Today we continue our spotlight feature on creators speaking at the monthly Picture + Panel event in Boston, which brings together two comic creators to talk about a specific topic — in this case, stories about queer communities.
On July 7, Mike Curato and K. Wroten will join Scott Knox from Boston’s Equality Fund for a discussion on belonging, identity and connection, while exploring how both artists bring LGBTQ+ experiences to life through their distinctive visual voices. Produced in partnership by the Boston Comic Arts Foundation, Porter Square Books and the Boston Figurative Arts Center, Picture + Panel provides thought-provoking discussions for the unique form of expression that is the comics medium.
Mike Curato’s debut young adult graphic novel, Flamer, was awarded the 2020 Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ Young Adult and the 2021 Massachusetts Book Award for Middle Grade/Young Adult. It has gone on to be one of the most banned books in the United States these days. He’s also the author and illustrator of the children’s book series Little Elliot and illustrated What If… by Samantha Berger, All the Way to Havana by Margarita Engle, Worm Loves Worm by J.J. Austrian, The Power of One by Trudy Ludwig, and If I Were a Fish by Corook and Olivia Barton. Publishers Weekly named Mike a “Fall 2014 Flying Start.” Gaysians is his adult debut.
K. Wroten is an award-winning comics author and illustrator. They are originally from the Midwest and currently live in Brooklyn, New York with their pet snake, Jules. They are the author of the acclaimed graphic novels Cannonball and Eden II; their latest book is Everyone Sux But You.
Check out the interview below, and big thanks as always to Gina Gagliano and Jason Viola, who organize the monthly series in Boston and brought this Q&A series to Smash Pages!
Why are queer communities important to you?
K. Wroten: I am a non-binary queer creator! When I came out as a teenager, I didn’t have the best experience. I’m estranged from most of my family. So when I moved to Kansas City from a tiny town in Kansas and met other queer people, they became a family to me. It’s so important to find people who love and accept you for who you are. They rescued me, really.
Mike Curato: I did not grow up with any queer role models, so when I first came out, I was searching for people who understood me, people who I could learn from and feel safe with.
Why did you start making comics about queer communities?
Curato: As with any marginalized community, we need as much representation as possible. The ratio of queer books to non-queer books reveals a jarring imbalance. I had stories to share that I knew had not been told yet, so I felt responsible for telling them.
Wroten: I’ve always made queer comics. I wanted to write about my life and the people in it (even if I primarily write fiction) so that naturally included queer people!
How are these themes integrated into your work?
Wroten: All of my protagonists are queer and often have relationships (both romantic and platonic) with other queer people. I’ve also worked on non-fiction projects focused on the queer experience. Most notably, The Ex-Girlfriend of My Ex-Girlfriend is my Girlfriend, which I co-authored with Maddy Court. This was a sort of “Dear Abby” style advice book based on Maddy’s zines geared towards queer people who don’t identify as cis men. We sourced questions about queerness from our friends and followers as well as sourcing advice from several super cool queer identified writers, musicians, professionals and artists.
Curato: The concept of chosen family is a common theme in my work, something that many queer people can relate to.
What’s your favorite thing about queer communities?
Curato: What I love about being queer is that we are open to trying new things. We are problem solvers. We get creative because we have to in order to survive.
Wroten: I think my favorite thing is the acceptance and recognition that can be found meeting other queer people in almost any environment. If you join a club and there’s another queer person you have an instant bond. A kind of core understanding that isn’t necessarily as instant as with non-queer people. The same applies to work environments, political and spiritual communities, and schools. Or at least that’s been my experience. We are drawn to each other. Even my therapist is queer! I was especially grateful for it when I just came out. Like I said, feeling seen and accepted rescued me after a pretty traumatic coming-out experience in my family of origin that I’m only just now (in my mid-30s) beginning to heal from.
And what’s your least favorite thing?
Wroten: I don’t think there is one overarching negative thing about queer communities I can put a finger on. Queer people are just people. We all have our shortcomings. The acceptance of identity is a given, in most cases, but we are all learning how to live in the world at our own rates and in our own ways.
Curato: Well, queer folks are human after all, so we’re going to have our ugly side as well. Just because we are a marginalized group doesn’t mean we don’t marginalize people within our community. Racism, misogyny, ableism, body shaming–even homophobia and transphobia exist within the queer community.
What misconceptions have you found people have about queer communities?
Wroten: I think sometimes in popular media queerness is associated with partying and sex in a way that is a little over the top and deeply unhealthy. It’s not all high-octane action and drama. When I was younger, I did fall prey to that misconception, which ultimately led to a lot of destructive habits for me relating to substance abuse and toxic relationships. Now I’m sober and single and happier than I ever was then. I prefer a nice cup of tea and a book or a documentary to a night out at the club.
Curato: Queer people are often hypersexualized by non queer people. I think there’s also a misconception that we are weak.
Are there other media about queer communities that have inspired your work?
Wroten: I like to read, watch, and interact with a vast range of types of work, regardless of the creator’s identity. I do like finding out (as a treat) that the creator is queer. Especially if they are a historical figure. Herman Melville and Nathaniel Hawthorne definitely exchanged love letters for a while. Emily Bronte is canon queer in my mind. I don’t need hard evidence, haha, you read some of her poetry and just know. Again, when I was younger I wouldn’t interact with much work unless it was queer. But the queer experience is so vast, there are things to relate to that are just human beyond someone identifying explicitly as queer. When I am moved by something on a human level, that’s what art is all about for me. That’s what inspires me. I hope people who don’t identify as queer can come to queer work with the same perspective. That being said, I really like sci-fi stories, and I’m loving Samuel R. Delany right now. I came to his work because I was seeking out queer sci-fi.
Curato: That’s a complicated question. I think there’s a lot of queer media I’m inspired by, but I was still left wanting queer Asian stories. There are a few exceptions (in the Western world) like The Wedding Banquet (the 90s original). But I think I drew inspiration from the lack of representation.
If you could recommend one other graphic novel about queer communities, what would it be and why?
Wroten: I’m really digging Leo Fox at the moment. I like artists who aren’t afraid to have imperfect queer protagonists and characters. People are multifaceted, and everyone is deserving of love, even if they aren’t instantly “likable.” Likability usually means fitting a prescriptive mold, perhaps even following a trope. When Cannonball came out in 2019 most of the Goodreads reviews that were negative were complaining my protagonist was “bad queer representation” (Leo Fox even makes a joke about this expectation in Prokaryote Season) because she was a selfish alcoholic. That’s what the book was about! Glad to see that expectation changing. Art has space for all of us. Lee Lai’s book Stone Fruit also has some fantastic insight about queer people and strained family-of-origin relationships I found profoundly moving. Sophie Yanow is also one of the greats, her comics on queer poly relationships on instagram have been very compelling. Lots of people to look at! Don’t be afraid to explore beyond recommendations. See what calls to you.
Curato: I would say On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden. I think it’s a beautiful example of queer people who love each other and continue to show up for each other, despite their flaws, despite imminent disaster.