Have you ever wanted to see the world in a bit more color? If so, IDW Publishing and the NIB have covered you with Be Gay Do Comics. Let's close this spotlight of Western comics with a bang!
Summary
Named after the meme "Be Gay Do Crime," popularized by the queer comic creator Io Ascarium Do Comics is a printed collection of various LGBTQIA+ comics that were posted on the now defunct NIB website. With 50 stories highlighted by dozens of queer authors, Be Gay Do Comics, whether humorous, informative, personal, or anecdotal, will show off the colors pride can come in.
Overview
Y'all know the rules with anthology series by now, but I'll be brief for newcomers. Since there are dozens of comics here, I see no reason to have a character section or a complete overview of each one, especially for time's sake. But I will cover some of my favorites. Like I said in the intro, Be Gay Do Comics has a very large and diverse selection of stories.
Some of the shorter ones are rather humorous tales that talk about minor microaggressions or heteronormative assumptions (Astrological Signs as Classic Queer Haircuts by Shelby Criswell, Take a Hint by Julia Bernard, Gender Bent). Some are more nuanced discussions on Queer history highlighting how homosexuality, whether some like to admit it or not (Queerness always has a part of life in the Middle East by Anonymous, Puerto Rico's LGBT Community is ready to kick the door down by Rosa Colon Guerra, The Life of Gay Beck: Gay, Jewish and Nazi Fighter by Levi Hashtings plus Dorian Armstrong).
Hell, even the associate editor Matt Lubchansky manages to get in on the action with a lot of entries (Brands Love Pride, The Response: Visibility Has its Rewards, Just Another Day at the Newspaper, Important Pundit in Silent Horror, and Off the Rack). As someone who is cis and straight, I can't comment much about a lot of the stories that specifically talk about the queer experience and more in-depth discussions on the queer community (Nothing is Wrong With Me by Dylan Edwards and A Covert Gaze at Conservative Gays by Sam Wailman).
What I can comment on are the quieter and more introspective stories. The ones about people advocating for being more understanding and accommodating in a world that's anything but (A Lifetime of Coming Out by Joey Alison Sayers, Boobs Aren't Binary and Dating a Trans Person Changed My Partner's Life by Mady G). Life is short, and it often takes just that long to figure out who we are; it's a struggle we all have. Having those stories represented also makes me feel less lonely as I keep moving forward.
Epilogue
I'm going to keep things short and relatively sweet. Be Gay Do Comics was a great collection of stories. I'm glad to have them highlighted. It sucks that NIB shut down a couple of months ago, but I still wish the best for all the artists and writers involved in both the website and this book. Much like any day or month celebrating a marginalized group like BLM or Pride Month, the awareness and spotlight it brings should always be highlighted. And I hope to continue to do a better job of that as I spin the spotlight to our next story.
YOU ARE READING
Webtoon Spotlight
РазноеJust a simple person is trying to shine a little light on the beautiful world of webtoon. With a splash of sarcasm, narration, and spitfire along the way. And who knows I might have other segments just for the hell of it.
