Gay Comics (Marvel Comics)

''Gay Comix'' (later ''Gay Comics'') is an underground comics series published from 1980–1998 featuring cartoons by and for gay men and lesbians. The comic books had the tagline “Lesbians and Gay Men Put It On Paper!”

Much of the early content was autobiographical, but more diverse themes were explored in later editions. The contents of ''Gay Comix'' were generally about relationships, personal experiences, and humor, rather than sex. It is generally less sexually explicit than the similarly-themed (and male-focused) ''Meatmen'' series of graphic novels.Rothschild, p. 64 Its editors each made a deliberate effort to feature work by both women and men.

Publication history

Kitchen Sink Press published the first five issues of ''Gay Comix''; thereafter it was published by Bob Ross, publisher of the '' Bay Area Reporter'' gay newspaper.

The first four issues were edited by Cruse; issues #5 through #13 were edited by Robert Triptow. Andy Mangels edited issues #14 to #25 and a special issue featuring Barela; Mangels changed the title to ''Gay Comics'' starting with issue #15, in part to divest it of the "underground" implications of "comix".

Excerpts from ''Gay Comix'' were included in a 1989 anthology titled ''Gay Comics''.

Development

The idea for ''Gay Comix'' came from Denis Kitchen, a publisher of underground comics through the company he founded, Kitchen Sink Press. In 1979, after realizing underground cartoonist Howard Cruse was gay, Kitchen asked him to edit an anthology of gay comic artists. The two had worked together previously; Cruse’s comic ''Barefootz'' was published through Kitchen Sink Press.Schreiner, Dave. “Coming out and Falling Out.” ''Kitchen Sink Press: The First 25 Years.'' Kitchen Sink Press, 1994. 53. A call was put out for artists through comics magazine ''Cascade Comix Monthly''. ''Gay Comix'' aimed to get the gay and lesbian contributors to write about things that had happened to them, and experiences they had had. Originally Cruse had reservations about editing the anthology. “He rusehad never publicly, in print, declared he was gay…he thought coming out would only add to his woes.” Cruse decided that “it would be cowardly” to decline the editor position for these reasons.

Cruse recognized that gay people were viewed as caricatures by most of the world, and wanted to publish comics that showed the humanity and normal side of lesbian and gay people.Ringgenberg, Steve. “Sexual Politics and Comic Art: An Interview with Howard Cruse.” ''The Comics Journal, No. 111,'' edited by Gary Groth. Fantagraphics Books, 1986. 83. ''Gay Comix'' featured the work of primarily gay and lesbian cartoonists. In an editor’s note in ''Gay Comix #4'' Cruse put out a call for more women to submit to the magazine, saying, “After all, the personal style of comic book storytelling in ''Gay Comix'' was pioneered by the women who put together '' Wimmen’s Comix'' when underground commix were young.”''Gay Comix #4.'' Edited by Howard Cruse. Princeton, WI: Kitchen Sink Enterprises. November 1983. While it sometimes had suggestive or sexual comics, ''Gay Comix'' was not a pornographic comic series. Cruse apparently even expressed hope that he wouldn’t be submitted comics that focused heavily on genitals.White, Ted. “It All Boils Down to the Editor.” ''The Comics Journal, No. 83,'' edited by Gary Groth. Fantagraphics Books, 1983. 31-45.

Content

Artists producing work for ''Gay Comix'' included:
* Mary Wings, creator of the first one-off lesbian book ''Come Out Comix'' (1972) and ''Dyke Shorts'' (1976)
* Alison Bechdel, who created ''Dykes to Watch Out For'' and whose graphic novel ''Fun Home'' was adapted into a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical
* Roberta Gregory