In honor of our Independent Lens documentary No Straight Lines, the colorful story of groundbreaking queer comic book artists who went from underground comics to mainstream acceptance, we reached out to some of the acclaimed cartoonists featured in the film to have them pick some favorite LGBTQ+ artists they want to “rise up” for Pride Month (and, let’s be real, for any month of the year).
Maia Kobabe → Christine Suggs
Maia Kobabe, Stonewall Books Award and Alex Award-winning author of Gender Queer: A Memoir.“Nonbinary cartoonist Christine Suggs‘ debut memoir, ¡Ay, Mija!: My Bilingual Summer in Mexico, is a complete delight. The themes of language, translation, family, queerness, fatness, and being biracial are beautifully woven together into a rich and authentic whole. Nothing is overstated, simply presented as lived, and illustrated in a lovely palette of warm browns, bright golds, and soothing blues. Keep an eye on Christine, they have more exciting work coming soon!”
Lawrence Lindell → Carmen Johns
Lawrence Lindell, whose award-winning comic work like Buckle Up and Blackward focuses on Blackness, mental health, and queerness:
“[Cuban Lebanese American cartoonist, zine-maker, teacher, sculptor, and illustrator] Carmen Johns—I enjoy Carmen’s work because it’s funny, truthful, and playful. When I read her work, it brings a smile to my face and heart.”
Breena Nuñez → Sarah Maloney
Breena Nuñez, whose diary comics explore themes surrounding the awkwardness of racism, being a queer Afrodescendiente from the Bay Area, and understanding what it means to be Central American from the U.S.:
“Sarah Maloney‘s cartooning style reflects their personality, humor, and politics so effortlessly in Ride At Your Own Risk. You will instantly love the unique ways they draw life with delicate and playful outlines. Whenever I read Sarah’s comics it feels like I’m learning to appreciate our home (the planet Earth) through their thoughtful lens.”
Jennifer Camper → Diane DiMassa
Jennifer Camper, acclaimed cartoonist of works like Rude Girls and Dangerous Women and subGURLZ, and founding director of the Queers & Comics Conference:
“Do yourself a favor and read Diane DiMassa‘s spectacular comic, Hothead Paisan: Homicidal Lesbian Terrorist. Hothead is a sexy kickass dyke, seething with maniacal anger and gleefully battling injustice. But she reveals her sweet side with her beloved cat Chicken, and a deep poignancy as she seeks deeper meanings in life. These glorious comics will be reprinted in a new edition in January 2025, including an interview with Diane and lots of fun extras.”
MariNaomi → Michiko Wild and Liz Yerby
MariNaomi, author/illustrator of I Thought You Loved Me and founder/administrator of the Cartoonists of Color, Queer Cartoonists, and Disabled Cartoonists databases:
“Michiko Wild, whose book is To Whoever Even Listen (2023): “When Michiko Wild’s mother handed me their self-published graphic memoir while I was on a book tour, I was completely unprepared for the burst of emotions the book would elicit,” MariNaomi wrote. “It’s a story of generational trauma, mental illness, displacement, love, and patience.”
“Liz Yerby creates both beautiful personal comic zines and spectacular anthology biographies, which they write and get artists to draw. It’s a great way to discover new talent while maintaining a consistent thread and learning about the best people (Klaus Nomi and Dolly Parton!). Everything I’ve seen of Yerby’s has been pure gold.”
Sina Grace → Two Joshes
Graphic novelist and artist Sina Grace, whose work includes Self-Obsessed, Not My Bag, and Cedric Hollows in Dial M for Magic:
“My love will always go to fellow creator Josh Trujillo, who has been slowly building a library of genuine LGBTQIA+ delights with his historical Washington’s Gay General and romantic/ fantastical Pool Boys.
“Speaking of the latter, I’ve got my eyes on artist Josh Cornillon. There’s a casual elegance to his style, and I can’t wait to see what he does in years to come!”
Nicole Georges → Eunsoo Jeong, a.k.a. “Koreangry”
Graphic novelist and podcaster Nicole Georges, whose Lambda Award-winning graphic memoir, Calling Dr. Laura, was called “disarming and haunting, hip and sweet, all at once” by Alison Bechdel:
“A cartoonist I think everyone should know is Eunsoo Jeong, a.k.a. ‘Koreangry,’ the powerful, tiny, hand-sculpted powerhouse and alter-ego. She was born in the wake of the 2016 election, and served as a vehicle for all the artist’s anxiety, fear, and rage that followed. Koreangry reminds me of Hothead Paisan, but instead of ink on a page, she shouts and lectures from within a world of expertly rendered hand-crafted miniatures.”
Carlo Quispe → Simon Hanselmann, Katie Fricas, and Sophie Yanow
Peruvian-born comic book artist author Carlo Quispe, known for CARLITO and Queer superhero Supermanuel and who has had work in Uranus Comics:
“I am so excited to officially declare how much I love the work coming from young creators, who will go further than my generation ever imagined. Shout out to the super-talented Simon Hanselmann, whose work with Nate Garcia is so fun to read. I love comics by Katie Fricas, who is currently making a graphic novel for Drawn & Quarterly called Checked Out. I will buy anything with Sina Grace‘s name on it, everything he does for DC, Marvel, and Image is smart and funny. I enjoy the Eisner-winning comics by Sophie Yanow, I love the skating energy and the economy of the cartooning.
Taneka Stotts → Mariah-Rose Marie
Taneka Stotts, an acclaimed comics creator who is also an Emmy Award-nominated story editor and writer in animation for series like Young Justice, MAGIC: The Gathering, Craig of the Creek, and Steven Universe Future:
“My queer cartoonist to look out for is Mariah-Rose Marie, an incredibly authentic creator, telling vibrant and bold stories that reflect the world today. I enjoy everything Mariah-Rose puts out, and I’m excited for their upcoming debut graphic novel, Go Back and Get It.”
Ajuan Mance → Gaia Wxyz
Ajuan Mance, artist and writer (Gender Studies: True Adventures of an Accidental Outlaw, What Do Brothas Do All Day?, Living While Black, and 1001 Black Men.), who uses humor and bright colors to explore race, gender, power, and the people and places they intersect:
“Gaia WXYZ, a Bay Area-based comic creator and illustrator, as well as a bass player and activist. Gaia teaches in the Art Practice program at UC Berkeley. Their comics use vivid color and dynamic, expressive figures to bring to light histories and experiences that have largely been overlooked.
“Some of my favorite work by this artist is the series of large-format comics they were commissioned to create as part of a public art project that placed comics about San Francisco’s history and culture in the bus shelters down Market Street. Gaia created a sequence of twelve comics that drew parallels between their migration to San Francisco in the 21st century and that of their paternal great-grandmother, Daisy Marcella Manning, an immigrant from Jamaica who made her way to the city in 1918 and went on to become a successful business woman there.
“Most recently, Gaia’s work appeared in We Belong, a Black queer and trans science-fiction comics anthology edited by William O. Tyler and Viktor Kerney. I am honored to have work in the same collection.”