Gay comics

I just adore comics or Graphic Novels, from Corto Maltese to Peanuts, from Jeff Hawke to Dick Tracy, from from Mafalda to Dilbert, from Fritz the Cat to BONE, frm Calvin and Hobbes to Doonesbury. But I've always been intrigued by Gay comics, an often overlooked niche. Among my favorites are:

WENDEL by Howard Cruse


Howard Cruse, the pioneer of gay comics, the author of "Stuck Rubber Baby" gave us this exhilarating, poignant strip, that explores topics like homophobia, gay parenthood and gay rights. But Ollie and wendel and friends are not only activists, but lovers and very convincing human beings who happen to be gay!

Then there's
KYLE'S BED AND BREAKFAST by Greg Fox


Five handsome gay guys in a gay Bed and Breakfast, the gentle Kyle in search of a serious relationship, the closeted Jock Brad, the gay club queen Richard, the NSA businessman Lance and the latino student Eduardo. Their antics, their adventures with the various guests (who include a gay father, an undecided priest, an adventurer from France, and many others) make for a pleasant and entertaining read.

Another notable is
JAYSON BY JEFF KRELL


Jayson is the Charlie Brown of the gay comics world: neurotic, self-conscious of his limitations, he's not a super-hunk but an average man like all of us, who only wants to be loved. His roommate, Arena, is a straight girl with weight problems, with a stinging tongue. Their adventures are funny and sometimes a bit sad, but always humorous. A worthy addiction to your comics collection!

But my Fave of faves is
CAVALCADE OF BOYS by TIM FISH


The narrative style is realistic, poignant, sometimes harsh with dry humor, sometimes sad, sometimes poetic and romantic. The characters are memorable, the dour, undecided and demanding Tighe, the impulsive, intense and sensitive Warren, his freaky stalker Andy, the twink-obsessed Stanley, not-so-sugary daddy Gordon, Tommy the whorish boy, the navy boy Eddie,the long-time couple Dave and Langley, and the quirky triangle of the "house of boys", Eric, Sam and Micah. Not to mention Murphy Mitchell, everyone's favorite ex, "Let's Party" Marty, and Todd, the boy whose phone could never call.

These true-to-life characters coping with unrequited love, life's crazy jokes and the search of a true lover are drawn in a stylized and very personal graphic style, somewhere between Erik Larsen and Dan DeCarlo.

Other gay comics i like are "Adam and Andy" by James asal (a bit too homey, sometimes), Chelsea Boys by Hanson and Neuwirth (a bit silly sometimes, but fun. A bit like "Poppers" by the alas late Mills)), Max and Sven by Flemish Tom Bouden (whose graphics reminds of tin Tin). But as European gay comics go, the best is
KONRAD AND PAUL by RALF KONIG

The adventures of this german gay couple (Paul being an hairy, horny leather, Konrad a much more refined and cultured music teacher)are narrated in a very expressionistic and caricatural graphuc style, with stories teeming with irreverent (even to the gay community topics)and often corrosive humour.