullied and this is just one of the many things we need to do to end the torture so many experience every day.
Fundraising ends today at 4pm at Kickstarter.
Recommendation: Donate today!
Northwest Press provided Graphic Policy with an advance copy of this issue for FREE for review.
Official Press Release
SEATTLE, WA (1/27/11)—Northwest Press announced today that their forthcoming collection—David Kelly’s Rainy Day Recess: The Complete Steven’s Comics—will feature a foreword written by It Gets Better Project founder Dan Savage, and that Northwest Press will be making a donation to the organization for each copy of the book sold. The book, available in March, collects the entire Xeric-award-winning series that ran in alternative and LGBT newspapers from 1995 to 1998, as well as rarely-seen additional artwork and 16 new pages of Steven stories.
“Since there’s been so much focus lately on bullying and teen suicide among LGBT youth,” says publisher Charles “Zan” Christensen, “I thought this would be the perfect time to bring ‘Steven’s Comics’ to a wider audience. Steven is an innocent, optimistic and resilient kid who’s coming to terms with the things that make him different, and determined to live his life without apology. This series is so heartfelt and genuine that I think it could be a great resource to help people better understand what it’s like to be a queer kid.”
Rainy Day Recess looks at growing up “different” from a kid’s point of view, and handles topics like bullying, divorce, and first loves with sensitivity and restraint. While previous Northwest Press releases have been aimed only at older teens and adults, this book is appropriate for young adult and adult readers alike.
“I am excited to have all of my Steven’s Comics strips collected in this new book,” said Kelly. “While it’s been several years since I’ve drawn any new strips, coming back to the Steven character was like seeing an old friend at summer camp. He may have grown up a bit and experienced so many things, but he’s still the same.”
“David Kelly captures the solitude and magic of queer childhood with an eerie realness,” says Alison Bechdel, author of the the New York Times bestseller Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic.
“I’m thrilled that Northwest Press is publishing this,” says Kris Dresen, creator of Grace, Max and Lily and Manya. “Steven’s Comics is a fantastic comic.”
“I was charmed right from the start,” says London comics writer and editor Paul Gravett, “by David Kelly’s understanding of the inner life of a lonely, anxious boy, growing up living with his grandma. I sense the influence here of the great Lynda Barry in these strips’ bold, expressive art and generous texts. It’s great to have them all compiled in this smart kids-book style landscape package.”
Rainy Day Recess: The Complete Steven’s Comics is now available for pre-order through several online retailers, and for wholesale order by retailers to arrive on store shelves in March. The book is black-and-white with a color cover, and has a cover price of $14.99 US.
Charles “Zan” Christensen and David Kelly will both be attending the Emerald City ComiCon in Seattle, March 4th-6th, where they will appear on a panel of LGBT comics creators.
About David Kelly
David Kelly is a comics artist living in Seattle. In addition to “Steven’s Comics”, he has published and co-edited the anthology series Boy Trouble since 1995 with founder Robert Kirby. David’s comics have appeared in The Stranger, Gay Comics, Stereoscomic, and in numerous ‘zines and weekly newspapers.
About Northwest Press
Northwest Press is a publisher founded in 2010 that is dedicated to publishing the best lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) graphic novels and comics collections. Its first two books were Jon Macy’s Teleny and Camille and Justin Hall’s Glamazonia: The Uncanny Super-Tranny. Northwest Press has a mission to find and publish the best quality LGBT comics work in a polished, professional format, and bring it to as wide an audience as possible.
About Dan Savage
Dan Savage writes the syndicated “Savage Love” sex-advice column and is the editorial director of The Stranger newspaper in Seattle. He started the It Gets Better Project in 2010 to combat gay teen suicide and bullying.
Official Press Release
SEATTLE, WA (1/24/11)—Northwest Press announced today that their forthcoming collection—David Kelly’s Rainy Day Recess: The Complete Steven’s Comics—will feature a foreword written by It Gets Better Project founder Dan Savage, and that Northwest Press will be making a donation to the organization for each copy of the book sold. The book collects the entire Xeric-award-winning series that ran in alternative and LGBT newspapers from 1995 to 1998, as well as rarely-seen additional artwork and 16 new pages of Steven stories.
“Since there’s been so much focus lately on bullying and teen suicide among LGBT youth,” says publisher Charles “Zan” Christensen, “I thought this would be the perfect time to bring ‘Steven’s Comics’ to a wider audience. Steven is an innocent, optimistic and resilient kid who’s coming to terms with the things that make him different, and determined to live his life without apology. This series is so heartfelt and genuine that I think it could be a great resource to help people better understand what it’s like to be a queer kid.”
Rainy Day Recess looks at growing up “different” from a kid’s point of view, and handles topics like bullying, divorce, and first loves with sensitivity and restraint. While previous Northwest Press releases have been aimed only at older teens and adults, this book is appropriate for young adult and adult readers alike.
“I am excited to have all of my Steven’s Comics strips collected in this new book,” said Kelly. “While it’s been several years since I’ve drawn any new strips, coming back to the Steven character was like seeing an old friend at summer camp. He may have grown up a bit and experienced so many things, but he’s still the same.”
“David Kelly captures the solitude and magic of queer childhood with an eerie realness,” says Alison Bechdel, author of the the New York Times bestseller Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic.
“I’m thrilled that Northwest Press is publishing this,” says Kris Dresen, creator of Grace, Max and Lily and Manya. “Steven’s Comics is a fantastic comic.”
“I was charmed right from the start,” says London comics writer and editor Paul Gravett, “by David Kelly’s understanding of the inner life of a lonely, anxious boy, growing up living with his grandma. I sense the influence here of the great Lynda Barry in these strips’ bold, expressive art and generous texts. It’s great to have them all compiled in this smart kids-book style landscape package.”
Rainy Day Recess: The Complete Steven’s Comics is now available for pre-order through several online retailers, and for wholesale order by retailers to arrive on store shelves in March. The book is black-and-white with a color cover, and has a cover price of $14.99 US.
Charles “Zan” Christensen and David Kelly will both be attending the Emerald City ComiCon in Seattle, March 4th-6th, where they will appear on a panel of LGBT comics creators.
About David Kelly
David Kelly is a comics artist living in Seattle. In addition to “Steven’s Comics”, he has published and co-edited the anthology series Boy Trouble since 1995 with founder Robert Kirby. David’s comics have appeared in The Stranger, Gay Comics, Stereoscomic, and in numerous ‘zines and weekly newspapers.
About Northwest Press
Northwest Press is a publisher founded in 2010 that is dedicated to publishing the best lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) graphic novels and comics collections. Its first two books were Jon Macy’s Teleny and Camille and Justin Hall’s Glamazonia: The Uncanny Super-Tranny. Northwest Press has a mission to find and publish the best quality LGBT comics work in a polished, professional format, and bring it to as wide an audience as possible.
About Dan Savage
Dan Savage writes the syndicated “Savage Love” sex-advice column and is the editorial director of The Stranger newspaper in Seattle. He started the It Gets Better Project in 2010 to combat gay teen suicide and bullying.
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