No Straight Lines: The Rise of Queer Comics is a look at five LGBTQ+ comic book artists who have risen from underground comics to the international stage.
No Straight Lines: The Rise of Queer Comics adapts Justin Hall‘s anthology and shares the stories of Alison Bechdel, Jennifer Camper, Howard Cruse, Rupert Kinnard, and Mary Wings. They talk about everything from the AIDS crisis and workplace discrimination to the search for love and a good haircut. The documentary also focuses on how changing times influenced their work.
Produced and directed by Vivian Kleiman, the documentary premieres today at the Tribeca Film Festival.
The issue of abortion, has been a hot topic longer than most of us have been alive. It is also very complicated on so many levels. The thing is no matter what side of this issue you accept as right, we all should believe that it is a woman’s choice, whether she should have one. Unfortunately, the die-hard anti-abortionists don’t believe in this idea, and the sad truth is no one and no man should have domain over a woman’s body. In a recently published anthology addressing this subject, Hazel Newlevant, Whit Taylor and OK Fox, and a host of other creators share stories in a Comics For Choice.
In Encountering Abortion Restrictions: From Kenya to Texas MJ Flores and Kat Fajardo, tells MJ’s own distressing story of what lead her to an abortion halfway around the world. In They Call Her Dr. D, Dr. Cynthia Greenlee and Jaz Malone tells Dr. Dorothy Brown’s story, who was Tennessee’s first black woman legislator and pushed one of the first state sponsored pro-abortion bills. In The Outcasts Heidi Williamson and Julia Krase, imagine a future where women’s sexual activities and reproductive health decisions were monitored daily and those who don’t comply, were jailed. In Body & Soul, Science and Religion Kriota Willberg, dives into the whole evolution from conception to birth in painstaking detail.
In Saturday Morning, Benita Ulisano and Laura Martin, shows how pro-life protesters attack people who go to these clinics. In Plan C, Nomi Kane educates readers about a third effective method to avoid pregnancy, that is not as widely known. In October, Kris Louis tells her story and the anxiety, and the loneliness brought it to her. In Bearing Witness, Mick Doran tells her story as an Abortion Doula, and how her work extends beyond the clinic.
Overall, each of these stories I highlighted as well as those I did not are universal, powerful, personal and beautiful. The stories by each of these creators, are deeply affecting, some are heartbreaking, some are relatable, but all are instantly connected. The art by different creators, makes for some visually striking work while at the same time educating the reader. Altogether an excellent anthology that should be read by all, regardless of your political or philosophical ideology.
Story: MJ Flores, Kendra Josie Kirkpatrick, Jennifer Camper, Dr. Cynthia Greenlee, Rickie Solinger, Rachel Wilson, Hallie Jay Pope, Anna Sellheim, Brittany Mostiller, Lindsay Rodriguez, Sam Romero, Candice Russell, Heidi Williamson, Cathy Camper, Kriota Willberg, Katie Brown & Andrew Carl, Benita Ulisano, Steph Kraft Sheley, Nomi Kane & the Plan C Team, Sarah Mirk, Kris Louis, Emily Lady, Sage Coffey, Rachel Hays, Leah Hayes, Tanya DePass, Tatiana Gill, Mick Moran, Anna Bongiovanni, Daniela Diaz, Renee Bracey Sherman, Jennifer Camper, Michelle Kinsey Bruns, Jensine Eckwall, Yamani Hernandez, Claudia E. Berger, Mallory McMaster, Bree Jordan, CB Hart, Anise Simon, Sophia Foster-Dimino, Vreni Art: Kat Fajardo, Kendra Josie Kirkpatrick, Jennifer Camper, Jaz Malone, Rachel Merrill, Ally Shwed, Hallie Jay Pope, Anna Sellheim, Lilly Taing, Lucy Haslam, Erin Lux, Laura Lannes, Julia Krase, Jennifer Camper, Kriota Willberg, Ahmara Smith, Laura Martin, Steph Kraft Sheley, Nomi Kane , Sarah Mirk, Kris Louis, Emily Lady, Sage Coffey, Rachel Hays, Leah Hayes, Wren Chavers, Tatiana Gill, Mick Moran, Anna Bongiovanni, Stephanie Rodriguez, Kennedy Tarrell, Katie Fricas, Gianna Meola, Jensine Eckwall, Sharon Rimann, Claudia E. Berger, Kate Kerns, Bree Jordan, CB Hart, Sarah Crowe, Sophia Foster-Dimino, Vreni Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy
Prism Comics Makes a Big Splash at New York Comic-Con October 13-16
Prism’s “Gay Agenda” includes a “Women in Queer Comics” panel, more than a dozen creator signings, new releases from Outlines Press, Ignite Entertainment, Northwest Press, and more!
New York, NY—Prism Comics, the premier nonprofit supporting LGBT comics, will be “queer central” for both creators and fans at New York Comic-Con from October 13-16. Prism’s double booth (#1058) will host signings with top LGBT comic book creators all weekend. Prism is also proudly hosting the panel “XX: The Women of Queer Comics”, moderated by JD Glass and featuring Paige Braddock, Jennifer Camper, Joan Hilty, Abby Denson, Kris Dresen and Erica Friedman.
“We’re excited to provide a home for the ‘barbarian’ hordes of LGBT fans in the New York area” says David Stanley, Prism’s PR Chair. “We’ll be the only booth to feature a full line of LGBT comics, from best sellers to impossible-to-find favorites.”
Prism will be hosting six featured guests throughout the show: Tony Breed (Finn and Charlie are Hitched), Dylan “NDR” Edwards (Politically InQueerect, Transposes), Jeff Krell (Jayson), Eisner nominee Kris Dresen (She’s In The Trees, gone) and Lambda Literary Award Finalist J.D. Glass (CORE) from Outlines Press, and Charles “Zan” Christensen (The Power Within, The Mark of Aeacus) from Northwest Press. The booth will also host Jennifer Camper, Topher MacDonald, Ivan Velez, Jr., Erica Friedman, Sean McGrath, Sabin Calvert, and more.
“XX: The Women in Queer Comics” takes place on Friday, October 14th, from 7:45-8:45pm. LGBT women and their straight allies are a force to be reckoned with in the comics world. JD Glass moderates a dynamic panel exploring the specific challenges they face in the traditional comics world and the changing digital landscape, as well as the unique perspectives, storytelling aesthetics, and sense of community they bring to the table. Explore the past, present, and future of women in queer comics with Paige Braddock (Jane’s World), Jennifer Camper (Rude Girls and Dangerous Women), Joan Hilty (Bitter Girl), Kris Dresen, Abby Denson (Tough Love: High School Confidential), and Erica Friedman (Yuricon & ALC Publishing).
Kris Dresen’s gone will be making its debut at New York Comic Con, and introduces the first book-length use of Dresen’s lush pencil work. “I am really excited about this,” says Glass. “We’re taking stories and worlds, bringing them to life in new ways.” Adds Dresen, “This work really pushes the boundaries in terms of storytelling and visuals.”
JD Glass will have her new title CORE, which premiered at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con, and is a bold marrying of prose and graphics. gone and CORE are are from the new publishing imprint, Outlines Press, which plans future releases by Golden Crown Finalist Susan Smith, Lambda Literary Award winner Georgia Beers, Andi Marquette, and Susan X Meagher. The company will publish complete single books, serialized stories, and anthologies.
Jeff Krell will be bringing his new translation of Ralf König’s Down to the Bone, the sequel to the blockbuster Killer Condom. Dylan “NDR” Edwards will have preview copies of his forthcoming Transposes, and Tony Breed will have both volumes of his Finn and Charlie are Hitched collections.
Charles “Zan” Christensen will have copies of his anti-bullying comic, The Power Within, which was released this summer, and the latest full-length book from Northwest Press, Rick Worley’s A Waste of Time.
Drop by the Prism Booth for a copy of The Gay Agenda, which lists everything queer happening at New York Comic-Con, or download a copy ahead of time. For more information on Prism Comics, go to prismcomics.org.
New York Comic Con, the East Coast’s biggest popular culture convention, is held at the Javits Center at 655 West 34th Street at 11th Avenue. For more information, go to newyorkcomiccon.com.
Prism Comics is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that promotes LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) creators, characters, themes and readers in the comic book field. Along with convention appearances, Prism awards an annual Queer Press Grant, and maintains a website (prismcomics.org) with LGBT creator listings and features on all that’s queer in comics.
The issue of abortion, has been a hot topic longer than most of us have been alive. It is also very complicated on so many levels. The thing is no matter what side of this issue you accept as right, we all should believe that it is a woman’s choice, whether she should have one. Unfortunately, the die-hard anti-abortionists don’t believe in this idea, and the sad truth is no one and no man should have domain over a woman’s body. In a recently published anthology addressing this subject, Hazel Newlevant, Whit Taylor and OK Fox, and a host of other creators share stories in a Comics For Choice.
