Hello and apologies! A little while ago it was brought to my attention (thank you for that!) that a huge block of spam was appearing on this site. In an ideal world that wouldn’t happen, but it did. It should be resolved though now there may be a visual problem with a margin of grey showing around the blue of the page layout. Please drop me an email at glajoe at gayleague dot com if you notice any thing spammish or such. It’ll be much appreciated.
About That Spam…
February 7th, 2010Drawn Together
February 4th, 2010OPENING RECEPTION
February 16 (Tues)
6pm – 8pm
The Leslie/Lohman Gallery presents Drawn Together, a three-part exhibition of well over 500 works on paper. Curated by Rob Hugh Rosen, this show contains both drawings of men together and images of men created by men drawing together. Drawn Together runs from February 17 through April 3, 2010. There will be a public reception to mark the opening of the exhibition on Tuesday, February 16 from 6pm to 8pm.
In addition to the more than 150 framed pieces in Drawn Together, the exhibition also includes The Big Wall of Little Drawings, an entire wall of the gallery featuring hundreds of smaller, unframed works (5″ x 6″ to 8″ x 10″) affordably priced between $60 and $160. Moreover, gallery visitors can peruse portfolios containing well over 100 more unframed works on paper (8″ x 10″ and larger) starting at $120. Says curator, Rob Hugh Rosen, “The idea behind Drawn Together is two-fold: first is giving artists an opportunity to exhibit images that unequivocally and proudly express homosexual friendship, love and lust. Secondly, in a difficult financial period, this show provides a venue for artists to sell works and for collectors to purchase some great artwork at a variety of price-points.”
Rosen is co-director of the long-running Leslie/Lohman Erotic Drawing Studio, a group of artists that come together weekly to draw nude male models in a variety of sexually charged poses. While Drawn Together features quite a few artists from the Leslie/Lohman Erotic Drawing Studio, it also includes artists from across the city, across the country, and from Europe. Many artists regularly draw the male figure from life in a communal setting, motivated by the challenges of drawing quickly in a limited amount of time, and inspired by seeing the work of their peers. Sharing information about materials and techniques, they thrive in the supportive environment of like-minded artists. Drawn Together celebrates this community of artists and the work they create together.
The following artists will have works in Drawn Together:
Carlos Aponte, Stuart Auld, Baca, Frank Barrett, Brian Bednarek, Boyway, Warren Bradley, John Burton Harter, James Childs, Chino, Tom Cocotos, Vincent Colon-Roine, Brendon Connors, William H. Crist, Sam Devries, William Donovan, Dewey Dorty, Erich Erving, Elliott Gerber, Anthony Gonzales, Chuck Hettinger, Geoff Howell, Stefano Imbert, Jiro, Brian Kenny, Dane LaChiusa, Ward Lamb, Tai Lin, David Livingston, James Marino, Kevin H. Maxwell, Chuck McKinney, Jon Michael Johnson, Jeff Miller, Thomas Muscatello, Kenneth Nadel, Chuck Nitzberg, Joseph Radoccia, Fernando Reyes, Miguel Angel Reyes, Robert W. Richards, John Riddle, Blane Robison, DanRomer, Richard Rosenfeld, Carmine Santaniello, Christian Schilling, Frank Sheehan, Shunga Boy, Hector Silva, Paulo Silva, Paul C. Smith, Gary J. Speziale, Andy Swist, Richard Taddei, George Towne, Branden C. Wallace, Eli Ward, Court Watson, Todd Yeager, Bob Ziering
ABOUT THE LESLIE/LOHMAN GAY ART FOUNDATION
Described by Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times art critic Holland Cotter as “…a thoroughly nonmainstream pearl beyond price,” the LESLIE/LOHMAN GAY ART FOUNDATION (LLGAF) is a non-profit foundation established to provide an outlet for artwork that is unambiguously gay and which is often denied access to mainstream venues. Founded in 1990, the Foundation mounts exhibitions of art in all media by gay and lesbian artists emphasizing subject matter that speaks to queer sensibilities, including works with erotic, political, romantic and social imagery. LLGAF also provides special support for emerging and underrepresented artists through The ARCHIVE (a quarterly art journal) and a permanent collection of more than 3,000 works, including pieces by artists Duncan Grant, Keith Haring, Andy Warhol, Jean Cocteau and Robert Mapplethorpe. Leslie/Lohman is the premier resource for anyone interested in the rich art legacy of the LGBTQ community and its influence on and confrontation with the mainstream art world.
Gallery Hours
Tuesday – Saturday
Noon – 6pm
LESLIE/LOHMAN GALLERY
26 Wooster Street
(between Grand & Canal)
NYC 10013
(212) 431-2609
Lohman Gallery
Artwork by Andy Swist. Visit the Foxy Andy website now.
Solomon Kane’s James Purefoy At Forbidden Planet
February 2nd, 2010
Actor James Purefoy (Marc Antony in Rome, Bedrooms and Hallways) will be celebrating the release of ‘Solomon Kane’ at the Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR, on Saturday 20th February 1:30 – 2.30pm
RSC trained actor James Purefoy grabbed attention with his role of Mark Anthony in the BBC / HBO TV series ‘Rome’. As well as numerous TV appearances, his movie career includes ‘Resident Evil’, ‘A Knights Tale’ and the forthcoming ‘John Carter Of Mars’.
SOLOMON KANE, the epic fantasy adventure written and directed by Michael J. Bassett (Deathwatch), stars James Purefoy as the implacable title character, plucked from the imagination of Robert E. Howard (“Conan The Barbarian”), the father of the “sword and sorcery” genre. The action-packed tale of this roaming 16th Century scourge of all that is evil will be released by Entertainment Film Distributors across the United Kingdom on 19th February, 2010.
Captain Solomon Kane is a brutally efficient 16th Century killing machine. Armed with his signature pistols, cutlass and rapier, he and his men unleash their bloodlust as they fight for England in war after war on all continents. As the story opens, Kane and his band of pillagers are carving a bloody path through hordes of defenders in an exotic city in northern Africa. But when Kane decides to attack a mysterious nearby castle to plunder its rumoured riches, his mission takes a fateful turn.
Forbidden Planet is the largest store of its kind in the world. Some of the biggest names in Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Comics and Cult Entertainment have come to our London Megastore for signing events, including: Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Terry Gilliam, Simon Pegg, William Gibson, Mark Millar, Guillermo Del Toro, Brian Froud and Stephen King.
For more news about our signings please go to Forbidden Planet Events.
Rise of the Pink Ninjas
February 2nd, 2010Last summer, Sean McGrath heard Maggie Gallagher say the most reprehensible and simultaneously twee-est (is “twee” used in the correct sense of British usage?) thing to ever come out of her voluminous pie hole: “Marriage is not a civil right. In fact, it’s a civil wrong.” Her ability to turn a phrase aside, Mags’ head should have by all rights exploded from just the uncut rage McGrath sent her way (to say nothing of the other people he’s sure were doing the same thing). Ah, “Scanners,” you disappointed me once again. So, what’s a guy to do?
Easy, write a revenge fantasy and get friends to help make it into a comic book.
McGrath now presents to you the fruits of their labors – Rise of the Pink Ninjas: A Gay Fantasia – downloadable at Ortho Comics. Go ahead. It’s free!
See Mad Gallagher throw her weight around!
Stare in wonder at the mysterious Bastard Baby Doll!
Clench your butthole when P & M, the Night Bears, cruise by!
But most of all, enjoy and keep fighting. McGrath wants to start buying gay wedding gifts in this lifetime.
Rise of the Pink Ninjas: A Gay Fantasia
Written by Sean McGrath
Drawn, inked and colored by Benjamin Ruth
Lettered by Christopher Moshier
Cover graphic by Scott McGrath
Danny The Street
January 28th, 2010
Contributed by Tom Peyer
Danny is a phenomenon unto himself. Neither man nor machine, fish nor fowl, flora nor fauna, he is in fact a sentient transvestite street – a short, two-lane avenue flanked by dozens of strange and eccentric shops and storefronts. Thanks to his mystical space-warping properties, Danny is quite the world traveler, having visited cities all over the globe – usually at night, when no one is looking, when he can surreptitiously shuffle city streets and make room for himself and become anything from a back road in Bangkok to an alleyway in Denver. Though no one knows precisely how Danny came to be, those poor and downtrodden souls to whom he has given shelter over the years love him dearly and trust him with their lives.
Through a series of unrevealed circumstances, Danny somehow ran afoul of Darren Jones, a self-proclaimed “normalcy agent” who sent a platoon of Men from N.O.W.H.E.R.E. to eradicate Danny. Jones knew Danny’s habits; he also knew that, in between his continental jaunts, Danny invariably returned to the estate grounds of his only real friend, writer Sara Furness. It was there that the Men from N.O.W.H.E.R.E. launched a surprise attack on Danny and his many inhabitants, among them the odd performers of the Danny the Street Perpetual Cabaret. Panicked, Danny took the battle to New York City; when the disturbance began to attract attention, the Doom Patrol came to investigate and found themselves defending Sara and the others from the N.O.W.H.E.R.E. Men.
The ensuing struggle was fast and furious, but the Men from N.O.W.H.E.R.E. made a fatal mistake when they tried to kill Sara. Enraged, Danny took himself and the Doom Patrol straight to Darren Jone’s house, where the performers of the Perpetual Cabaret exacted a strange and terrible vengeance on the man.
Since then, Danny has freely associated with the Doom Patrol and (over the protestations of Sara, who doesn’t much care for leader Niles Caulder) has volunteered to serve as the team’s mobile headquarters. With his powers at their disposal, they can travel anywhere on Earth – and beyond, for Danny knows many places that aren’t on any map.
Danny is kind, compassionate, and in his own way quite the poet. Though he has no voice, he communicates by forming his words out of anything from ambient manhole vapors to the letters of street signs. Morrison took inspiration for Danny the Street’s name from performer Danny La Rue.
Danny first appeared in Doom Patrol #35, volume 2 and to date has not appeared in following volumes of the Doom Patrol.
© and ® DC Comics. Used without permission.
Kay Watson
January 28th, 2010
Kay has been life-long best friend and confidante to Frankie, the titular character of this Vertigo mini-series. As Frankie’s best friend, Kay has indulged Frankie’s comments about her having a personal god named Jeriven though she doesn’t share her friend’s belief. That changes one day as the pair visit East Coast University and run into Dean Baxter, a mutual childhood friend.
Jeriven saved Frankie and Kay from a drowning accident, but he wasn’t able to rescue Dean. Out of guilt and despair, Frankie insisted Jeriven bring they boy back from the dead. He did, but the strange circumstances forced the three of them apart, till this one fateful day.
Frankie is the attractive extrovert who’s discovered guys though she’s not at all experiencing good luck with them, thanks to a secretively jealous Jeriven. Kay is steadfast, supportive, and the quiet, much more bookish introvert of the pair. She seemingly has no interest in guys, and feels left out when Frankie and Dean hit it off.
Unknown to either of them, Dean is secretly a pawn of a demon god with a vendetta against Jeriven. Dean charms Frankie with his personality and uses his good looks to seduce Frankie, all in a scheme calculated to make Frankie doubt and lose her belief in Jeriven.
Dean is able to trick Jeriven into manifesting into a human male form, trapping him as Dean persuades Frankie to disavow her faith. Kay happens upon the scene as Dean gloats over the now human Jeriven, and decides to help him.
Confused by new feelings, Jeriven kisses Kay, and immediately expresses regret by saying, “Kay, that was my first kiss, and I’ll never forget it, but Frankie is the only girl for me.” Kay simply replies, “Yeah. For me, too.”
Jeriven falls into the clutches of the demon god, and Kay and Frankie team up to rescue him. In one scene, Dean taunts Kay about being a lesbian, but Kay surprises him with her determination to protect Frankie, and takes him down. Jeriven destroys the demon god by trickery. As the trio walks away, Kay confesses that she and Jeriven are in love with Frankie, admitting that she’ll never make a pass at her friend. Frankie shocks Kay by kissing her and suggesting that the three of them start a relationship. The story closes by showing them happily settled into their new lives in California.
Kay first appears in My Faith in Frankie #1 and her crush on Frankie is revealed in #3.
© Mike Carey and Sonny Liew. Published by Vertigo. Used without permission.
Captain Power
January 28th, 2010
Contributed by Ronald Byrd
Years ago at a demonstration of radiation manipulation at Techtonics Research Laboratories, scientist Christina Carr suffered severe disfigurement in the same explosion that transformed her co-worker Dr. Otto Octavius into the super-powered Doctor Octopus (and which, according to the continuity of Spider-Man: Chapter One, was also a factor in Peter Parker’s transformation into Spider-Man). Carr blamed Octavius for the accident and attempted to sue, but once he became a super-villain this was a futile effort. Driven mad by the radiation that mutated her, Carr eventually learned that it had also given her the power to transform herself into a being of great power, a being which was, incidentally, male; the implications of this gender change as a part of Carr’s transformation are unclear.
As Captain Power, Carr insanely sought “vengeance” against those who had survived the accident, killing several of them under mysterious circumstances, eventually targeting Doctor Octopus himself. Held prisoner, Octopus leads Power to attack former Techtonics supervisor Dr. Ted Twaki, now head of the Tricorp Foundation (temporary workplace of Peter Parker).
Spider-Man arrives at the scene and manages to immobilize Power with an electrical shock which shorts out “his” mutagenic shape-changing power, reverting “him” to the disfigured form of Christina Carr. Taken into custody, Carr no doubt has plans to seek revenge on both Spider-Man and Doctor Octopus, but she has not been seen since.
The same radiation which is slowly killing her gave Christina Carr the ability to transform into Captain Power, in which form she possesses super-powers that she evidently cannot use in her normal form. Captain Power has super-strength, a limited level of invulnerability, the ability to shoot intense flame from “his” eyes, and the power of flight.
Dr. Carr’s first appearance is in Spider-Man: Chapter One #1; as Power in Amazing Spider-Man #9, vol 2. Her character is confirmed lesbian in Amazing Spider-Man #10, vol 2.
© and ® Marvel Comics. Used without permission.
Gay Previews 3/10
January 26th, 2010Welcome to Gay Previews, a monthly list that highlights the work of LGBT and gay friendly creators. Listings are primarily taken from each month’s PREVIEWS. Just refer to the page number in your PREVIEWS copy for more information about each comic. Other sources such as a publisher’s website may be used. In these cases, a link is provided.
If you are a LGBT creator whose work has been accidentally overlooked or is not included in PREVIEWS solicitations, please contact me at glajoe at gayleague dot com to be included.
Inspired by Andy Mangels whose idea this is originally and who dutifully compiled numerous lists before this one.
Names listed in bold face are LGBT or gay friendly creators.
ABSTRACT STUDIOS
ECHO #20 $3.50 Page 188
Terry Moore
Annie lives inside Julie, and she’s not happy. Annie is determined to stop the army from activating its top secret super collider, and Julie has been drafted for the job. Fortunately, she has the help of Annie’s boyfriend, Dillon, and an insider at HeNRI. That makes four against the army. What are the odds?
ECHO MOON LAKE Vol 1 $15.95 Page 188
Julie Martin is in the wrong place at the wrong time when she’s finds herself under a strange explosion in the desert sky. The resulting fallout covers her in a mysterious silver metal that brings more trouble into Julie’s life than she could ever imagine, and a friend to die for. Collects issues #1-5.
STRANGERS IN PARADISE POCKET TP Vol 1 $17.95 Page 188
Terry Moore
Terry Moore Complete the series! This pocket-sized trade paperbacks collects the beginning of Terry Moore’s Strangers In Paradise with Katchoo, Francine, David, and the gang! Each pocket book features new cover art by Terry Moore, and special spine art that gives this manga-sized collection a distinctive look on the shelf!
Buy this book new or used from Amazon.
BLUEWATER PRODUCTIONS
FEMALE FORCE – ELLEN DEGENERES $3.99 Page 210
Sandra Ruckdeschel and Pedro Ponzo
Ellen DeGeneres took the world by storm! Emmy awards! Endless accolades! It all seems so easy, but Ellen’s journey to get where she is now was not always a smooth one. She’s felt the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. But through it all, she managed to stay true to herself and prove that she is a female force to be reckoned with!
RAY HARRYHAUSEN PRESENTS: WRATH OF THE TITANS TP $15.99 Page 211
Darren G. Davis and Nadir Balan
For years, the land of Argos has been at peace. Perseus has guided the kingdom into an era of prosperity and good fortune. And with the news that an heir has been born, puts the citizens in a celebratory mood. Yet lurking in the shadows are forces of hate and discontent that threaten to wreak havoc on Argos and destroy Perseus! Collects the mini-series sequel to the classic film, Clash of the Titans.
DARK HORSE
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #33 $2.99 Page 52
Brad Meltzer and George Jeanty
Brad Meltzer (The Book of Lies, Identity Crisis) continues his pivotal story arc! The Slayer army has suffered heavy losses throughout Season Eight and faced all kinds of threats new and old, but the one mystery connecting it all has been the identity of the Big Bad: Twilight. In this issue, Buffy finally confronts Twilight one on one, setting the stage for Twilight’s unmasking in Buffy #34! (Except we already know who Twilight is.)
Conan the Cimmerian #20 $2.99 Page 38
Tim Truman, Tomas Giorella, and José Villarrubia
In part two of “Kozaki,” both Sergius the pirate and the sadistic Shah Amurath decide to confront Conan’s group of bandits, who are encroaching upon their territories and threatening the outlying granaries, farms, and villages of the proud country of Turan. King Yildiz quickly orders the Shah to annihilate all Kozaki riders, and Sergius arranges a parley with our favorite Cimmerian. In a tense meeting, Sergius explains how commerce works around the Vilayet Sea and offers that their two imposing forces work together against the Shah. With those in Conan’s hungry crew growing wild and impatient, Conan’s not even sure how long he can keep his own men together–but he’ll slit the throat of any who try to defect!
DC
BATMAN: STREETS OF GOTHAM #10 $3.99 Page 71
Paul Dini, Marc Andreyko, Dustin Nguyen, and Jeremy Haun
It’s Batman, Robin and Abuse struggling against the deadly clutches of Mr. Zsasz. With the lives of kidnapped children at stake, it’s up to Gotham City’s finest heroes to save the day. And in the Manhunter co-feature, Two-Face’s trial comes to a surprising end as a new trial starts! Can Kate balance all of that with her need to spend time as Manhunter? And what’s Kate’s son Ramsey doing in Gotham?!
DETECTIVE #863 $3.99 Page 71
Greg Rucka, Jock, and Cully Hamner
When Batman and Batwoman each face off against a knife-wielding killer, they soon find themselves working different sides of the same case. But will they arrive in time to rescue the missing girl and stop the killer from claiming another victim? Things do not end well in “Cutter” Part 3. And in The Question, the mastermind behind the human trafficking ring and the gunrunning scheme is finally revealed, and The Question and the Huntress find themselves in the fight of their lives.
SECRET SIX #19 $2.99 Page 91
Gail Simone, John Ostrander, and J. Calafiore
Catman’s past crawls back to haunt him as Cheshire returns! Could the secret she’s carrying spell the end of the Secret Six?
SECRET SIX: DEPTHS TP $14.99 Page 96
Gail Simone and Nicola Scott
With Batman’s cowl up for grabs, two of The Secret Six think they should be the new Dark Knight. And a mission on Devil’s Island draws the attention of Wonder Woman in this new collection of issues #8-14!
Pre-order this trade from Amazon.
WONDER WOMAN #42 $2.99 Page 92
Gail Simone and Aaron Lopresti
Gail Simone and fan-favorite artist Nicola Scott reunite for this explosive tale featuring the stunning return of a star spanning threat from Diana’s past! Can even Wonder Woman stop Earth from this world-destroying madwoman? Guest-starring the Green Lantern Corps! Don’t miss “The Wrath of The Silver Serpent”!
VERTIGO
GREEK STREET #9 $2.99 Page 114
Peter Milligan and Davide Gianfelice
Terror, madness and the downright irrational collide as the war between the Fureys and the Chinese takes an unexpected turn. Meanwhile, after escaping Calypso and her pornsters, Eddie and Sandy finally meet their possible savior.[Detective Dedalus is gay.]
MADAME XANADU #21 $2.99 Page 115
Matt Wagner and Amy Reeder Hadley
Madame Xanadu and her stark, raving mad sister Morgana are still at odds, leaving 1950s housewife Betty Reynolds more distraught – and more inhuman – than ever. And Mr. Jones continues his “negotiations” with the New York mob in an effort to aid and abet Madame Xanadu’s investigation. [Wagner has revealed a part of Xanadu's life during the Spanish Inquisition in which she loved a woman named Marisol.]
SANDMAN: THE DREAM HUNTERS HC Page 128 $24.99
Neil Gaiman and P. C. Russell
Russell’s four part adaptation of Gaiman’s story is re-offered.
Available at Amazon for $16.49.
WILDSTORM
THE AUTHORITY #20 $2.99 Page 104
Marc Bernadin, Adam Freeman, and Al Barrionuevo
With the Carrier streaking through space beyond their control, the newly configured Authority find themselves on Daemon’s doorstep unable to defend themselves against both incoming hostiles and a growing rebellion from within. With Jack and With the Carrier streaking through space beyond their control, the newly Christine struggling for control, the team finds salvation in the most unexpected of places.
THE AUTHORITY: THE LOST YEAR #6 $2.99 Page 105
Grant Morrison, Keith Giffen and Brian Steelfreeze
On a world where superheroes are seen as witches, super-science is used to hunt heroes down before they’re given kangaroo trials and then, inevitably, executed. That’s exactly what was done to this Earth’s Apollo, and now that our Authority has arrived, they plan on making things better. But one thing must go right: the two Midnighters they now have can’t end up killing each other.
EX MACHINA #49 $2.99 Page 106
Brian K Vaughn and Tony Harris
It’s the bloody conclusion to “Pro-Life,” and the penultimate issue of this groundbreaking political thriller. Mayor Hundred makes the hardest decision of his career, as the final pieces fall into place for an unforgettable series finale. [In issue #6 Mayor Hundred proposes to marry the Deputy Mayor’s brother who is a NYFD fireman and happens to be gay. The following issue deals with opinions from the mayor’s staff and the possible implications of the Mayor performing a same-sex marriage. Mayor Hundred’s mother recently asked him if he is gay. Vaughn left the question unanswered. The gay marriage recently came up again in #23.]
EX MACHINA BOOK 3 DELUXE HC $29.99 Page 106
Brian K Vaughn, Tony Harris, John Paul Leon, and others
In this Deluxe hardcover collecting Ex Machina #21-29, Ex Machina: Inside the Machine and the Ex Machina Special #3, Mayor Mitchell Hundred faces difficult decisions regarding New York City’s drug laws. But will a string of brazen, violent robberies and a shocking suicide affect the the Mayor’s policy? And in a second story set during the New York blackout of 2003, the mayor must deal with a city gone dark.
Pre-order this hardcover from Amazon for $19.79.
D.E.
THE BOYS #40 $2.99 Page 240
Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson
So where are the good superheroes? The warriors for truth and justice, the defenders of the American way? The supes can’t all be dirtbags… can they? Meet the true heroes of The Boys’ universe, the young men and women who fight to make things right and ask nothing in return: the teenage adventurers from our far future that the world knows as Superduper! Meanwhile, convinced that Hughie was never what he seemed, Butcher goes to see the Legend- and sets something terrible in motion for our little Scots pal…
THE BOYS: THE SELF-PRESERVATION SOCIETY TP Vol 6 $19.99 Page 240
Garth Ennis, Darick Robertson, and Carlos Ezquerra
Featuring an introduction by LOST co-creator Damon Lindelof! It finally happened: the supes are mad enough to go after the Boys. One of the world’s most powerful superteams decides to hit our heroes, all guns blazing, and the Female is the first to fall into their lethal trap. Meanwhile, Hughie is still plagued with doubt, and Annie finds herself on the receiving end of the worst new look ever — in The Self-Preservation Society! Collecting #31 -#38, including the unbelievable origins of Mothers Milk, The Frenchman, and The Female.
THE BOYS: HEROGASM Vol 5 HC $29.99 Page 240
Garth Ennis and John McCrea
An evil so profound it threatens all mankind… the mightiest heroes on the planet uniting to defend us all… a secret crisis of such utter finality that a countdown to civil or infinite war seems unavoidable… but have you ever wondered what really happens during Crossovers? This volume collects all six issues of the first-ever Boys spin-off mini-series by Garth Ennis and John McCrea, with covers by co-creator Darick Robertson!
DIGITAL MANGA DISTRIBUTION
KURASHINA SENSEI’S PASSION Vol 3 $12.95 Page 251
Natsuho Shino
Welcome back to the renowned Shoei Acadamy, a school which prides itself on educating young men from respected families from kindergarten all the way through senior high school. Newly-arrived teacher Reiji Kurashina is just as popular with his students as ever, inspiring feelings of passion in all of them. The class president and his committee decided to plan a school camping trip. Kurashina Sensei reluctantly agrees to go with them. Spending the night under one roof with a youthful and curious academy student… would something happen to Kurashina sensei?
Buy this manga for $8.73 at Amazon.
LOVE!! $12.95 Page 252
Ariko Kanazawa
Rei is a president of student council – he is always so cool and well-mannered, impressed everyone with a perfect attendance record. One day, Shindo, a transfer student with outstanding grades, comes to school and starts to have a crush on him. During the semester, making moves on Rei, he falls in love with him. Shindo is outgoing and sociable.Rei is reserved and a bit snobbish. A perfect scenario of opposites attracts… or do they?
Pre-order from Amazon for $10.36.
MAIDEN ROSE Vol 1 $6.95 Page Page 249
Fusanosuke Inariya
Two soldiers from warring countries are bound by a pledge as master and servant. Taki Reizen is a Commander of sublime beauty, shouldering the fate of his nation. Called “Mad Dog” because of his rough temperament, Klaus has sworn his loyalty
to him as a knight. Despite this, those around them are cold and disapproving, full of various misgivings. For all their genuine feelings, what will come of love made cruel by the violence of war?
Pre-order this manga for $10.36 from Amazon.
RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW Vol 1 $12.95 Page 252
Souya Himawari
A love whose hot embrace spans time! Yanase Mizuo was hiding from his tea ceremony lessons in an old temple when a sudden wrinkle in time propelled him from the present into the tumultuous world of the past! Lost in an unknown land in an unknown time, he finds help in the feudal lord Takakage. But Takakage isn’t interested in getting Yanase back to the future. Nope, he is convinced that Yanase is right where he needs to be – in his arms!
Amazon pre-orders for $8.73
YELLOW II Vol 2 $12.95 Page 251
Makoto Tateno
Straight and macho Taki partners with feminine and gay Goh to form an expert team of bandits hired by the police to steal from the mafia. Their unrequited love with genre-bending trimmings of action and suspense.
Amazon pre-orders for $6.95.
YELLOW OMNIBUS Vol 2 $19.95 Page 251
Makoto Tateno
A routine drug bust is all in a day’s work for Taki and Goh. When a dead doctor turns up at the scene of the crime, these veteran “snatcher” partners are suddenly forced to follow a twisting trail of clues (and a mysterious dog) for the answers. While bullets fly, Goh’s fierce desires also seek their target in Taki’s heart! The clock is ticking, and a criminal must be caught…but will Goh ever truly catch Taki’s eye? Yellow takes over the streets with the ultimate tale of “opposites attract”! Taki and Goh are a talented team when it comes to battling the crazy and criminal, but they’re worlds apart in matters of attraction! Fate truly moves in mysterious ways…will the same boys who work and play together finally stay together? It’s too late to be careful when there’s this much lust on the line.
Amazon pre-orders for $13.57.
DRAWN & QUARTERLY
MASTERPIECE COMICS HC $19.95 Page 253
R. Sikoryak
Masterpiece Comics adapts a variety of classic literary works with the most iconic visual idioms of twentieth-century comics. Dense with exclamation marks and lurid zip-a-tone, R. Sikoryak’s parodies remind us of the sensational excesses of the canon, or, if you prefer, of the economical expressiveness of classic comics from Superman to Peanuts.
The D & Q site gives the following information: Masterpiece Comics adapts a variety of classic literary works with the most iconic visual idioms of twentieth-century comics. Dense with exclamation marks and lurid colors, R. Sikoryak’s parodies remind us of the sensational excesses of the canon, or, if you prefer, of the economical expressiveness of classic comics from Batman to Garfield. In “Blond Eve, Dagwood and Blondie are ejected from the Garden of Eden into their archetypal suburban home; Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Gray is reimagined as a foppish Little Nemo; and Camus’s Stranger becomes a brooding, chain-smoking Golden Age Superman. Other source material includes Dante, Shakespeare, Dostoyevsky, bubblegum wrappers, superhero comics, kid cartoons, and more.
Sikoryak’s classics have appeared in landmark anthologies such as RAW and Drawn & Quarterly, all of which are collected in Masterpiece Comics, along with brilliant new graphic literary satires. His drawings have appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, as well as in The New Yorker, The Onion, Mad, and Nickelodeon Magazine.
Amazon copies for as low as $13.50!
GIRL TWIRL COMICS
JANE’S WORLD OMNIBUS Vol 1 $19.95 Page 255
Paige Braddock
This 432-page book collects the first three volumes of Jane’s World into one handy size. This book will give readers a full introduction to the cast and crew of the Eisner-nominated series. See the characters and story lines evolve and get ever more humorous and complicated. Alien abductions, vegan Amazons, Elvis impersonators, Jane Bond, and feisty ex-girlfriends all collide. [Re-offered.]
JANE’S WORLD Vol 9 TP $15.00 Pahe 255
Paige Braddock
Jane is on a quest for love, but will she succeed? Her journey will be filled with romantic misadventures, misunderstandings, and general quixotic mayhem! Jane goes undercover as a busboy at Hooters. Then, after failing to uncover sexism in the workplace she’s sent out to cover a mountain bike race, which of course ends in disaster.
LIGHTSPEED PRESS
FINDER: SIN EATER 10th ANNIVERSARY EDITION HC $29.95 Page 274
Carla Speed McNeil
Jaeger is a Finder, which is an aboriginal detective. Jaeger is also a sin-eater, which is a ritual scapegoat. Jaeger returns to an old girlfriend only to find that her husband isn’t out of the picture and now appears to be dangerously crazy but hasn’t done anything to hurt her. But the husband isn’t just some twerp; he’s Jaeger’s former commanding officer. This complex story of conflicting loyalties sets the stage for the rest of Jaeger’s life as told in the ongoing series, Finder. Jump on at the beginning with this chunky manga-sized volume collecting two previous trades into one volume.
FINDER SIN EATER Vol 2 Part 2 $19.95 Page 274
Carla Speed McNeil
Jaeger can get into anything — a holy city, a high-security prison, his best friend’s wife’s bed, an online world-creator’s worst nightmares. What he should do once he’s in is his problem? Mess around. This innovative science fiction series and its creator, Carla Speed McNeil, have been nominated for seven Eisners and the Russ Manning Award, won two Ignatz Awards and one Friends of Lulu Award.
MARVEL
ASTONISHING X-MEN #24 $2.99 Page 74
Warren Ellis and Phil Jimenez
“eXogenetic” conclusion. After wading through a swarm of bio-mechanically engineered monstrosities modeled after some of their fiercest foes, the X-Men finally come face to face with the man responsible. He’s given his life to designing the death of the mutant race and with the X-Men at his doorstep, he’s preparing to unleash one more genetic nightmare upon the world before his time runs out.
GIRL COMICS #1 $4.99 Page 15
Trina Robbins, Devin Grayson, Ann Nocenti, G. Willow Wilson, Valerie D’Orazio, Lucy Knisley, Colleen Coover, Stepahnie Buscema, Ming Doyle, Nikki Cook, and Molly Crabapple
With the most controversial question in the Marvel Universe finally answered right on the cover, Marvel is proud to bring you a celebration of amazing women in comics with the first of a three issue anthology entirely created by the most talented and exciting women working in comics today, including Ann Nocenti (Daredevil), Amanda Conner (Power Girl), Laura Martin (Secret Invasion), G. Willow Wilson (Air), Devin Grayson (Nightwing), Stephanie Buscema (Web of Spider-Man) , and more! With stories featuring your favorite Marvel characters, from the Punisher to Mary Jane, don’t miss what will be the one of the most talked about series of the year!
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #24 $2.99 Page 65
Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, and Wes Craig
The universe faces one of its greatest evils–and no one can see it coming! The Magus, the necromantic shadow-half of Adam Warlock, is not dead after all…and only a small and hapless band of heroes–heroes who should be dead, too–can stop him! Are they back from the grave permanently, and what will we finally see emerge from the enigmatic coccoon? [Phyla (Quasar, now "Martyr") and Moondragon were lovers before Moondragon’s apparent death. Moondragon has since returned to the land of the living while Phyla appears to be dead.]
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: WAR OF KINGS BOOK 2 Vol 3 $2.99 Page 116
Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Brad Walker. and Wes Craig
Can the Guardians stop the War of Kings? The silent king Black Bolt and the tyrant Vulcan square off in interstellar combat — with the Guardians stuck in the middle trying to restore the peace! With the Inhumans and Shi’Ar laying waste to entire planets, somebody has to stand up for the little guy — even if those somebodies include a walking tree, a talking dog and a rocket-firing raccoon! This second and final volume in the Guardians’ War of Kings crossover builds the action to a senses shattering conclusion as new discoveries are made, old friends are betrayed, and the new Guardians stand shoulder-to-shoulder with legends! Collecting GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #13-19.
Amazon copies for $13.59.
NATION X #4 $3.99 Page 73
Peter Milligan, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Joe Caramagna, van Brandon, Mike Allred, Niko Henrichson, Harvey Talibao, and Rael Lyra
All the pieces fall into place as this final issue concludes with a bang! Namor has never taken orders from anyone before, so why does he take them from Cyclops? Where does Emma get all those Jimmy Choo’s? And when a mystery strikes Utopia, who does Cyclops send to solve it?
NEW MUTANTS #11 $2.99 Page 9
Kieron Gillen and Niko Henrichson
Dani Moonstar made a deal with Hela. Now, the mistress of Hel is calling in her marker. With all the Asgardians falling in the Siege of Asgard, someone needs to deal with the dead. And who better to do so than a Valkyrie. But where is Dani supposed to be bringing these dead?
NEW MUTANTS: RETURN OF LEGION Vol 1 TP $14.99 Page 116
Zeb Wells and Diogenes Neves
When their oldest and most powerful foe returns, the original New Mutants must reunite! Cannonball, Sunspot, Magma, Magik and Dani Moonstar race to the rescue of Karma. But Legion has her right where he wants her: locked inside his schizophrenic mind! It’s classic mutant action the way you like it! Plus: the return of the beloved Warlock. But if he’s so beloved, why does he have that weird look on his face?! Collecting NEW MUTANTS #1-5.
Hardcover copies available now at Amazon for $13.59.
RUNAWAYS: HOMESCHOOLING TP $14.99 Page 115
Kathryn Immonen, C B Cebulski, and Sara Picheli
heir homes, their parents, their friends — ever since first banding together and going out on their own, the Runaways have been no stranger to loss. Now, though they appear to finally be safe, none of them can get their minds off of everything they’ve lost or given up. As they attempt to make merry despite their melancholy, the Runaways are struck by yet another catastrophe. A mysterious aircraft flying over their Malibu home is somehow lured to it, resulting in a fiery crash. As the team frantically digs through the rubble, they find that their home wasn’t the only casualty: Yet another member of the team has fallen. The Runaways have little time to mourn, however, as their home is surrounded by a group of armed military personnel, dispatched to retrieve the contents of the crashed aircraft. Even more ominously, however, a figure from the group’s past — one thought deceased — has returned to confront the team. Collecting Runaways vol. 3 #11-14 and What If the Runaways Became the Young Avengers?
Amazon pre-orders for $10.11!
RUNAWAYS: PARENTAL GUIDANCE HC $19.99 Page 107
Brian K Vaughn and Adrian Alphona
The return of the Pride! The secret super-villain society is back, but this all-new group isn’t made up of the Runaways’ evil parents. Who are these shadowy players, and what do they want with the Marvel Universe’s next generation of heroes? Plus, when the youngest member of the Runaways is separated from her teammates, Molly Hayes must survive a night alone on the mean streets of Los Angeles! The eleven-year-old mutant girl soon hooks up with a new group of runaways, but is their mysterious leader a hero or a villain? Collecting Runaways (2005) #13-18.
Pre-order from Amazon.
THE STAND: SOUL SURVIVORS #5 Page 22 $3.99
Robert Aguirre-Sacasa and Mike Perkins
Somehow, by luck and by pluck, Nick Andros led his group through the wilderness to Hemmingford House, the home of Mother Abagail. But they can’t stay long, and an even more dangerous task awaits them: Seeking out and facing down Randall Flagg. In the midst of a crisis of faith, Nick makes a fateful choice that will forever change his life. Also: In a world without doctors, what happens when a member of Stu and Frannie’s group requires an operation? Pick up a scalpel and say your prayers, True Believers, as the third volume of Stephen King’s horror epic concludes!
X-FACTOR #203 Page 76 $2.99
Peter David and Valentin De Landro
Deep into unknown jungles go Monet and Guido, a.k.a. Strong Guy, a two-person rescue team in a desperate gambit to free Monet’s father from the hands of terrorists. And what exactly do the terrorists want? They want Monet, as it turns out. And you’ll never guess who’s behind it all. [David confirmed long standing fan speculation that there is a romantic component to Rictor and Shatterstar's relationship in X-Factor #44, published earlier in 2009 despite the discrepancy in numbering.]
TOKYO POP
LOVE KNOT $12.99 Page 294
Lemon Ichijo
A collection of short stories about lovers coming together in many different ways. First, we have childhood friends who have been suddenly reunited after two years. Will a lingering crush allow them to develop their friendship into something more? Next there are a series of stories about a pair of twins and their lovers. Can the four men all get along with each other? And finally, some short stories about finding love in the school nurse’s office and in the kitchen!
Pre-order this manga for $10.19 from Amazon.
TEA FOR TWO Vol 4 $12.99 Page 294
Yaya Sakuragi
Christmas is right around the corner for Tokumaru and Hasune, but a romantic night out and sweet gift exchange is out of the question for this eccentric couple…or is it? As Hasune longs for a heartfelt love confession, an old romantic partner appears out of nowhere and stirs things up. Meanwhile, Shunpei is acting quite out of the ordinary, and Tokumaru is determined to get to the bottom of this.
Pre-order this manga for $10.11 from Amazon.
VIZ
OOKU: THE INNER CHAMBERS Vol 3 Page 301 $12.99
Fumi Yoshinaga
The young female shogun Iemitsu and her lover Arikoto must betray their hearts to save their country. Meanwhile, the Redface Pox continues its ruthless progress through Japan, leaving famine, despair, and the threat of anarchy in its wake.
Pre-order this manga from Amazon for $8.76.
Thank You!
January 24th, 2010Many thanks to three individuals who’ve made contributions here. Candise made looking up LGBT characters much easier. Just click the Characters page link in the sidebar (or here) to view the list. Hope wrote up more than a few much needed profiles for Marvel characters. The talented Alex Wright rescued the site from its ho hum aesthetic (could something so drab really be gay?) with a beautiful new banner. By the way, Alex accepts commissions. I’ll be happy to put you in touch with him! Leave a note in the comments section or send an email to glajoe at gayleague dot com.
New Stuck Rubber Baby
January 20th, 2010
DC has released info for its April solicitations which I’ve just come across at CBR. Amid all the usual publisher hyperbole is confirmation of the new edition of Howard Cruse’s masterpiece, Stuck Rubber Baby, published by Vertigo. With an appropriate release date of early June in time for Gay Pride!
“A remarkable achievement, a story so richly drawn – in both senses of the word – that it will pull you, headlong, into a bottomless world of hopes, fears, dreams and the all-too-real prejudice witnessed by its author.” — THE NEW YORK TIMES
“Cruse’s visceral, visual account of America’s recent past contributes with grace and force to what we can only continue to hope is history’s bend toward justice.” — ALISON BECHDEL, from her introduction
Advance-solicited • on sale June 2, 224 pg, B&W 6.875” x 9”, $24.99 US • MATURE READERS
Written by HOWARD CRUSE
Art and new cover by HOWARD CRUSE
The groundbreaking, award-winning semi autobiographical graphic novel returns in a new 15th anniversary edition featuring an introduction by Alison Bechdel, award-winning author of Fun Home.
In the 1960s American South, a young gas-station attendant named Toland Polk is rejected from the Army draft for admitting “homosexual tendencies,” and falls in with a close-knit group of young locals yearning to break from the conformity of their hometown through civil rights activism, folk music and upstart communality of race-mixing, gay-friendly nightclubs. Toland’s story is both deeply personal and epic in scope, as his search for identity plays out against the brutal fight over segregation, an unplanned pregnancy and small-town bigotry, aided by an unforgettable supporting cast.
