So next is The Backstagers, by James Tynion and Rian Sygh! I think I remember picking up this book while at the library then putting it back for the next trip (because of course I had grabbed a bunch of comics) and then Jessi had grabbed it and was like, this looks cool and then recommended I read it before it got returned, lol. It was a really fun one, I had to look up a short summary to job my memory on it, but I loved the art style, and I loved the bittersweet story. Like, the kids are fine, just the past was so sad, but I was glad there was an eventual resolution.
Also the concept is really cool. The idea of a never ending backstage that you can get lost in and it supplies everything you might need to build the set for a stage production? And it connects other schools on top of that? Count me in, I love that. I loved the main cast, but also I ended up tending towards the good ol' SU art style when drawing this...idk, just felt like it fit the characters and story, lol.
Oh my god does The Backstagers have a fandom on here because I think I'm ready to revel in how now normal I was when I first read it like two years ago
Battle your way out of a reading slump like the champ that you are! Here are the things I usually do when reading sometimes becomes a chore. Pick your poison and thank me later (or never) 🤗
This was a really fun story! And it’s perfect for everyone who has fond memories of school plays, whether you were in a one or part of the backstage crew or just enjoyed seeing your classmates preform. The Backstagers is a love letter to those feelings and I loved it. This is also a perfect graphic novel to curl up with on a rainy day.
The backstage crew is adorable and they get up to the best shenanigans. I also loved the quirky semi-sentient backstage area. It’s almost like a pocket dimension with a smidge of magic mixed in? It’s so cool! I’m really looking forward to getting my hands on the next volume of this series. The Backstagers volume one is getting a solid four out of five stars! And I would highly recommend it. 😊
You know there’s something so personal about queer sci-fi or supernatural comics... like I feel like cryptids and mysteries and aliens and monsters are just such a big thing in queer youth or just queer existence in general, at least for me it is. Comic books with supernatural or sci-fi elements that have queer characters as the main role are just so good. Anyways idk I just felt like talking about it cause it’s been such a big part of me discovering myself and my indentity...
Anywhoodle here’s some good comics/graphic novels that fit into the genre (both physical and digital)(be warned I’m kinda terrible at giving summaries without spoiling things so the descriptions may be vague):
- Are you listening By Tillie Walden
are you listening tillie walden - Google Search
Abt two women going on a “road trip” discovering each other and themselves while also dealing with some magical forces (v cool author legit love all of her graphic novels)(physical book)
-On a Sunbeam By Tillie Walden -
on a sun beam tillie walden - Google Search
Edit: I JUST READ THIS ONE AND HOLY SHIT IS IT GOOD!! Pretty much all of the characters are queer, and the story line is gorgeous! It has found family and sci-fi so it’s like the best thing ever. Definitely cried while reading it!!(physical book)
-Taproot By Keezy Young -
taproot keezy young - Google Search
Cute graphic novel about a ghost and a gardeners relationship (I think both physical and digital)
-Lumberjanes By “a whole bunch of authors because it changes from book to book sometimes” -
lumberjanes - Google Search
Series that revolves around these kids at summer camp with some magic/supernatural elements thrown into the mix (physical book series)(Boom! Studios-the people that produce? Publish? the book- change artists every other book sometimes, it seems, in order to give different artists a chance to work on it, so that’s why the authors switch up)
-The Backstagers By “multiple authors/artists cause its published(?) By Boom! Studios” -
the backstagers - Google Search
Comic abt this high schooler who joins the stage crew of the theater club and the adventures/chaos of the group! Has supernatural elements <3(physical series)
-Paper Rose by v-0-3 on Tapas -
Paper Roses | Tapas
Can’t remember the plot very well cause I haven’t reread it in a while but the basics are “robot man and human man = love+hardship” (Tapas is a free digital reading app which has a ton of awesome comics u should totally check it out!!) (series/story not finished)
-Eerie Crests by Caleb on Tapas -
Eerie Crests | Tapas
This series’s art is legit awesome!!I recommend bingeing the updates all in one go so that you don’t forget the plot in between updates like I did :-)) can’t remember a lot of the plot but basically is abt a group of teens in a small town dealing with grief+the supernatural+friendship+relationships+etc (digital book/series) (not finished yet)
-Ghost Lights by fantakoi on Tapas -
Ghost Lights | Tapas
IN LOVE WITH THIS SERIES AND JUST FINISHED BINGE REREADING IT ALL!! Has a v unique supernatural story to it and awesome art!! Slow burn romance abt a boy and his best friend who knew each other as supernatural creatures in a past life trying to remember and discover their past(digital series)(not finished yet) (most of the Tapas series are continuously being updated)
-Long Exposure by mars on Tapas -
Long Exposure | Tapas
Nerd+bully gain superpowers after being forced to work on school project with each other+discovering themselves/each other+ dealing with supernatural pwrs (digital series)(completed)
-A Matter of Life and Death by Snarpers -
A Matter of Life and Death | Tapas
I can not tell you how much I love this web comic and was so sad when I saw that it wasn’t gonna get finished!! GORGEOUS ART AND GREAT STORY CONCEPT THAT I WILL BUTCHER AT EXPLAINING BUT basically different gods living together+inside tension+slow burn romance+secrets+forgotten memories. Focuses mainly around the gods Life and Death! (digital series) (discontinued, but sooo worth the read because the art is literally stunning)
I’m sure there’s tons more out there, but these are just ones I’ve personally read/know of!
(Also sorry that all the webcomic ones are all mlm and no wlw!! I found them when I was really young around the time when the digital apps were -just- starting to highlight queer content, and most, if not all, of the queer content highlighted was gay (mlm)! There’s definitely more wlw options on Tapas now, I just don’t look regularly for new comics on it to find out what they are) (if I do stumble across some I’ll link them here <3)
