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Best Gay Comics of All Time

Best Gay Comics of All Time

Explore powerful stories of love, friendship, heartbreak, and self-discovery with our top picks of the best gay comics, showcasing diverse voices and unforgettable journeys.

We’re officially coming out of the closet!

No, not that closet. The one where we’ve been hiding our guilty pleasure of all things comic books. As if we couldn’t get any nerdier… 

Our favorite kind of gay comic books are superhero ones. After all, superheroes are metaphors for LGBTQ people. Ordinary folk have to hide their secret identity from the general public. And when they do take on their true persona, they are an unstoppable force capable of saving the world! Plus, who doesn’t love reading about hot men in skin-tight suits?

Though we do love gay comics starring regular gay folk and their stories, of which there are plenty. 

Comic books are the best friend of any traveler. They give readers a more visual experience than books. They are lightweight and don’t require Wi-Fi. So, if we’re without connection on a train or plane, we still have our delicious stash of gay comics to turn into. Read on for a list of our favorite gay comics both in print and online in webcomics.

What are gay comics? 

LGBTQ themes in comics aren’t a new thing. Sure, back in the day comic book creators held back from explicit representation of LGBTQ people, but they were always there. They were just written more subtly, using innuendos and suggestive language. 

Thankfully, gay themes in comics have become a lot more predominant, to the point where we have comics with fully-fledged queer love stories (we’re looking at you Heartstopper!).

With the progression of LGBTQ rights, as well as the increase of queer characters in film, television, and theatre, it’s only natural that more gay issues would be explored in comic books.

Plus, a lot of gays LOVE comics! A lot of current comic creators grew up during the days of criminalization and HIV/AIDS, and comics offered a chance of escapism. So, when they grew up, they began making their comic book worlds, with characters that represented themselves and their friends. 

In this article, we explore some of the best gay comics ever to have existed split into 2 parts –gay printed comics exploring everyday LGBTQ issues, and finally, webcomics – those that only existed online (the likes of which gave us the brilliant Heartstopper series for example).

When was the first gay comic released?

The first comic to specifically tackle LGBTQ themes was Gary Trudeau’s Doonesbury. It introduced the openly gay character, Andy Lippincott, in 1976. Andy’s character was diagnosed with HIV in 1989 and later died from AIDS in 1990. Whilst it followed the tired ole “bury your gays” trope, it was so important because it was the first comic to bring the reader’s attention to the ongoing HIV/AIDS epidemic that was ravaging the queer community at the time.

The storyline even led to a Pulitzer Prize for the creator Garry Trudeau!

Luckily today, we have many gay comics that don’t paint the queer experience as a massive tragedy, with comics like Heartstopper and Grease Bats celebrating the many different facets of being queer.

Best gay printed comics

1. Kevin Keller (Riverdale)

Making his debut in the comic book Veronica #202, Kevin Keller made history by becoming the first gay character in Archie Comic history. The issue became so popular that Archie Comics had to do a reprint for the first time in its history – what a serve! 

We meet Kevin when he becomes the object of Veronica’s affection. After warding off her advances, they both become fast friends once Kevin comes out.

The creators introduced Kevin as a way of bringing the series “into the 21st century” and to portray the town of Riverdale as a place that was accepting of everyone.

Kevin had his comic book series that ran for 2 years and 15 issues, exploring his quest to become class president.

He is portrayed by Casey Cott in the bonkers TV series Riverdale. The actor has spoken about dozens of fan encounters who expressed support for his representation of a gay comic book character. 

A banner image of Kevin Keller, a character from the Riverdale comics.

2. Andy Lippincott and Mark Slackmeyer (Doonesbury)

Hailing from the comic strip, Doonesbury, Andy Lippincott is an openly gay lawyer who is BFF with the main character, Joanie. 

The comic strip follows the day-to-day lives of an assortment of characters, from as high-ranking as the US President to a regular ole’ college student. 

Andy’s storylines typically focused on the hardships of being gay in the 1980s, his battle with HIV, and his eventual tragic AIDS-related death. The storyline was nominated (and won!) for a Pulitzer Prize, although some newspapers found the story to be in poor taste and refused to publish it! Nevertheless, it was one of the first comics to represent those living with HIV in a sympathetic light.

It isn’t all doom and gloom! Andy makes an appearance in a later strip when he meets Mark Slackmeyer in a dream sequence and encourages him to come out. Mark eventually embraces his queerness and marries his beloved, Chase.

A four-panel comic strip of the first gay character in a comic!

3. Tom of Finland

Tom of Finland, (born Touko Valio Laaksonen), rose to prominence in the 1970s with the rise of gay subcultures. His distinct photorealistic drawing style proved popular with gay men for how risqué and scandalous they were. From men adorned in tight or partially removed clothing to the performance of sex acts, Tom produced over 3,500 illustrations across four decades.

Even before the decriminalization of homosexuality, Tom of Finland managed to work around US censorship laws by creating suggestive drawings of attractive men and masking them as a celebration of “physical fitness.” He also completed hundreds of erotic illustrations via private commissions. 

His legacy has lived on beyond his death in 1991, with his work featured in exhibitions all around the world, including New York’s Museum of Modern Art. Most notably, his drawings were featured on a set of stamps by the Finnish postal service in 2014.

A drawing of two men on a motorbike, one falling off, by Tom of Finland.

4. Gender Queer

Delving into the comic with the knowledge that it has become one of the most banned books of our time, we were expecting quite the scandal.

We couldn’t have been more wrong. Apart from the occasional reference to gay erotica, Gender Queer is mostly about Maia Kobabe’s emotional self-discovery. Kobabe, who goes by e/em/eir pronouns, writes about gender and sexual identity in a way that is accessible and relatable.

From grappling with teenage crushes to being open about their gender identity, Kobabe allows readers to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be nonbinary. And whilst some conservative folks have taken issue with the book’s content (when don’t they ever?!), it is a super informative way for people to learn about gender outside of the binary.

Gender Queer also touches on what it means to be asexual, another sexual identity that is rarely covered in LGBTQ media. 

The cover of the Gender Queer comic book sitting on a white plate/

5. Lawrence Poirier (For Better or For Worse)

For Better or For Worse follows the adventures of those living in the fictional town of Milborough, Toronto. And with every town, there has to be a gay one. 

In 1993, gay comic fans rejoiced when Lawrence Poirier came out to his friend Michael. Lawrence is accepted by Michael and his parents, despite them each initially having a bad knee-jerk reaction to the news. 

Writer Lynn Johnston was inspired to create the character after the tragic murder of her gay friend, Michael Boncoeur, who she described as having a kind and gentle spirit. When police took a lax approach in solving the murder, Johnston realized how many LGBTQ folks aren’t seen as human by the wider public and became determined to change that.

Not everyone was pleased, with many fans feeling it was “inappropriate” for a family-oriented comic strip to discuss such a topic. Yawwwwwn! Luckily, the support outweighed the haters, with readers agreeing that in 1990s Canada, LGBTQ people exist and deserve to be represented.

A four-panel comic about a gay man coming out to his mother.

6. Dykes to Watch Out For

Hailed as one of the most important representations of lesbianism in pop culture, Dykes to Watch Out For follows the lives of a group of friends living in the USA. It originated in the humor newspaper, Funny Times, then went on to be published in several LGBTQ magazines. 

Over 25 years, readers watched them grow into maturity, dealing with a string of issues like homophobia, participation in Pride parades, and the evolution of lesbian culture. 

Each character is unique, so readers will have at least one person they can relate to. There’s the drag king and sex-positive Lois, the English professor Ginger, and environmentalist Clarice – most of whom work in or frequent the city’s many feminist bookshops. 

The series sadly went on hiatus in 2008 and hasn’t made a permanent comeback. However, the creator Alison Bechdel did produce a short strip in 2016, which featured the characters reacting to Trump’s election. 

8 colorful images of the main characters from comic book Dykes to Watch Out For.

7. Doc and Raider

What happens when a writer and a construction worker share a bedroom? Let’s just say a lot of pen-holding and woodworking…

Like musical icon Cher, this gay comic strip loves a comeback. It originally ran from 1987 to 1997, before making a resurgence in 2002, 2006, and “retiring” in 2020. Who knows…maybe we haven’t seen the last of it?

Whilst it was mostly humorous, the comic strip dealt with serious issues over its time. The creators hoped that by raising issues like HIV/AIDS, gay bashing, and domestic violence, it would help start a conversation within the LGBTQ community about the challenges they face.

Due to the success of the comic strip, the characters Doc and Raider were featured in safe sex education campaigns in the late 1980s and 1990s, as well as popping up in several magazines around the world. 

A 3D rendered comic panel of a gay guy dancing in a club.

8. The Chosen Family

RuPaul famously said that as gay people we get to choose our families – and that’s the exact sentiment that The Chosen Family gives off.

Having started as a pet project in a university newspaper, the comic strip used satirical humor to bring attention to the issues faced by the LGBTQ community. It appeared in several LGBTQ publications between 1987 to 2004, including Swerve, Perceptions, and the Washington Blade. It got so popular that it even appeared in a mainstream publication called Geist.

It follows four characters: Kenneth-Marie and Weed, a lesbian couple who don’t feel the need to put a label on their relationship, and their friends, Puddin' Head and The Straight Chick Upstairs.

Later in the series, Kenneth-Marie and Weed adopt two children together, which brings its own set of exciting new challenges.

A six-panel black and white comic strip of Chosen Family.

9. Chelsea Boys

Chelsea Boys follows the lives of three gay roommates living in Chelsea, NYC. Created by Glen Hanson and Allan Charles Neuwirth, it was published as a comic strip in the LGBTQ lifestyle magazine Next

It touched on subjects like HIV/AIDS, hippie culture, and the grind of New York life. Over the years, devoted readers followed the three guys as they experienced one-night stands, relationships, and heartbreaks.

It stars Nick, a middle-aged Jewish man, whose partner passed away from AIDS, Soirée, a black drag artist who was disowned by his family for being gay, and Sky, an artist who grew up in a hippie commune. At first, they each come off as walking stereotypes, but over time, the story evolves to show how they are much more than that.

It's full of sharp wit, hilarious antics…and best of all, the characters are dressed in the best (and by that we mean cringy!) 90s fashion. 

The colorful cover of Chelsea Boys Steppin' Out comic book.

10. The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green

The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green follows the ordeals of Ethan Green, who is busy chasing love and a career.

While it may have only run for 15 years, it left quite an impact. It appeared in several LGBTQ publications across the US, Canada, and the UK. 

In 2015, the creator, Eric Orner, compiled all of the strips into one book, which received rave reviews. The biggest success of all, it inspired a movie. In the film adaption, Ethan Green lives with his friend, Charlotte, in an apartment in West Hollywood. When he learns his apartment is going to be sold, Ethan begins trying to convince his former sports star boyfriend that they should live together. However, Ethan chickens out and tries to find love elsewhere. Unfortunately, he learns that this may be a lot harder than he thinks…

A colorful and sarcastic comic about the different kinds of gay people.

11. Gay Comix

In the 1980s, the underground comic world was dominated by Gay Comix.

Featuring stories on love, relationships, and friendships, it took a more personal and humorous approach to LGBTQ representation than some of its competitors.

Cartoonist Denis Kitchen pitched the idea for the comic to openly gay artist Howard Cruse. Noticing how gay people were viewed as subhuman by a vast amount of the public, Cruse believed such a series could show society the humanity of the LGBTQ community.

Calls for submissions were put out throughout its run, encouraging queer people to share their stories. Throughout its run, it featured comic strips on coming out, political activism, bisexuality, and the use of correct pronouns.

It gave several up-and-coming cartoonists their big break, inspired the work of countless other gay artists, and provided a piece of escapism for gay comic book fans who had to contend with the challenges of being queer and living through the 1980s.

An old black and white two page spread of a comic from the Gay Comix compendium.

12. Wimmen’s Comix

Wimmen’s Comix was an all-female comic anthology that featured a range of stories on love, sex, feminism, and societal beauty standards.

The idea for the collection started in 1970 when the iconic cartoonist Trina Robbins helped put together the first-ever comic book produced solely by women. The first official issue in 1972 featured a lesbian coming out story – a bold move for the time. Titled “Sandy Comes Out”, it was the first comic strip to include a lesbian. 

In the strip (which you can take a peek at on this Tumblr page), Sandy ponders on how she can escape a life of convention and the nuclear family. Through recollecting her crush on a schoolmate when she was 12, Sandy determines that she must be gay. And a visit to a local gay bar leads to quite the adventure!

A set of three vintage Wimmen's Comix comic books.

Best gay webcomics

1. Heartstopper 

An LGBTQ webcomic turned graphic novel turn hit-Netflix series – there is no stopping the power of Heartstopper

The story follows Charlie, a nerdy outcast who falls for dashing rugby player, Nick. They become friends…and then…well, we won’t say anymore! It also features a lesbian couple, Tara and Darcy, who alongside Charlie, help Nick come to terms with his sexuality.

It began as nothing more than a side project by creator, Alice Oseman, who shared it for free on her Tumblr page. As it grew in popularity, Oseman decided to self-publish the tale into physical copies…and the rest is herstory.

Heartstopper has won praise for not only celebrating gay youth but by representing bisexuality and trans identities in a positive light. Growing up, the only queer stories we had involved kids being bullied and overcoming self-hatred. Now, Heartstopper is putting a stop to all that and showing the joy of being LGBTQ.

The colorful front cover of Heartstopper Volume 1.

2. Kyle’s Bed and Breakfast

We’ve been to many gay B&Bs in our time (like these ones in Hawaii!)… and this series captures the experience perfectly. Scantily clad men peeking their heads into near-empty refrigerators. Quick-witted banter over the breakfast table. Total strangers becoming fast friends over their shared love for all things gay. This comic is a snapshot of gay culture. 

Kyle’s Bed and Breakfast stars an in-the-closet sports star Brad, workaholic Lance, the tee-spilling Richard, and troubled teen Eduardo, who love winding up Kyle, the exhausted B&B owner. Each has its own quirks, traits, and sense of humor, which all create hilarious scenarios and misunderstandings. 

Over the years, the comic has covered issues of being gay in the sports world, gay marriage and same-sex parenting, racism in the LGBTQ community, HIV/AIDS, and body issues. 

The strip has since been compiled into several paperbacks for keen collectors and avid fans.

A colorful comic strip called Kyle's Bed & Breakfast.

3. The Backstagers

Bringing theatre and comic book nerds together, The Backstagers takes its readers behind the scenes of a high school stage show.

Taking a very literal approach to the notion that the “real theatre magic happens off the stage”, the characters must work together to navigate swirling hallways, peculiar noises, and spooky monsters in the dark, to retrieve props for actors and help make the show successful.

Like an 80s teen movie meets Glee, it features several gay, bi, and trans characters. The creators, writer James Tynion IV and artist Rian Sygh said that they wanted to create a story that smashed the conventions of the “gay best friend” and instead show a story that showed kids from the LGBTQ community thriving and being accepted by their peers. 

Whilst the comic is non-stop action and filled with hilarious zingers, it is about growing up, friendship, and following your passions. 

The colorful cover of The Backstagers comic book.

4. Cosmoknights

A gay comic all about smashing the patriarchy? Don’t mind if we devour every page! 

The year is 2169 and Pan lives quite an ordinary life. She goes to work at her dad’s mechanic shop. She loves dancing and hanging out with her best friend, Tara. However, when a pair of other-worldly gladiators turn up at Pan’s doorstep looking for assistance, she decides to join them as they return to another planet. As you do…

Sounds like a lot of fun, until Pan realizes she will have to help fight against a neo-medieval patriarchal society. Eeek!

Action-packed, hilarious, and featuring stunning artwork, Cosmoknights is gripping from beginning to end. Not only does it feature a fast-paced story, but the ensemble of characters is highly entertaining. They are described as being a “ragtag band of space gays” (which is what we call our Close Friends list on Instagram), and each brings so much to the story. 

The colorful cover page of gay comic Cosmoknights.

5. O Human Star

O Human Star is a futuristic dystopian webcomic about a kooky inventor, Alastair Sterling, who rises from the dead. When he steps outside, he discovers that robots now live alongside humans. Sounds like it’d be a lot to deal with, huh? Except Alastair is partially responsible.

When he tracks down his old partner Brendan, he discovers he has a new spouse…who looks suspiciously like Alastair. Many questions come to mind. Like whom is the robot living with Brendan? How did the robot revolution come about? And who raised him from the dead? 

O Human Star takes a deep dive into the dynamics of a relationship and challenges its readers to question their perception of gender and the need “to fit in”.

This webcomic was lauded at the 2012 Prism Comics Queer Press Grant and was nominated for the Ignatz Outstanding Online Comic award in 2015 as well as a Lambda Literary Award in 2016.

A colored page from the gay web comic O Human Star.

 6. Check, Please!

Check, Please is Heartstopper on ice! It follows figure-skater-turned-ice-hockey-player Eric “Bitty” Bittle as he deals with the sporty culture of his new college, while coming to terms with his sexuality.

Over the years he develops a rivalry with Jack Zimmermann, the son of a legendary hockey player Bad Bob Zimmermann. Over the years, they become close friends, which leads to Bitty feeling comfortable with coming out to him, and they eventually start dating. However, Jack’s reluctance to tarnish his career by coming out means they must keep their romance a secret…which puts a strain on their relationship.

The webcomic has won over a legion of fans, has been lauded by critics, and has received several awards, including the Reuben Award in the “Online Comic: Long Form” category, the Harvey Award for Digital Book of the Year, and an Ignatz award for Outstanding Comic.

Two men ice-skating in a colored panel from the gay web comic Check, Please!

7. Grease Bats

Here’s one for the millennials! Grease Bats is about two people, Andy and Scout, who are besties, roommates, and barely surviving their 20s. Andy is a trans genderqueer who isn’t afraid to stand up for themself, whilst Scout is an emotionally sensitive, serial mistake-maker. 

Created by Archie Bongiovanni, Grease Bats is funny, irreverent, and super relatable. 

Told through a collection of short-and-punchy gag strips, we follow the pair and their friend group through a bunch of hilarious adventures. And despite all its wackiness, the story still hits on serious topics like transphobia and discrimination poignantly and sensitively. 

We liked how it wasn’t a typical coming-out story or romance tale that many other gay comics tend to do. But rather, a focus on friendship and how important the community is for LGBTQ people. Each character may have his distinct personality and dress sense but they are there for one another when times get tough.

A five-panel black and white comic from the series Grease Bats.

8. Liebestrasse

We would have described this as the gay version of Cabaret but let’s face it, Cabaret is already pretty gay. Nevertheless, this stunning gay webcomic follows the relationship between Sam, a rich banker from America, and Philip, a German art critic during the final years of the Weimar Republic.

They enjoy a whirlwind romance…that is until the rise of fascism strikes, and the Nazis come to power. 

In an interview with Pride, artist Tim Fish and author Gregory Lockard said that they want readers to draw a comparison between 1930s Berlin and the current social climate.

Liebestrasse was created to offer a balance of escapism to readers, as well as warning them that social progress isn’t always as secure as we’d like it to be: LGBTQ folk must continuously fight for their rights to be protected!

The colored front cover of gay web comic Liebestrasse.

9. Don’t Call Me Daddy

We love a story where childhood friends are reunited. Hanao and Ryuuji were inseparable as kids. So, when Ryuuji is left with the difficult challenge of raising his son alone, Hanao steps in to help. Sounds cozy, right? Wrong!

Things get messy in Don’t Call Me Daddy when Hanao develops feelings for Ryuuji – especially since he has no idea if they are reciprocated. Later on, when Ryuuji’s son starts to get bullied for having two dads, Hanao feels he has no choice but to leave. It is decades before Hanao returns to face his past and confront his true feelings for Ryuuji. 

Created by Gorou Kanbe, Don’t Call Me Daddy is both heart-warming and heart-wrenching. It’s quite rare to find a gay comic or a manga that represents gay men in their 50s, especially in parts of the world like Japan where homosexuality isn’t as widely accepted, and this is why we rate it as one of the best gay webcomics.

The colored front page of gay comic Don't Call Me Daddy.

For more inspiration:

Stefan Arestis

Hey everyone, I'm Stefan, the curly-haired Greek flavor behind the gay travel blog Nomadic Boys. Together with my other half, I have explored more than 90 countries across 5 continents. What I love most about traveling is discovering the local gay scene, making new friends, learning new cultures. I've written about LGBTQ travel in numerous online publications such as Gaycation Magazine, Gaycities, Gay Times and Pink News as well as for other non-gay-specific publications including Lonely Planet, The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Huffington Post. Check my full bio here.