LGBTQIAP+ Comics You Should Read Part II

I’m back with more comic recommendations! With this being the last week of Pride it doesn’t mean that I won’t ever do a part III of course, I’ll definitely share more at some point in the future! Anyway, let’s dive in

Giant Days

I discovered Giant Days when I caught up on all the Lumberjanes issues that were out back then and was looking for a replacement. According to some forum (I think?) Giant Days was similar to Lumberjanes and as it sounded interesting I went to check it out. And lo and behold, I was hooked. Giant Days is very much its own story of course, but it is a little bit like a more mature Lumberjanes.Giant Days is about three best friends trying to get through college together and while it’s pretty realistic, it also has some more fantasy-like elements, thus why I see the similarities with Lumberjanes. While dealing with some serious topics, it’s fun, silly and absolutely hilarious. I don’t laugh out loud quickly when reading comics, but Giant Days? I’ve laughed out loud multiple times. Daisy is biracial (her grandmother is black) and throughout the comics she realises she likes girls (I don’t remember her labeling herself?) and eventually she gets into a relationship with a girl. It’s… not the best relationship, but the comic never pretends it is. It’s just a very realistic take on a bad relationship. If you like Lumberjanes, I definitely recommend Giant Days.

The Backstagers

*chants* Queer theater boys queer theater boys queer theater boys! Another one that really reminds me of Lumberjanes, although this is about the backstage crew of a school theater club. Like the Lumberjanes’ camp, backstage isn’t a regular one as it’s a magical place with lots of secrets to uncover. I love how The Backstagers not only showcases great friendships between boys, but also breaks down stereotypes and toxic masculinity. Plus a cute slow burn between two of the boys and Beckett (on the left) is trans. There are only two volumes so it’s a very short read (though a Valentine’s Day special came out so maybe there’s more coming?) but so so worth it. Again, if you love Lumberjanes, definitely recommend this one.

Patsy Walker

I’ve only read the first volume of this but I’m already in love?? It’s just very queer without making a big deal about it and I love it. Also the story itself is just fun and cute? Patsy Walker a.k.a. Hellcat starts a temp agency for people with superpowers which in itself is already a unique and fun concept, but the entire vibe of the comic is just?? So fun?? The art work is cute and colourful and while there are villains to fight there isn’t really any angst. Also the humour really reminds me of Squirrel Girl, which is a plus. There are multiple queer characters (my fave being Ian Soo, who’s bisexual) who just get to exist, be happy, have fun adventures and friends* and ahhh I’m so sad this got cancelled even though I haven’t finished it yet.

* I don’t know about any romantic relationships as I’m not that far yet but I think they do also get into healthy relationships?

Zodiac Starforce

I’ve actually talked about this one before!  Zodiac Starforce is a magical girls comic, in which the girls powers are based on the zodiac signs. Apart from multiple POC the main cast also consists of two queer girls who fall in love with each other. Apart from that once again a great friendship is at the center of this one. These girls are not just fighting to save the world, but also to protect each other. It’s a fun read, though it also explores the darker side of being a magical girl.

Hi-Fi Fight Club

Okay so there aren’t that many issues out for this one yet so I can’t really say that much about plot and characters, but the main character has a crush on a really pretty girl and it’s super relatable because SAME. She’s such a mess around her ajbshg The main character works at a record store, but it turns out that her co-workers are sort of superheroes, minus the super powers and have started a fight club. Oh and it takes place in the 90s! So far it’s really fun and cute and I can’t wait to see where this goes

That’s it for now, but as I said Pride being almost over doesn’t mean the end for this series.

Have you read any of these? Any LGBTQIAP+ comics you’d recommend? Let me know in the comments!

The Monthly Hufflepuff | Where Did 2017 Go

I think that it was about half-way through November that I realised that I had completely forgotten about my October wrap-up, so I guess I’ll wrap it up along with November 🤷🏻‍♀️

💛 Masked by J.D. Wright ★ – Yikes yikes and yikes. I went into a lot more detail in my review of course, but basically it had potential to be a fun read but instead it had a lot of problematic aspects

💛 Danger! Women Artists at Work by Debra N. Mancoff ★★★★ – Really interesting, fun and inspiring read, but I wish it had featured more women of colour and queer ladies. Frida Kahlo is featured, but her sexuality isn’t mentioned, so if you’re unfamiliar with her you wouldn’t know that. Maybe there are more queer artists featured in this, but at some point I got too tired to google every artist to see if she might be queer since until I quit none of them were (or at least it wasn’t known if they were)

💛 Chasing Eveline by Leslie Hauser ★★★★★ – I have so much love for this book. It’s such a refreshing read: realistic, a wonderful friendship between a boy and a girl without any romance, a healthy romance that didn’t overtake the plot, family, fun antics… 10/10 would recommend

Me throwing Chasing Eveline at all of you

💛 Zodiac Starforce: Cries of the Prince #2 – uhhh I don’t really remember this issue woops. I love Zodiac Starforce though and I’m definitely enjoying this sequel

💛 Giant Days #31 and #32 – Have I shouted at you guys to read Giant Days yet because please do. I barely ever laugh out loud while reading comics and Giant Days made me laugh out loud multiple times. It’s about three amazing female college students, their antics and their wonderful friendship.

💛 Hi-Fi Fight Club #2 – woops another issue I don’t remember?? Again, enjoying this one though. It’s about girls working at a record store who have a secret club in which they solve mysteries and kick ass

💛 Ms. Marvel #23 and #24 – LOVED this team up and I love how they’re currently exploring how the past arcs are impacting Kamala. If you aren’t reading Ms. Marvel yet what are you doing

what u doing fam

💛 The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Beats Up The Universe ★★★★★ – SO. MUCH. FUN.

💛 The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde ★★★★★ – For someone who’s been shouting for about four/five (?) years that I love Oscar Wilde I should really read more of his works. Thus I finally picked up The Importance of Being Earnest and I’m so glad I did. It was such a delight

💛 Runaways volumes 1 – 8 ★★★ for the first 7 and ★ for the 8th volume – The first seven volumes were fun and these kids definitely grew on me. The problem I have with this comic is the pace. I felt it was way too rushed and it took so long for the characters to grow on me. They felt pretty flat to me and so did their relationships with each other (something I find the tv show is doing a better job of so far). Don’t even get me started on volume 8 I found it such a mess yikes. I don’t even want to consider it canon, especially with the way they treated Victor

💛 Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon ★★★ – Ahhh such mixed feelings. I knew there was a lot of controversy about this one before going in and I definitely get where people are coming from. I can’t say anything about it without spoiling it though. My mixed feelings aren’t just because of that controversial thing* but also because it felt very insta-lovey and there were times were I got bored, despite that at first I really liked the writing style and the different formats. No scratch that, I’m in LOVE with the different formats. Controversy aside, this book is so artsy. Besides emails it also has really cool illustrations?? I wasn’t expecting that

💛 Emma volume 1 by Kaoru Mori ★★★ – Fun and cute, but nothing special

💛 Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertali (reread) ★★★★★ – For some reason I didn’t love it the first time as much as I loved it the second time around – I don’t know if it was the hype getting to me back then or my mood (sometimes I read/watch something and I feel a bit meh about it, but then the second time around I’m in love?? My brain is weird) or the fact that I wasn’t out yet and still struggling with my own feelings and couldn’t appreciate it as much as I could now. WHO KNOWS. Point is I love this book very much

💛 Swan Song by Charlotte Wilson ★★★  – The way this one handles grief is very powerful and the romance is cute, but it didn’t blow me away

💛 Lumberjanes #43 and #44 – What can I say about Lumberjanes without repeating myself? It’s still very much enjoyable, the magic and weirdness of it never gets old and I love my girls. FRIENDSHIP TO THE MAX

💛 Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman ★★★ – Great action scenes, but unfortunately quite a few scenes in-between were a bit boring. Review will be up next week!

💛 Karina’s Silver Shoes by Denise Marques Leitao ★ – SO CONFUSING. I DON’T GET IT. AT ALL. If you want a few more details, you can find my review here

💛 America #8 – eh I dunno? I really want to love this comic, and some of the issues so far have been really good, but this issue had a pacing problem which more of the issues have.

💛 Lumberjanes 2017 Special: Faire and Square ★★★★★ – The girls and Jen go to a Robin Hood themed fair!! And there’s a pterodactyl!! Also they re-enact a telenovela to cheer up Ripley!! If you love Lumberjanes and haven’t read this special yet I’d definitely recommend it

💛 Lumberjanes 2016 Special: Makin’ The Ghost Of It ★★★ – It’s still fun because it’s Lumberjanes but I felt a bit meh about it?

💛 DC Bombshells #56 – #59 – Whyyy am I so slow when it comes to this comic while it’s one of my favourites.

💛 Paintbrush by Hannah Bucchin ★★ – Mixed feelings galore!! This could’ve been a fun, cute read, and in a way it was? But it also wasn’t? Character driven novels are great, except when you don’t like the characters #woops Full review should be up soonish

💛 The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertali (reread) ★★★★ – Still as cute and fun and wonderful and wholesome as the first time around!! Read my review here

💛 What’s a Girl Gotta Do? by Holly Bourne ★★★★★ – Just what I needed oh my goodness. THIS WAS SO GOOD. Okay so it made me feel insecure about my writing, but it was also so empowering, inspiring and fun and just ahhh. ALL THE FEELINGS. GOOD FEELINGS. BUT ALSO RAGE BECAUSE SEXISM. Anyway I can’t wait to review this one

Favourites of the month: Chasing Evelyne and What’s a Girl Gotta Do?

💛 Reviews:  Doctor Who Myths and Legends | Ewan Pendle and the White Wraith | Masked | Chasing Eveline | Swan Song | Karina’s Silver Shoes
💛 Writing: Recipe: How to Make Your Own Writer | When Books Make You Feel Insecure About Your Writing
💛 Travel: London Day 1 and Day 2

Holidays!! Last month of 2018!!* Last full month until I leave for Manchester!!

Can you tell I’m freaking out a bit!!**

I mean obviously I’m excited but ahhh I’m also panicking. I don’t know yet how much I’ll blog. Like I said in my last weekly wrap up, I hit a bit of a blogging slump last week. This week I’m actually doing fine? So who knows what will happen. The most important thing is that I’m enjoying myself 🙆🏻

* Where did 2017 go?? What happened to it?? Why is time going so fast??
** A bit?? A bit?? Try a lot

How has your month been? Are you freaking out over 2017 almost being over? Any exciting plans for the holidays, and for 2018? What was your favourite book of the month? Let me know in the comments!