This month, we thought we'd put together a list of our favourite trans-inclusive graphic novels and comics. All of these titles are available in the UK right now and range from independently published anthologies to super-queer punk rock sci-fi, visually stunning webcomics to talking pugs in haunted theme parks.
THE DEEP & DARK BLUE
After a terrible political coup usurps their noble house, Hawke and Grayson flee to stay alive and assume new identities, Hanna and Grayce. Desperation and chance lead them to the Communion of Blue, an order of magical women who spin the threads of reality to their will.
As the twins learn more about the Communion, and themselves, they begin to hatch a plan to avenge their family and retake their royal home. While Hawke wants to return to his old life, Grayce struggles to keep the threads of her new life from unravelling and realizes she wants to stay in the one place that will allow her to finally live as a girl.
You can buy The Deep & Dark Blue HERE
Queer POC and sex workers are here to save us! From notorious kink writer TINA HORN and featuring a diverse group of artists comes SFSX (Safe Sex), a social thriller about sex, love, and torture.
In a draconian America where sexuality is strictly bureaucratized and policed, a group of queer sex workers keep the magic alive in an underground club called the Dirty Mind. Using their unique talents for bondage and seduction, they resolve to infiltrate the mysterious government Pleasure Center, free their incarcerated friends, and fight the power!
Collects SFSX (SAFE SEX) #1-7
You can buy SFSX (SAFE SEX) Volume 1 HERE
Bear Company is a collection of four trans-inclusive short stories focusing on four gay bears hanging out. The comics are short but heartwarming and incredibly validating - each one with an emotional core.
Blue Delliquanti gives us a futuristic short about acceptance and body mods, Nero O'Reilly's story is a sweet and nerdy tale of friendship and community. Pat Myers welcomes the reader with open arms, and Ryan Estrada and Dorian Cliffe give us a perfect ending to the anthology with a story that explores the impact a brief encounter can have on our entire life.
All stories are appropriate for teens and up.
You can read Bear Company HERE
GENDER: A GRAPHIC GUIDE
An illustrated journey of gender exploration.
Gender: A Graphic Guide looks at how gender has been ‘done’ differently – from patriarchal societies to trans communities – and how it has been viewed differently – from biological arguments for sex difference to cultural arguments about received gender norms. The book dives into complex and shifting ideas about masculinity and femininity, look at non-binary, trans and fluid genders, and examine the intersection of experiences of gender with people’s race, sexuality, class, disability and more.
You can buy Gender: A Graphic Guide HERE
THE AVANT-GUARDS
As a transfer student to the Georgia O’Keeffe College for Arts and Subtle Dramatics, former sports star Charlie is struggling to find her place amongst a student body full of artists who seem to know exactly where they’re going. When the school’s poor excuse for a basketball team unexpectedly attempts to recruit her, Charlie’s adamant that she’s left that life behind…until she’s won over by the charming team captain, Liv, and the ragtag crew she’s managed to assemble. And while Charlie may have left the cut-throat competition in the dust, sinking these hoops may be exactly what she needs to see the person she truly wants to be.
The story has great diversity, with sapphic, BAME, trans and non-binary side characters.
You can buy The Avant-Guards HERE
ALTERS
From a diverse team of creators composed of differing genders, gender identities, ethnic backgrounds and sexual orientations comes a groundbreaking series featuring the world’s first transgender superhero!
As the world struggles to accept the emergence of a new kind of mutant species known as alterations, or “Alters,” a young woman begins her transition from male to female only to find herself also transitioning into a powerful Alter. Faced with persecution by the multi-powered fascist known only as Matter Man, she will face the world as Chalice--a hero for a new age. But as Chalice navigates the path to becoming her true self, she must juggle the complications of her civilian life and the responsibilities of her newfound power.
You can buy Alters Volume 2 HERE
Kim & Kim are 20-something besties making a name for themselves in the wild world of interdimensional cowboy law enforcement. A day-glo action adventure that's bursting with energy and enthusiasm, Kim & Kim puts queer women and trans women front and centre in an adventure that's bright, happy, punk rock, sci-fi & queer as all get-out.
Blending the punk exuberance of TANK GIRL with the buddy adventure wackiness of SUPERBAD (if Michael Cera was a trans woman and Jonah Hill a queergirl partner in crime), Kim & Kim focuses on the power and meaning of female friendships as engines of validation. A bright, happy, punk rock sci-fi adventure that is queer as shit.
You can buy Kim & Kim Vol 3: Oh S#!t It's Kim & Kim HERE
DEADENDIA: THE WATCHERS TEST
A trans male protagonist, a talking pug and a haunted house. Read the comic that inspired Netflix's Dead End Paranormal Park.
Barney and his best friend Norma are just trying to get by and keep their jobs, but working at the Dead End theme park also means battling demonic forces, time travelling wizards, and scariest of all--their love lives!
Follow the lives of this diverse group of employees of a haunted house, which may or may not also serve as a portal to hell, in this hilarious and moving graphic novel, complete with vengeful ghosts, lots of jokes and LGBTQIA love!
You can buy DeadEndia: The Watcher's Test HERE
EERIE CRESTS
Dallas Margolin (a bisexual Jewish trans boy) was doing his best to better himself as a person. He was about to graduate high school. He was Willow Grove’s star baseball player. He had good friends. Overcoming things from the past, You’d think, for once, the universe was kind to Dallas. That is, until one day, before an important highschool match, his best friend and secret crush, Malek, starts planning to move away for college. In an attempt to make Malek stay with him, Dallas makes a terrible mistake.
The series also includes a trans girl and nonbinary minor characters.
You can read EERIE CREST online HERE
However, this comic comes with some trigger warnings from the artist: “cancer, suicide attempts, transphobia, violence, domestic, emotional and physical abuse, manipulation, gaslighting, overdosage, depressive psychosis, just. Depression in general. missing people, murder, violence, smoking, weed, recreational drug use, ableist language, hallucinations, mental hospitals.”
SUPER LATE BLOOMER: MY EARLY DAYS IN TRANSITION
Super Late Bloomer is a highly personal collection documenting the early months of artist Julia Kaye’s gender transition.
Julia’s poignant, relatable comics honestly depict her personal ups and downs while dealing with the various issues involved in transitioning—from struggling with self-acceptance and challenging societal expectations, to moments of self-love and joy.
Super Late Bloomer both educates and inspires, as Julia faces her difficulties head-on and commits to being wholly, authentically who she was always meant to be.
The sequel, My Life In Transition is set to be released later this year.
You can read more comics by Julia HERE
Gumballs dispense an array of bright, candy-coloured short comics about Erin’s gender transition, anecdotal tales of growing up as a triplet, and fictional stories of a socially inept love-struck teenager named Tobias.
The wide-ranging series is filled with single-page gag cartoons, visual diaries of everyday life, funny faux personal ads, and real-life horror stories from customers at his day job.
While Gumballs does not depict nudity, it does depict an anatomically realistic packer. One short comic in the anthology depicts sexual harassment, including groping and undressing, from Nations’ childhood through adulthood.
You can read Gumballs HERE
With Great Abandon is a slow-burn love story between a gay trans man (Harry) and a gay cis man (Russell) set over the course of a year in London. It feels contemporary and authentic w
It’s a sweet and heartwarming story of their differences, their similarities, and their relationship as it grows and develops over the year.
It's also about food and comic books, what's not to love?
You can read With Great Abandon online HERE
Have we missed a trans-inclusive comic that you love? Let us know in the comments below: