5 LGBT Graphic Novels
By David Ferguson
It’s time for the Pride Month edition of my 5 Comics thing. This one was tough, as there are a lot of great books out there. I actually did an A-Z for fun, and there were enough books for nearly all those letters. Book and comic people know. There are so many. I almost decided to do format breaking 10 comics thing, which possibly could have included: Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel (2006), Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Timaki (2019), Roaming by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki (2023) Gaysians by Michael Curato (2025), and Hello Sunshine by Keezy Young (2025); and both Steve Orlando and Luke Healy’s entire back catalogues (more on them later).
In the end, decided to go for ones that may have flown under the radar. I also wanted each book to be different to each other.
so
I picked a fantasy crime story, a sci-fi story, a coming of age story, the story of an artist and a romantic comedy
I might do an A-Z at some point…
Namesake (2017) Created by Steve Orlando and Jakub RebelkaFirst published as Namesake Issues 1 to 4 by BOOM! StudiosCollection: Namesake (2017)ISBN: 978-1608864119• Buy it from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)
Jordan Molossus lived to avoid his fathers.
Now he’ll traverse two worlds to put them in the ground. Every seven years, a supernatural parallel world called Ektae aligns itself with Earth, bringing magic and mayhem… it’s a celebration that Jordan Molossus wants nothing to do with. Until now. Jordan was an orphan, born on Ektae and abandoned on Earth, but that all changes when a package arrives on his doorstep containing two magical cast-iron urns. Jordan now has one week to travel into Ektae and spread the ashes of his parents while uncovering the mystery as to why he was orphaned, all the while being chased by the demons of their past.
One thing I like about Steve Orlando is that he brings LGBTQ+ stories in all different kinds of genres, often queering traditional story types. His book Virgil (2015) is a classic hero trying to save his partner, with plenty of violence along the way. Kill a Man (co-written with Phillip Kennedy Johnson, 2020) is story of a fighter going up against all the odds. He’s also done a lot of superhero stuff like his own book Commanders in Crisis (2020 – 2021) as well as books for the Big Two. In short, he has a lot of stuff to choose from.
I chose this series as it mixes a great story with some fabulous art. I am actually surprised we didn’t see more of Jakub Rebelka’s art in comics. Again, it is a traditional story. A heroes journey in a world of magic but also a crime story, with some twists along the way
Our Dreams At Dusk (2019)Created by Yuhki KamataniOriginally serialised in Shogakukan’s Hibana magazine from 2015 to 2017. Published in English in four volumes in 2019Volume One ISBN: 978-1642750607• Buy Volume One AmazonUK (Affiliate Link) | Buy it from your preferred bookshop (UKBookshop Affiliate Link)
Not only is high schooler Tasuku Kaname the new kid in town, he’s also terrified that he’s been outed as gay. Just as he’s contemplating doing the unthinkable, Tasuku meets a mysterious woman who leads him to a group of people dealing with problems not so different from his own. In this realistic, heartfelt depiction of LGBT+ characters from different backgrounds finding their place in the world, a search for inner peace proves to be the most universal experience of all
I think this is possibly my favourite LGBTQ+ story ever (possibly as my mind can update such lists regularly but it is usually this one). It has a common feature of manga in that it introduces a lot of characters and then slowly reveals more of each one as it goes along. Giving each their own time in the spotlight. The cast is diverse, representing multiple groups within the LGBTQ+ community and is about community and giving back to it.
Alien Heart (2020)Created by Anna FitzpatrickFirst published as a webcomic (Ongoing)Collections: Alien Heart Volume 1 (2020), Alien Heart Volume 2 (2023)• Digital Edition Volume One available here direct from Anna Fitzpatrick on Patreon• Digital Edition Volume Two available here direct from Anna Fitzpatrick on Patreon
In the distant future, Earth as we know it has crumbled, destroyed and now dominated by mysterious monsters called “angels”. Safe and sound inside a shielded bubble city, one scruffy queer girl with delusions of heroism stumbles her way through life as a loner. Now that she’s found a brand new best friend, life can only get better… right?
This one will be the easiest one for you to get, to as it is all online. Two volumes were released print at some point. I’m a science fiction guy so the story of a regular girl in futuristic city on Earth with aliens is my cup of tea. My favourite sci-fi author (Philip K. Dick)’s method: the setting is some sci-fi concept and the book is all about regular people, often facing horrible people in authority
The scruffy queer main character, Ivy, lives in a home for kids and dreams of escape. She is alone but she makes a new best friend. That’ll make her life better, right? Anna Fitzpatrick has created a really likeable main character that people can relate to. Anna is also one of my favourite artists and has created a distinctive style for this book. Go forth and binge
The Impending Blindness Of Billie Scott (2020)Created by Zoe ThorogoodFirst published as a graphic novel in 2020ISBN: 978-1910395646• Buy it from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link) | Buy it from your preferred bookshop (UKBookshop Affiliate Link)
Billie Scott is an artist.
Her debut gallery exhibition opens in a few months.
Within a fortnight, she’ll be completely blind.
As Billie struggles to deal with her impending blindness, she sets off on a journey from Middlesbrough to London; into a world of post-austerity Britain and the problems facing those left behind. Her quest is to find ten people to paint for her exhibition, as well as the inspiration to continue with her art, and the strength to move on with her life
I’m still amazed that this was Zoe Thorogood’s first book. It is the story of an artist focused only on her artwork and what she is going to do when she might not be able to create art anymore. Full of characters struggling to exist in a world that largely does not care about them. We get a sketch of each of their lives as Billie sketches their likenesses. Thorogood has such a striking art style and I enjoy her selective use of colours.
Dogs On Dates (2026)Created by Luke HealyFirst published on Luke Healy’s Instagram, published as a graphic novel in 2026ISBN: 978-0571396726• Buy it from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link) | Buy it from your preferred bookshop (UKBookshop Affiliate Link)
It’s dogs. And they are on dates.
Bernie – a confident, chill, and world-wise gay, trans, short Seth Rogen type – is fresh from telling his college advisor that he’s dropping out of art school. Absentmindedly, he walks into a plate glass window, bashing his face. Before he can even formulate gratitude for the window not breaking …
Brad – a sweet-natured, kind-hearted romantic, who is not cool, but nice, which is actually better – arrives at the school for a gig to teach students about the merits of caring for the environment. Dressed as an Earth mascot, he walks into the glass from the other side. But this time, it smashes. In totality.
With Bernie and Brad off to the hospital together, is this the gay dog meet-cute we’ve all been searching for? Of course, dating is never so simple. Hilariousness and awkwardness ensue as our two love dogs face misadventures, mishaps, and missteps…but also flowers, pasta, sandwiches, and maybe even love
Luke Healy is known for his semi-autobiographical works, a lot of them including a version of himself, and deal with the issues an artist faces nowadays. And often extremely funny. I’ll note two I particularly enjoyed Permanent Press (2018), which includes the Ignatz and Slate Cartoonist Studio Prize nominated story, “The Unofficial Cuckoo’s Nest Study Companion”, telling the story of a director struggling to adapt a book into a play. It tells a similar story to Luke Healy: an artist who has had success but now has to follow up on that. Con Artists (2022) was a refreshing story for me as it was not a coming out story or a love story. It is the hilarious story about a bad friendship.
I chose Dogs On Dates (2026) for this list as it is fresh off the presses and is just fun. Quite a different style of story for Luke. There is an overall story but it is peppered with single paged individual funny dates the characters go one. I’d followed it on Luke’s Instagram but the finished story adds more emotion and drama and this only increases the charm and humour the book is full of. The characters and story are just so damn likeable
David Ferguson
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David Ferguson
David is a writer of stuff on comics and pop culture for GCN.ie. He is also a contributor and editor (Hugo nominated) for Journey Planet
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Tags: David Ferguson, Jakub Rebelka, LGBT, LGBT+, Luke Healy, Steve Orlando
