November 20th is Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day where we mourn the trans and nonbinary siblings we have lost to violence and oppression, whether systematic or personal. It’s also the day where we continue to fight like hell so the list of names next year gets shorter. And like, to be honest, that task seems like it’s getting harder and harder as I write this in late 2024.
If you’re feeling like you need some hope and/or disassociation, here are some of our favorite comics and graphic novels about trans persistence. They’re all created by transgender and/or nonbinary creators and feature main characters who are trans doing everything they can to survive and persist in spite of something working against them, whether it’s cops, governments, pandemics, the entirety of late stage capitalism, the literal end of the world, or even their own selves.
Let Me Out
by Emmett Nahil and George Williams
Set during the height of the Sanatic Panic, Let Me Out finds cops who need to find a scapegoat for a murder they aren’t allowed to solve pin it on the town’s young trans people. Now, as if transphobic and homophobic classmates, family, and managers weren’t enough, four queer friends must outrun and outwit armed federal agents. It honestly hits a bit close to home at this end of 2024 with its plot of the government blaming everything wrong on trans kids and getting civilians to rile against them, but it makes the central story of these kids supporting each other and doing everything they can to survive that much more gripping and impactful.
Let Me Out contains scenes of graphic violence, including blood rituals, and is recommended for mature readers only.
The Science of Ghosts
by Lilah Sturges and El Garing
In this murder mystery wrapped in paranormal activity we follow Joy, a scientist who studies, basically, ghosts, guilt, and crime, in her quest to prove her friend’s innocence and get her grants renewed. While the murder mystery takes center stage in terms of story, Lilah Sturges pens a main character and a queer friend group that is relatable to anyone who transitioned in or after their 30s, with moments of trans and queer joy splashed between struggles against an uncaring police force, a broken relationship, and the dead. It’s hard to talk about my favorite parts without spoilers, so I’ll just say that the story somehow gets even better after the mystery is solved.
The Science of Ghosts contains scenes of graphic gun violence and mostly “under covers” sex, and mentions sexual assault in a criminal investigation context. It is recommended for mature readers.
Boys Weekend
by Mattie Lubchansky
In a near-future sci-fi story where a trans woman goes “boy mode” to act as best “man” for her best friend’s wedding, Sammie must survive a weekend bachelor party made of the worst bros humanity has to offer at a floating city that is 120% libertarian capital hell. And if she can survive the blockchain investing tech bros, she’ll have to deal with literal horrors from the deep sea (like the one on the cover). While an over the top (or is it) parody of late stage capitalism and the tech industry on the surface, Boys Weekend is, deep down, about the communities trans people create, cultivate, salvage, and abandon as we begin to live our true selves.
Boys Weekend contains scenes of cartoonish violence and gore, and one scene set in a strip club but does not contain nudity or sexual acts. With how outrageously gross the dudes are, we recommend this comic for older teen and adult readers.
Adversary
by Blue Delliquanti
The self-described “pandemic project” of Blue Delliquanti, Adversary is set right around the time when COVID vaccines became available. Adversary is the story of Curtis, a self-defense instructor who realized he was gay during 2020 and Anton, a trans man who once was his student in an all-woman class, and how they deal with what they have gained and lost throughout the pandemic through sex, kink, and, sometimes, talking over a drink. It’s a raw and powerful read that examines how people deal with what the pandemic took from them, set against the backdrop of a real-life trial and the overwhelming police presence around it that made many of us, real or fictional, felt powerless.
Adversary contains explicit sexual scenes and consensual, violent, roleplay, plus images of police brutality and violent death. It is for readers above the age of 18.
A Boy Named Rose
by Gaëlle Geniller
Let’s end this list with something light(er). The year is 1920, and a young boy named Rose is about to debut as a dancer at the cabaret he grew up in. Gaëlle Geniller’s, darte I say, cozy (!!!) graphic novel follows Rose after his debut as he figures out who he is, who he wants to be, and how to deal with fame. It features a supportive family, community, and friends, and we see how with their support Rose grows and becomes an inspiration and pillar of support to others as well. Did I mentioned that the air is absolutely stunning yet? The use of color and French art deco motifs in the background plus the floral themes surrounding the La Jardin cabaret are just stunning. If you liked Prince and the Dressmaker, you’ll love this.
A Boy Named Rose features bare breasts in the context of lounging or changing dancers, but does not contain scenes of sex or violence. It is recommended for mature readers by its publisher due to it being set at a cabaret with quite a bit of alcohol and tobacco consumption, but we think it should be suitable for teen or young adult readers if those aren’t issues.
When you buy these books or even check them out of your library you are, first of all, giving trans people money. You’re also telling publishers and decision-makers that these stories are important and they should help trans people resist the waves of censorships and bans that’s sure to come.
If you are local to Seattle, drop by our shop to check out these books and get some recommendations on other books and zines about trans people persisting and existing! Oh, and do follow our blog or subscribe to our mailing list if you want to read more reviews and comic book / graphic novel recommendations from us.
Stay safe.
Stay. <3
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