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DC Cultural Anthologies
DC Pride 2023 #1
Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy go to extreme measures to get a little alone time…but there’s nowhere on the planet Crush can’t crash. Jon Kent gets a comprehensive course in dark magic when John Constantine sics a golem on him. Tim Drake and Connor Hawke learn that there is nothing more awkward than reuniting with an old friend after you’ve both come out and one of you was indoctrinated by the League of Shadows for a while. Circuit Breaker struggles to stifle his powers after the Flash of Earth-11 leaps out of the time stream and knocks them both into another dimension. Just how far would Flashlight go to honor his lost love?
Discover all these stories and many more in DC Pride 2023!
Discover all these stories and many more in DC Pride 2023!
102 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 30, 2023
8 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
About the author
Grant Morrison
1,791 books4,563 followersGrant Morrison has been working with DC Comics for twenty five years, after beginning their American comics career with acclaimed runs on ANIMAL MAN and DOOM PATROL. Since then they have written such best-selling series as JLA, BATMAN and New X-Men, as well as such creator-owned works as THE INVISIBLES, SEAGUY, THE FILTH, WE3 and JOE THE BARBARIAN. In addition to expanding the DC Universe through titles ranging from the Eisner Award-winning SEVEN SOLDIERS and ALL-STAR SUPERMAN to the reality-shattering epic of FINAL CRISIS, they have also reinvented the worlds of the Dark Knight Detective in BATMAN AND ROBIN and BATMAN, INCORPORATED and the Man of Steel in The New 52 ACTION COMICS.
In their secret identity, Morrison is a "counterculture" spokesperson, a musician, an award-winning playwright and a chaos magician. They are also the author of the New York Times bestseller Supergods, a groundbreaking psycho-historic mapping of the superhero as a cultural organism. They divide their time between their homes in Los Angeles and Scotland.
In their secret identity, Morrison is a "counterculture" spokesperson, a musician, an award-winning playwright and a chaos magician. They are also the author of the New York Times bestseller Supergods, a groundbreaking psycho-historic mapping of the superhero as a cultural organism. They divide their time between their homes in Los Angeles and Scotland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
July 22, 2023
Love the variant cover I got!!
DC Pride 2023 #1 is another great anthology of queer stories from DC. There's also a really touching tribute to late Rachel Pollack by her friends and fans.
'Anniversary', 'And Baby Makes Three', and 'Love's Lightning Heart' were my favourite stories. I also loved the pin-ups that were sprinkled throughout.
June 9, 2023
There's a lot to be said about rainbow washing and capitalism and all that, but at a time when it's violently dangerous to be queer in the US, seeing a major publisher like DC continue its support of queer folk is incredibly uplifting. The foreword, stories, art inserts, ads, and the dedication at the end are all acts of resistance and celebration. Anthologies like this prove that companies can and will value their queer staff and queer stories over the potential 'backlash' they can get. Yes, profit is involved. We live in a society, after all. Things can exist in multitudes. The art and stories in this collection are heartwarming, funny, grounding, and supportive, and a lot of us need that right now.
August 14, 2023
another year, another queer anthology by dc. phil jimenez’s foreword reminds us why projects like these matter, and why they shouldn’t stop.
June 20, 2023
As I read DC Pride 2023, my mind kept juxtaposing two things: 1) the 400+ anti-LGBTQ+ (especially against trans people) bills across the US and the resulting violence from their supporters and 2) RS Benedict's essay, "Everyone Is Beautiful and No One Is Horny," which dives into how the glut of superhero movies makes actors take on extreme levels of fitness/beauty but then desexes them.
Phil Jimenez's opening essay ponders, "What are the queer heroes and villains on that Earth doing to protect other LGBTQ people and their rights? Are they shaping the world they live in to be more queer friendly? Or have the Justice League and the Titans and the Green Lantern Corps and the Outsiders and the Global Guardians and so many other made that Earth a more friendly place to queer people just by being in it, and merely existing in that universe is enough? And would seeking justice for all seem like activism to the people of that Earth, or just the right thing to do?"
What Jimenez (and the rest of these stories) fail to address is power. Superheroes are a power fantasy, notably created in large part by Jewish creators during WWII and the Holocaust. Superheroes take back the power. Queer rights have made the most strides when we've taken back the power from cishets. Pride started out as a riot. We threw bricks at Stonewall, hot coffee at Compton’s Cafeteria, and pies in Antia Bryant's face. Cishet people didn't feel bad we were dying of HIV/AIDS, but instead were scared of the actions of Act Up!
What would Harley Quinn do if a random stranger called her d--- on the street? Bash that bigot with her baseball bat! What would Batwoman and Alysia Yeoh do if Gotham City tried to ban gender-affirming care for trans kids? Make a fool of their politicians, get Barbara Gordon to hack into some computers, and take out their dark money funding group.
While cishet DC (and Marvel) properties are allowed to be violent -- in some cases, extremely so -- here, queer people aren't even allowed the outlet of violence against our oppressors. Or more than Jonathan Kent beating up one of Constantine's golems, Nubia fighting holograms, or Tim Drake tying up some thieves.
"Anniversary" is the only story featuring human bigots spouting anti-queer hate and stars Midnighter and Apollo. Midnighter is the guy who literally rips out whole spinal columns and Apollo fries baddies with his sun powers. They also are unapologetically gay, and their best portrayals don't just feature their love (they are married) but their physical intimacy, including sex. Steve Orlando's work on Midnighter should serve as a blueprint for how to portray a full-queer life for them.
While cishets get blood and gore, "Anniversary" gives us marriage and homonormativity. Midnighter and Apollo are completely neutered of their violence and sexuality. Getting married (again) is NOT "winning over the hearts and minds" of bigots. Bigots want you dead. That's the end game. Midnighter should be ripping out their spines, not begging people, who'd rip out his if they could, to tolerate him.
Queer people aren't allowed violence, and sex is barred for us more than cishet superhero couples. Besides PG kisses, Ghost-Maker and Catman are the only ones we see post-coital, and it feels like "here are two characters you've probably never heard of, and thus, bigots won't even know their names to write in their angry letters." Harley gets a few lipstick prints from Ivy on her neck, implying more than PG action.
Grant Morrison's very Morrison "Love's Lightening Heart" gets us the closest to the violence and the sex cishet characters access, but it's cut down by Morrison's obscurity into DC's overflowing multiverse, and that the story serves as a plug for an ongoing title.
DC's previous Pride volumes were standouts, especially compared to Marvel, and they packed punches that 2023's watered-down storytelling cannot hold a candle to. In 2023, queer people deserve queer superheroes who are allowed violence and sexuality; we deserve the sometimes violent protection of superheroes, joyous celebration, and the same nuances as cishet people.
Phil Jimenez's opening essay ponders, "What are the queer heroes and villains on that Earth doing to protect other LGBTQ people and their rights? Are they shaping the world they live in to be more queer friendly? Or have the Justice League and the Titans and the Green Lantern Corps and the Outsiders and the Global Guardians and so many other made that Earth a more friendly place to queer people just by being in it, and merely existing in that universe is enough? And would seeking justice for all seem like activism to the people of that Earth, or just the right thing to do?"
What Jimenez (and the rest of these stories) fail to address is power. Superheroes are a power fantasy, notably created in large part by Jewish creators during WWII and the Holocaust. Superheroes take back the power. Queer rights have made the most strides when we've taken back the power from cishets. Pride started out as a riot. We threw bricks at Stonewall, hot coffee at Compton’s Cafeteria, and pies in Antia Bryant's face. Cishet people didn't feel bad we were dying of HIV/AIDS, but instead were scared of the actions of Act Up!
What would Harley Quinn do if a random stranger called her d--- on the street? Bash that bigot with her baseball bat! What would Batwoman and Alysia Yeoh do if Gotham City tried to ban gender-affirming care for trans kids? Make a fool of their politicians, get Barbara Gordon to hack into some computers, and take out their dark money funding group.
While cishet DC (and Marvel) properties are allowed to be violent -- in some cases, extremely so -- here, queer people aren't even allowed the outlet of violence against our oppressors. Or more than Jonathan Kent beating up one of Constantine's golems, Nubia fighting holograms, or Tim Drake tying up some thieves.
"Anniversary" is the only story featuring human bigots spouting anti-queer hate and stars Midnighter and Apollo. Midnighter is the guy who literally rips out whole spinal columns and Apollo fries baddies with his sun powers. They also are unapologetically gay, and their best portrayals don't just feature their love (they are married) but their physical intimacy, including sex. Steve Orlando's work on Midnighter should serve as a blueprint for how to portray a full-queer life for them.
While cishets get blood and gore, "Anniversary" gives us marriage and homonormativity. Midnighter and Apollo are completely neutered of their violence and sexuality. Getting married (again) is NOT "winning over the hearts and minds" of bigots. Bigots want you dead. That's the end game. Midnighter should be ripping out their spines, not begging people, who'd rip out his if they could, to tolerate him.
Queer people aren't allowed violence, and sex is barred for us more than cishet superhero couples. Besides PG kisses, Ghost-Maker and Catman are the only ones we see post-coital, and it feels like "here are two characters you've probably never heard of, and thus, bigots won't even know their names to write in their angry letters." Harley gets a few lipstick prints from Ivy on her neck, implying more than PG action.
Grant Morrison's very Morrison "Love's Lightening Heart" gets us the closest to the violence and the sex cishet characters access, but it's cut down by Morrison's obscurity into DC's overflowing multiverse, and that the story serves as a plug for an ongoing title.
DC's previous Pride volumes were standouts, especially compared to Marvel, and they packed punches that 2023's watered-down storytelling cannot hold a candle to. In 2023, queer people deserve queer superheroes who are allowed violence and sexuality; we deserve the sometimes violent protection of superheroes, joyous celebration, and the same nuances as cishet people.
June 10, 2023
They finally did Constantine right. His story with Jon Kent Superman and the bet with Felix Faust was by far the best. No demon fucking, but he was still badass and not just listening to a story in a bar.
November 21, 2023
In today's social & political climate, it's harder to take these stories at face value or typical comic escapism, and I don't feel like this year's Pride annual is as strong as in previous years. It tries to give a tone of urgency to danger faced in the real world, but pretty much neuters that with any of the stories about fighting back. The message seems to be love and be loved, which is fine, but it's also at odds with the intent of some of the content (and that ultimately feels like it's taking power away instead of trying to empower). Previous years have been more about embracing who you are and trying to be uplifting and supportive. This just doesn't have a cohesive focus. So...for me, I preferred the stories that were more about storytelling like Harley and Ivy, Constantine and Jon, and Tim and Connor. Plus, I'm always excited to see Batwoman appear and I haven't read any of the Spirit comics, so that was an interesting intro.
June 1, 2023
Every year this anthology is a must read because it celebrates pride with captivating illustrations and stories. For me reading this anthology has become a tradition.
I would love to read the sequel to any of these stories.
I would love to read the sequel to any of these stories.
June 1, 2023
Lots of cute stories and great art in here! “And Baby Makes Three” with Harley, Ivy and Crush and “Hey Stranger” with Tim Drake and Connor Hawke were probably my favorites. The story with Xanthe and Batwoman continued to spark my interest in this new character. I also appreciate that this year’s Damian Wayne cameo didn’t make him seem like a homophobe (he’s so not, and I stand by that). It was nice to see Harper Row included in the last art piece in the book, too. I’d love to see her in one of these stories next year!
July 9, 2023
My overall thoughts on this were initially all over the place, but I think got a better picture when I stepped back to think before reviewing. It's still not my most cohesive review, but when I re-read each part, especially for the foreward and Rachel Pollack tribute, something clicked for me personally. Despite it all, I really do love these comics. I criticize a lot, but realize there is so much I have missed and MISS with these characters. There are so many stories I want to read now after these 3 Pride anthologies, but more than that I want to pull out my old issues to re-read Apollo and Midnighter from StormWatch onward.
The foreward by Phil Jimenez is impactful and really resounded with my thoughts and feelings going into Pride 2023. Despite that, and how proud Phil is of his relationship with DC, it’s his question of “Where are the pages?” that lingers. Yes, DC is doing queer representation better than Marvel, in my opinion, for the two old/bigest comic publishers, but how long has it taken both of them to represent queer characters in positive lights? Why are the queer storylines still so few or seemingly small? We all have so much history with DC and Marvel properties but I just can’t be drawn to these comics like I used to be when publishers like Image, BOOM! Studios, Oni Press and Dark Horse are putting out content that feels more authentic and less cash-grabby than this. But that's a rant better suited for my tumblr.
“Love’s Lightning Heart” is some interesting art but a story I cannot get into at all. Much like the Green Lantern contribution “He’s The Light Of My Life” from the 2021 Pride anthology, this is clearly part of a bigger, ongoing story in a series that I have not read and at this point I honestly have no interest in ever reading another thing about a Lantern. 2 stars just for how interesting the bit with Zoe was even though I have no idea who she is or why she’s in this situation.
“And Baby Makes Three” is 5 stars, always for Harley and Ivy. Especially when Ivy is making herself more of an icon with lines like “Listen, kid, you need to disabuse yourself of the notion that any kind of love is going to complete you. You, just as you are, are a whole. You are your own one hundred percent. Everything, everyone else is additive.” There is just such a passion and power to how Harley and Ivy are written now for the comics and animated series that gets me every time. DC will always have its hooks in me with this pairing. And Apollo and Midnighter.
“Hey, Stranger” is a solid 4. I’m missing vital parts of this story, but I can still get the gist of what’s going on with Tim and Connor. It’s a bit too brief, for me, but I get it being awkward to talk about feelings. The art is also a little off for me in this one. I swear there’s a panel where Connor’s eyes look like slits and it is truly creepy.
“Subspace Transmission” is a weak 3 for me. While I’m definitely still crushing on Jess Chambers they are not as well drawn here as they were in their Pride 2021 appearance, “Clothes Makeup Gift.” As for the story in this one, I didn’t get it. It looked nice and tried to be cute, but was utterly forgettable.
“Anniversary” FINALLY some Apollo and Midnighter in these Pride anthologies! All the stars despite how mad I am for having to wait this long for them. The art is far from my favorite, but it’s nowhere near as bad as Simon Bisley made them look. I will also completely overlook the art because we get their vow renewals and a reminder of how much it means for them to just be THEM. For nearly 24 years now, counting from The Authority v1 issue #8 from Dec 1999, they’ve been Apollo and Midnighter as an undeniable couple. Yes, they’re kept more low key and background than I like, but we fans know where to find them and they have had some truly beautiful moments together. I’ll always want more of them even when I feel like the writers are being horrible.
“Lost & Found” is a beautiful piece with Batwoman and Xanthe Zhou. 5 stars for reminding me that I have GOT to get around to reading the Batwoman comics and I am very interested in seeing what happens with Xanthe in Spirit World.
“Teamwork Makes The Dream Work”is 4 stars for a cute little story with art that is a bit too cartoonish.
“The Dance” is 5 stars and absolutely lovely. While quick, it has a beautiful flow and just moves seamlessly through its panels to capture a moment between Ghost-Maker and Catman. Is this a new thing? If no, where can I find more? If yes, when can we expect more??? The cat clawed pillow spilling feathers on the bed in that last panel is just *chef’s kiss*
“My Best Bet” is a good bit of fun with Constantine. 5 stars for a great dynamic between Jon Kent and John Constantine. I’m getting that there’s a lot that I’ve missed in DC regarding Green Arrow, Oliver Queen, but the context clues here are more than enough for this bit to stand on its own without frustrating me like the multiverse story that opened this anthology.
“Bad Dreams: A Dreamer Story” is a 2 star blink and you’ve missed it bit that is really only here as a teaser for the YA graphic novel Bad Dream. Decent art, though, and I keep rooting for Nicole Maines in all she does.
A Tribute To Rachel Pollack. This isn't the last part of the anthology, but it’s a better place to leave it than that teaser. There’s no rating this as it’s a celebration and a loss. It hits like Kevin Conroy’s piece from the 2022 volume except this time we didn’t get a final story from Rachel. She passed before this so it’s very touching to read about her through her friends and fans. And as an endpoint for this edition, it kind of answers the question Phil began with. There are more pages here than you'd think. Some buried or coded from times when we couldn’t be front and center, but we’ve been represented at DC/Vertigo for longer than we even know, behind the scenes and on the pages. While I want more from these big publishers, I do have to admit that what DC gives us has been pretty memorable, especially with my OTPs Harley/Ivy and Apollo/Midnighter. And I am clearly missing out on something by not knowing more about Batwoman.
The foreward by Phil Jimenez is impactful and really resounded with my thoughts and feelings going into Pride 2023. Despite that, and how proud Phil is of his relationship with DC, it’s his question of “Where are the pages?” that lingers. Yes, DC is doing queer representation better than Marvel, in my opinion, for the two old/bigest comic publishers, but how long has it taken both of them to represent queer characters in positive lights? Why are the queer storylines still so few or seemingly small? We all have so much history with DC and Marvel properties but I just can’t be drawn to these comics like I used to be when publishers like Image, BOOM! Studios, Oni Press and Dark Horse are putting out content that feels more authentic and less cash-grabby than this. But that's a rant better suited for my tumblr.
“Love’s Lightning Heart” is some interesting art but a story I cannot get into at all. Much like the Green Lantern contribution “He’s The Light Of My Life” from the 2021 Pride anthology, this is clearly part of a bigger, ongoing story in a series that I have not read and at this point I honestly have no interest in ever reading another thing about a Lantern. 2 stars just for how interesting the bit with Zoe was even though I have no idea who she is or why she’s in this situation.
“And Baby Makes Three” is 5 stars, always for Harley and Ivy. Especially when Ivy is making herself more of an icon with lines like “Listen, kid, you need to disabuse yourself of the notion that any kind of love is going to complete you. You, just as you are, are a whole. You are your own one hundred percent. Everything, everyone else is additive.” There is just such a passion and power to how Harley and Ivy are written now for the comics and animated series that gets me every time. DC will always have its hooks in me with this pairing. And Apollo and Midnighter.
“Hey, Stranger” is a solid 4. I’m missing vital parts of this story, but I can still get the gist of what’s going on with Tim and Connor. It’s a bit too brief, for me, but I get it being awkward to talk about feelings. The art is also a little off for me in this one. I swear there’s a panel where Connor’s eyes look like slits and it is truly creepy.
“Subspace Transmission” is a weak 3 for me. While I’m definitely still crushing on Jess Chambers they are not as well drawn here as they were in their Pride 2021 appearance, “Clothes Makeup Gift.” As for the story in this one, I didn’t get it. It looked nice and tried to be cute, but was utterly forgettable.
“Anniversary” FINALLY some Apollo and Midnighter in these Pride anthologies! All the stars despite how mad I am for having to wait this long for them. The art is far from my favorite, but it’s nowhere near as bad as Simon Bisley made them look. I will also completely overlook the art because we get their vow renewals and a reminder of how much it means for them to just be THEM. For nearly 24 years now, counting from The Authority v1 issue #8 from Dec 1999, they’ve been Apollo and Midnighter as an undeniable couple. Yes, they’re kept more low key and background than I like, but we fans know where to find them and they have had some truly beautiful moments together. I’ll always want more of them even when I feel like the writers are being horrible.
“Lost & Found” is a beautiful piece with Batwoman and Xanthe Zhou. 5 stars for reminding me that I have GOT to get around to reading the Batwoman comics and I am very interested in seeing what happens with Xanthe in Spirit World.
“Teamwork Makes The Dream Work”is 4 stars for a cute little story with art that is a bit too cartoonish.
“The Dance” is 5 stars and absolutely lovely. While quick, it has a beautiful flow and just moves seamlessly through its panels to capture a moment between Ghost-Maker and Catman. Is this a new thing? If no, where can I find more? If yes, when can we expect more??? The cat clawed pillow spilling feathers on the bed in that last panel is just *chef’s kiss*
“My Best Bet” is a good bit of fun with Constantine. 5 stars for a great dynamic between Jon Kent and John Constantine. I’m getting that there’s a lot that I’ve missed in DC regarding Green Arrow, Oliver Queen, but the context clues here are more than enough for this bit to stand on its own without frustrating me like the multiverse story that opened this anthology.
“Bad Dreams: A Dreamer Story” is a 2 star blink and you’ve missed it bit that is really only here as a teaser for the YA graphic novel Bad Dream. Decent art, though, and I keep rooting for Nicole Maines in all she does.
A Tribute To Rachel Pollack. This isn't the last part of the anthology, but it’s a better place to leave it than that teaser. There’s no rating this as it’s a celebration and a loss. It hits like Kevin Conroy’s piece from the 2022 volume except this time we didn’t get a final story from Rachel. She passed before this so it’s very touching to read about her through her friends and fans. And as an endpoint for this edition, it kind of answers the question Phil began with. There are more pages here than you'd think. Some buried or coded from times when we couldn’t be front and center, but we’ve been represented at DC/Vertigo for longer than we even know, behind the scenes and on the pages. While I want more from these big publishers, I do have to admit that what DC gives us has been pretty memorable, especially with my OTPs Harley/Ivy and Apollo/Midnighter. And I am clearly missing out on something by not knowing more about Batwoman.
August 8, 2024
A edição brasileira de Orgulho DC 2024 pela PaniniTM chegou às bancas de Porto Alegre em agosto de 2024, dois meses depois do mês do orgulho. A da Marvel ainda não viu a luz do dia. Esta edição tem um prefácio escrito por um dos desenhistas gays mais famosos do mundo dos comics, Phil Jimenez, que já trabalhou tanto na Marvel como na DC Comics. Achei o prefácio demasiadamente institucional e pouco pessoal. A edição da PaniniTM traz não somente a edição DC Pride 2023 como outras pequenas histórias de outras publicações relacionadas com o mundo queer da editora das lendas. Uma dessas histórias é escrita por Grant Morrison e inclui as suas loucuragens de multiverso só que aviadadas (uma palavra que eu posso usar). A melhor história na minha opinião é a de Alan Scott, que fecha o álbum. Tem outras poucas histórias legais, mas a maioria é fraquinha, fraquinha. Faltou condução editorial, coisa que nos outros anos da DC não pareceu tão descarado. Nem nos outros álbuns-homenagens da Marvel.
May 31, 2023
It’s almost June—that means it’s time for DC’s annual low-effort pandering to the LG (but mostly) BTQ+ community! In these pages you’ll find inconsequential “stories” with iffy art and iffier writing, apparently aimed at either moronic childish adults (yay?) or schoolchildren (boo!) By stereotypes only, for stereotypes only! Don’t be a bigot! Support this gigantic multimedia corporation’s efforts to achieve a higher Corporate Equality Index score!
Trivia: fun fact, the rainbow “pride” flag originally symbolized the efforts of homosexuals to declare themselves unashamed for being born gay!
I know, right: how exclusionary!
Of course, now it’s mostly an obligatory month of temporary rebranding for cashgrabbing as well as a way for individuals of all sexualities to declare that they’re unashamed of being devoid of anything like personalities. In 2023, if a loser is lost in a strange town, they can just look for the rainbow loser flag and find sanctuary within. The more you know..!
Trivia: fun fact, the rainbow “pride” flag originally symbolized the efforts of homosexuals to declare themselves unashamed for being born gay!
I know, right: how exclusionary!
Of course, now it’s mostly an obligatory month of temporary rebranding for cashgrabbing as well as a way for individuals of all sexualities to declare that they’re unashamed of being devoid of anything like personalities. In 2023, if a loser is lost in a strange town, they can just look for the rainbow loser flag and find sanctuary within. The more you know..!
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June 15, 2023the one panel of wally west slayed
August 12, 2023
“We are fighting back, in ways big and small. We’re stronger than they think we are. By being visible and being proud, we fight back.”
This is a collection of short comics about different beloved queer characters of the DC universe.
This collection has stories of some of the more famous queer icons, such as Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Batwoman and Tim Drake, and then some more lesser known characters, like Xanthe Zhou, a non binary Spirit Envoy and Jules Jourdain, a trans man and actor turned hero. I liked the balance between characters we all know and love, and characters I'd never encountered before. This definitely made me want to read more stories with some of these characters: especially Tim Drake and Connor Hawke intrigued me a lot.
I liked how all the stories had their own vibes. Some were more on the romantic side, some focused more on friendship and some were all about characters learning more about themselves. There were stories rooted deeply in real-world issues, such as growing anti-LGBT+ sentiments, stories that were full of magic and supernatural powers and stories that were just fun and silly and sweet. My favorites were probably the story featuring Harley and Ivy (obviously, I love them, and also, how can I not cry at this quote from Ivy: "I’m in love with Harley for reasons I can’t even begin to enumerate but will spend a lifetime trying to anyway."), Tim Drake and Connor Walsh, and Catman and Ghost-maker (these two were characters I had never heard of, but I really enjoyed their story. This quote really moved me, especially considering this is a book celebrating queerness and what makes us unique: “Bodies are art. And what is not to celebrate? No matter the forms… when two act as one… it is a thing of beauty. And beauty knows no bounds.”)
I'm really happy books like these exist and that there are enough queer characters in big franchises like DC to fill a whole comic book. Comics tend to often feel painfully heterosexual and cis-centric, so it's super cool that DC publishes anthologies like this, celebrating queer voices and giving its queer characters the center stage. This introduced me to so many new LGBT+ characters, and I am so happy about it! Many superheroes have a very queer vibe to them, as in many of them feel like outsiders, have hidden identities, powers they cannot talk about and things that make them feel like outcasts, and usually their stories are all about them finding their inner power, accepting themselves and finding beauty in what makes them unique. I think many queer people can relate to this, and I am glad that more and more narratives of explicitly queer superheroes, antiheroes and even villains, are coming out, giving queer people characters who are explicitly, clearly like them and not just subtextual or metaphorical. Just thinking about some lonely queer kid out there finding a book like this and seeing non binary heroes, trans heroes, gay heroes, bi heroes, all these amazing queer heroes, makes me smile. Stories like this remind people - kids and adults - that true heroes protect everyone and that queer people can be heroes just like anyone else.
I would happily recommend this! Not every story was a hit for me, as is unavoidable with anthologies, but I had a great time anyway! The art is, throughout the book, gorgeous.
This is a collection of short comics about different beloved queer characters of the DC universe.
This collection has stories of some of the more famous queer icons, such as Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Batwoman and Tim Drake, and then some more lesser known characters, like Xanthe Zhou, a non binary Spirit Envoy and Jules Jourdain, a trans man and actor turned hero. I liked the balance between characters we all know and love, and characters I'd never encountered before. This definitely made me want to read more stories with some of these characters: especially Tim Drake and Connor Hawke intrigued me a lot.
I liked how all the stories had their own vibes. Some were more on the romantic side, some focused more on friendship and some were all about characters learning more about themselves. There were stories rooted deeply in real-world issues, such as growing anti-LGBT+ sentiments, stories that were full of magic and supernatural powers and stories that were just fun and silly and sweet. My favorites were probably the story featuring Harley and Ivy (obviously, I love them, and also, how can I not cry at this quote from Ivy: "I’m in love with Harley for reasons I can’t even begin to enumerate but will spend a lifetime trying to anyway."), Tim Drake and Connor Walsh, and Catman and Ghost-maker (these two were characters I had never heard of, but I really enjoyed their story. This quote really moved me, especially considering this is a book celebrating queerness and what makes us unique: “Bodies are art. And what is not to celebrate? No matter the forms… when two act as one… it is a thing of beauty. And beauty knows no bounds.”)
I'm really happy books like these exist and that there are enough queer characters in big franchises like DC to fill a whole comic book. Comics tend to often feel painfully heterosexual and cis-centric, so it's super cool that DC publishes anthologies like this, celebrating queer voices and giving its queer characters the center stage. This introduced me to so many new LGBT+ characters, and I am so happy about it! Many superheroes have a very queer vibe to them, as in many of them feel like outsiders, have hidden identities, powers they cannot talk about and things that make them feel like outcasts, and usually their stories are all about them finding their inner power, accepting themselves and finding beauty in what makes them unique. I think many queer people can relate to this, and I am glad that more and more narratives of explicitly queer superheroes, antiheroes and even villains, are coming out, giving queer people characters who are explicitly, clearly like them and not just subtextual or metaphorical. Just thinking about some lonely queer kid out there finding a book like this and seeing non binary heroes, trans heroes, gay heroes, bi heroes, all these amazing queer heroes, makes me smile. Stories like this remind people - kids and adults - that true heroes protect everyone and that queer people can be heroes just like anyone else.
I would happily recommend this! Not every story was a hit for me, as is unavoidable with anthologies, but I had a great time anyway! The art is, throughout the book, gorgeous.
June 7, 2023
Not every story resonated with me, but that's absolutely alright. They were still mostly interesting stories, and I'm sure they resonate with others meanwhile probably not all my favourites resonated with others. That's the beauty of being a member of the same community but still being your own unique self.
I have been a little out of the loop with DC Comics in the last 1 year so there are characters who are entirely new to me, and there are characters who I didn't know came out canonically, so this collection of stories stored some great surprise for me (i.e. Connor Hawke being ace).
Some of my fave stories in this book:
Midnighter and Apollo's story.
Tim Drake and Connor Hawke's story.
Jon Kent and John Constantine's story (this was 100% a guilty pleasure for me).
Xanthe and Kate's story.
I also highly recommend reading Phil Jimenez's foreword and the tributes to Rachel Pollack at the end because they are immensely touching and amazing.
I have been a little out of the loop with DC Comics in the last 1 year so there are characters who are entirely new to me, and there are characters who I didn't know came out canonically, so this collection of stories stored some great surprise for me (i.e. Connor Hawke being ace).
Some of my fave stories in this book:
Midnighter and Apollo's story.
Tim Drake and Connor Hawke's story.
Jon Kent and John Constantine's story (this was 100% a guilty pleasure for me).
Xanthe and Kate's story.
I also highly recommend reading Phil Jimenez's foreword and the tributes to Rachel Pollack at the end because they are immensely touching and amazing.
December 31, 2024
I read this last year and although I was scared for the Asexual story involving Connor, I was pleasantly surprised. I liked it a lot. Not to mention, I loved the inclusion of Crush!!! Finally!
June 15, 2023
As usual I'm starting this review by pointing out I don't tend to review graphic novels – despite the fact I read a few, though they are also not something I read a huge amount of. I read, loved, and reviewed the previous two DC Pride anthologies, so was very keen to get my hands on this year’s to do the same.
Definitely a few new characters represented this year that hadn’t had their chance to shine in the previous two issues – and a few favourites returning. Quite the good balance, even if some of the characters were some that I was not very familiar with (if at all).
Overall the stories were solid – as usual there were some good themes, interesting art styles, and a good variety of representation of all aspects in the rainbow in the comic, and that’s why I love it. I don’t feel like the stories were quite as interesting or engaging as the past couple of years – still good, but I feel that the bar has been set high and this year the result clipped the bar rather than soaring over it. With that being said, I have no regrets about buying it, and will be purchasing the 2024 Pride Anthology if (when!) they release one.
Once again the most moving part of the anthology wasn’t a comic itself, but a section dedicated to a trans-trailblazer in the comics industry: Rachel Pollack. While I wasn’t familiar with her, unlike the way I was Kevin Conroy, and therefore not quite touched in the same way, I found the tribute to her in place of the comic she was unable to write for the anthology to be very moving and inspiring, and I’m very glad to see them incorporate that rather that just replacing that section with another story.
If you're a DC fan and a little queer, or even if you're just an ally, I would definitely recommend you check this out.
Definitely a few new characters represented this year that hadn’t had their chance to shine in the previous two issues – and a few favourites returning. Quite the good balance, even if some of the characters were some that I was not very familiar with (if at all).
Overall the stories were solid – as usual there were some good themes, interesting art styles, and a good variety of representation of all aspects in the rainbow in the comic, and that’s why I love it. I don’t feel like the stories were quite as interesting or engaging as the past couple of years – still good, but I feel that the bar has been set high and this year the result clipped the bar rather than soaring over it. With that being said, I have no regrets about buying it, and will be purchasing the 2024 Pride Anthology if (when!) they release one.
Once again the most moving part of the anthology wasn’t a comic itself, but a section dedicated to a trans-trailblazer in the comics industry: Rachel Pollack. While I wasn’t familiar with her, unlike the way I was Kevin Conroy, and therefore not quite touched in the same way, I found the tribute to her in place of the comic she was unable to write for the anthology to be very moving and inspiring, and I’m very glad to see them incorporate that rather that just replacing that section with another story.
If you're a DC fan and a little queer, or even if you're just an ally, I would definitely recommend you check this out.
September 20, 2023
Loves lighting heart: 2 stars
The story was so boring since it was fighting a villain I didn’t care about also I kept wondering if it was supposed to be Adam Scott
And baby makes three: 4 stars
I really liked seeing crush interact with Harley and Ivy, and I also love their relationship
Hey stranger: 3.5
A lot was lost on me since I didn’t know that Connor and Tim were friends but I liked their discussion
Subspace transmission: 2 stars
Again had no idea who the character was and also I think it ended abruptly
Anniversary: 3.5
Maybe a little on your face but I really liked midnighter and Apollo I need to read their solo series, also the art was really good
Found: 3
Too short for me to form an opinion so it was the most middle of the road thing
Teamwork Makes The Dream Work: 3 maybe 2.5
Pretty weird story as you can see I don’t really enjoy action stories since you can only do so much on very few pages
The dance: 3 stars
Can I even call this a sorry it was 6 pages of them fighting and 1 of them hooking up
Poker night: 3
My expectations were really high since the cover shows heroes actually playing poker (which for some reason Constantine and jon aren’t in) and It wasn’t that, I liked Constantine and Jon he interacting since they’re one of my favoring dc characters but considering Constantine’s magic the story could’ve been a lot cooler, I liked the mini twist I guess
The story was so boring since it was fighting a villain I didn’t care about also I kept wondering if it was supposed to be Adam Scott
And baby makes three: 4 stars
I really liked seeing crush interact with Harley and Ivy, and I also love their relationship
Hey stranger: 3.5
A lot was lost on me since I didn’t know that Connor and Tim were friends but I liked their discussion
Subspace transmission: 2 stars
Again had no idea who the character was and also I think it ended abruptly
Anniversary: 3.5
Maybe a little on your face but I really liked midnighter and Apollo I need to read their solo series, also the art was really good
Found: 3
Too short for me to form an opinion so it was the most middle of the road thing
Teamwork Makes The Dream Work: 3 maybe 2.5
Pretty weird story as you can see I don’t really enjoy action stories since you can only do so much on very few pages
The dance: 3 stars
Can I even call this a sorry it was 6 pages of them fighting and 1 of them hooking up
Poker night: 3
My expectations were really high since the cover shows heroes actually playing poker (which for some reason Constantine and jon aren’t in) and It wasn’t that, I liked Constantine and Jon he interacting since they’re one of my favoring dc characters but considering Constantine’s magic the story could’ve been a lot cooler, I liked the mini twist I guess
July 23, 2023
The foreword made me tear up a bit. Our rights are under attack every day. But being queer is and always will be beautiful. This newest DC Pride anthology tries to showcase that.
Most of this was only medium with a few standouts like the story with Midnighter and Apollo. It's about time they get their own comic book again. Also excited for the newcomers Jules and Xanthe.
Love's lightning heart: Green Lantern stories rarely connect with me, this one was okay though.
And baby makes three: Never been a Harley Quinn fan, but I enjoy her with Poison Ivy.
Hey, Stranger: yes, we need more queer platonic friendships
Subspace Transmission: always a pleasure to read about Jules. Can't wait to see me more of them.
Anniversary: Midnighter and Apollo, they always deliver. This is by far the strongest short in the anthology, reflecting on the rise of hate and anti-LGBTQ+ laws and the felling of helplessness that comes with that.
Lost and found: Alright, alright, I am going to read Spirit World
Team work makes the dream work: Amazons <3
The dance: ever since the trailer of Kraven, who's movie aparrently borrows a lot from Catman I wanted to check out the character, what a pleasant surprise to find him in this anthology.
Rural Vermont: Jon <3
Most of this was only medium with a few standouts like the story with Midnighter and Apollo. It's about time they get their own comic book again. Also excited for the newcomers Jules and Xanthe.
Love's lightning heart: Green Lantern stories rarely connect with me, this one was okay though.
And baby makes three: Never been a Harley Quinn fan, but I enjoy her with Poison Ivy.
Hey, Stranger: yes, we need more queer platonic friendships
Subspace Transmission: always a pleasure to read about Jules. Can't wait to see me more of them.
Anniversary: Midnighter and Apollo, they always deliver. This is by far the strongest short in the anthology, reflecting on the rise of hate and anti-LGBTQ+ laws and the felling of helplessness that comes with that.
Lost and found: Alright, alright, I am going to read Spirit World
Team work makes the dream work: Amazons <3
The dance: ever since the trailer of Kraven, who's movie aparrently borrows a lot from Catman I wanted to check out the character, what a pleasant surprise to find him in this anthology.
Rural Vermont: Jon <3
July 7, 2023
As a queer and trans comic book fan, I’m really appreciative of the way DC creates special issues to celebrate different marginalized groups, especially as many companies are withdrawing even from the most performative of measures given the current wave of repression going on politically. There were some standout stories in this comic that I loved (especially the chance to see Crush again, whose short 8-issue special run launched my interest in modern comics) and both Phil Jimenez’s introduction and the tribute to Rachel Pollack were particularly meaningful.
I do feel frustrated, however, that sometimes these stories feel more like templates that characters are shoved into rather than plotlines shaped around their identities, character traits, and motivations. I want to see the characters I love being proudly queer, and I’d love it if they could be written as such in ways that fully honor their characterization and typical style of voice. This isn’t true for every story, but it’s true enough to note in a review, and while I understand that the low page count allocated to each story creates limitations, I think that there’s still room for improvement.
Even so, I’m glad that these anthologies exist. It’s tough as a consumer to differentiate between the desire of companies to capitalize on queer people and the desire to represent them authentically and push for liberation, but if there are young queer readers who feel seen, there’s still value in them.
I do feel frustrated, however, that sometimes these stories feel more like templates that characters are shoved into rather than plotlines shaped around their identities, character traits, and motivations. I want to see the characters I love being proudly queer, and I’d love it if they could be written as such in ways that fully honor their characterization and typical style of voice. This isn’t true for every story, but it’s true enough to note in a review, and while I understand that the low page count allocated to each story creates limitations, I think that there’s still room for improvement.
Even so, I’m glad that these anthologies exist. It’s tough as a consumer to differentiate between the desire of companies to capitalize on queer people and the desire to represent them authentically and push for liberation, but if there are young queer readers who feel seen, there’s still value in them.
October 18, 2023
DC made this comic to try and show off the diversity of it's characters but it wasn't always successful. I did really like getting Ace representation though. It's meant to be, as far as I could tell from the Rachel Pollack tribute, new stories for this issue not pulled from other comics - just little vignettes into the character's lives. So why is the opening story some alternate universe character going on about a bunch of backstory required to understand them. It's a really boring and confusing way to start the comic and it makes it look like DC has to scrape the bottom of the barrel for obscure characters to fill the book. Similarly quite a few of the stories wasted time on exposition just to play catch up on who these people are. It's why the best comic is the Harley and Ivy comic. People know who they are and even if they don't the text quickly and smoothly lets you know what you need. They're crazy villains in love here to do shenanigans. I also found the anniversary comic to be interesting... It's a little bizarre for a comic to start with vigilantes beating up bad guys and then have them preach non-violence when the bad guys look more like real world people.
July 16, 2023
I love that Marvel and DC are both having more representation with lgbtqia characters and story lines and I am glad that through these anthologies we get to see those stories. I also like that they had the messaging of these are things that you can do to help in your community and in the world because those are important aspects of being a lgbtqia activist. I love the artwork and getting to see different points of view and story lines and I think that's part of the reason that these anthologies are so important. There was One reviewer who said that this is just pandering, and while I do agree that there is some pandering to this 10 years ago we didn't have lgbtqia representation as much in comics so it's nice to see that these companies are giving our community a voice. And I am here for it I think that we should ask media representation to have our communities voice be presented. So I would recommend this to anyone who likes DC Comics and the characters also anybody who enjoys seeing lgbtqia stories and how they are changing comic books through the use of those stories.
September 20, 2024
Should be rated higher, but some of these stories REALLY detract from the overall collective...
- Grant Morrison story? Nonsensical piece of self-indulgent garbage (and I usually like his work)
- Crush crash landing (featuring Poison Ivy and Harley)? cute.
- Tim Drake crime fighting? Conner Hawke's disappearance explained. Good friends reconnect!
- Circuit Breaker mopefest? Timely visit by Jess Chambers (Earth-11 Flash) Aw! Future friendship!
- Apollo/Midnighter gender fluid visualization? Vow renewals, but wow what nonbinary art??
- Spirit World / Batwoman flirt-fest?
- Nubia / Steel throwdown? Tech vs Skill @ Steelworks. Meh! Anime-ish, much?
- Ghost-Maker and Catman? Smoochfest. New territory for the sociopath...
- Jon Kent fights magic stuff? Constantine and Felix Faust eat snacks and watch?? Seriously??
- Dreamer story? Just read Dreamer #1
========
Bonus: The tribute to Rachel Pollack SHOULD've been included in the 'DC Pride' anthology they released
Bonus Bonus: The pinups were meh. I've never liked them in ANY comic...just like swimsuit issues
- Grant Morrison story? Nonsensical piece of self-indulgent garbage (and I usually like his work)
- Crush crash landing (featuring Poison Ivy and Harley)? cute.
- Tim Drake crime fighting? Conner Hawke's disappearance explained. Good friends reconnect!
- Circuit Breaker mopefest? Timely visit by Jess Chambers (Earth-11 Flash) Aw! Future friendship!
- Apollo/Midnighter gender fluid visualization? Vow renewals, but wow what nonbinary art??
- Spirit World / Batwoman flirt-fest?
- Nubia / Steel throwdown? Tech vs Skill @ Steelworks. Meh! Anime-ish, much?
- Ghost-Maker and Catman? Smoochfest. New territory for the sociopath...
- Jon Kent fights magic stuff? Constantine and Felix Faust eat snacks and watch?? Seriously??
- Dreamer story? Just read Dreamer #1
========
Bonus: The tribute to Rachel Pollack SHOULD've been included in the 'DC Pride' anthology they released
Bonus Bonus: The pinups were meh. I've never liked them in ANY comic...just like swimsuit issues
June 6, 2023
This year's group of Pride stories were some weak sauce. Even Grant Morrison's story didn't make a lot of sense but then again it's about a Green Lantern on an alternate earth and his Green Lantern book was terrible and didn't make any sense. Honestly what I liked best was the prose which I typically hate in comic books. But Phil Jimenez's foreword and the written tributes to Rachel Pollack's passing were the best parts of the book. Pollack wrote Doom Patrol in the 90's after Grant Morrison left and was openly transgendered way back then. Pollack was the first person I remember being aware of who was and I'm not sure I was even aware of what that meant before Pollack started writing one of my favorite comics at the time.
May 25, 2024
Ahora sí, las historias tienen más conexión al universo de DC, son interpretadas por más personajes que Jon y Harley; y realmente no están tan mal.
Solo que son como refritos del primer número, eso sí, mejor hechos. Y más bien son continuaciones de las historias presentadas en los anteriores números, lo cual está padre. Pero no puedo decir que alguna historia me mega encantara, ni siquiera la de Constantine.
El arte igual está mucho mejor, y las ilustraciones también están muy padres (ojalá esas las vendieran como portadas alternativas o algo).
Lo que agregaría es que es medio aburrido que las portadas sean tan equis, a las que solo les agregan el arcoíris o la bandera lgbt. haha Por eso digo que las ilustraciones están mucho mejor.
Solo que son como refritos del primer número, eso sí, mejor hechos. Y más bien son continuaciones de las historias presentadas en los anteriores números, lo cual está padre. Pero no puedo decir que alguna historia me mega encantara, ni siquiera la de Constantine.
El arte igual está mucho mejor, y las ilustraciones también están muy padres (ojalá esas las vendieran como portadas alternativas o algo).
Lo que agregaría es que es medio aburrido que las portadas sean tan equis, a las que solo les agregan el arcoíris o la bandera lgbt. haha Por eso digo que las ilustraciones están mucho mejor.
June 10, 2023
It was fine. Some stories were good and others were just a little confusing.
I don't know who half the characters are and I think it's silly to assume people reading this would know everyone, so a little intro for each story would've been nice.
Aqualad is on my cover too and he's not in the anthology so I'm sad.
The rep is fab, some of it just cute like Harley/Ivy, and some of it pretty deep and heavy. Also quite happy with the Foreword raising a tonne of awareness for queer rights in the US
I don't know who half the characters are and I think it's silly to assume people reading this would know everyone, so a little intro for each story would've been nice.
Aqualad is on my cover too and he's not in the anthology so I'm sad.
The rep is fab, some of it just cute like Harley/Ivy, and some of it pretty deep and heavy. Also quite happy with the Foreword raising a tonne of awareness for queer rights in the US
December 11, 2023
I could’t let this year end without reading its edition of the DC Pride Anthology.
The best of it was the second issue, by far. I mean, it’s them.
It was my first real introduction to Crush and I was instantly in love. The art was cool and the story was lighthearted and fun.
The rest of it… well… forgettable in a good way :)
The best of it was the second issue, by far. I mean, it’s them.
It was my first real introduction to Crush and I was instantly in love. The art was cool and the story was lighthearted and fun.
The rest of it… well… forgettable in a good way :)
July 9, 2023
Love's Lightening Heart - to quote Meatloaf 'I would do anything for love' and Hank/Flashlight does. I don't know any of these people and I had little clue what was going on. But I like that he found Ray, his lost lover.
And Baby Makes Three - Harley/Ivy. Not what you think from the title. Harley and Ivy are on a romantic getaway when they get gatecrashed by a baby gay. Cute and slightly crazy.
Hey Stranger - Tim and Connor (Green Arrow not Superboy) talk about feelings and Tim coming out. *Tim - Bi. Connor - Ace.
Subspace Transmission - Non binary hero but no idea who they are or what was going on.
Anniversary - Midnighter and Apollo. Married couple. Fighting injustice at a Pride rally. Includes Alan Scott (gay Green Lantern).
Teamwork Makes The Dream Work - Steel invents a 'danger room'.
The Dance - Catman and Ghostmaker team up to fight and then get together. Sex positive with a full page panel of the post-coital.
My Best Bet - Jon Kent helps Constantine win a bet. Lovely, amusing, and bittersweet.
Bad Dream - Dreamer. Unfortunately I didn't like the art and the story was non-existent.
Favourite stories: The Dance & Anniversary.
And Baby Makes Three - Harley/Ivy. Not what you think from the title. Harley and Ivy are on a romantic getaway when they get gatecrashed by a baby gay. Cute and slightly crazy.
Hey Stranger - Tim and Connor (Green Arrow not Superboy) talk about feelings and Tim coming out. *Tim - Bi. Connor - Ace.
Subspace Transmission - Non binary hero but no idea who they are or what was going on.
Anniversary - Midnighter and Apollo. Married couple. Fighting injustice at a Pride rally. Includes Alan Scott (gay Green Lantern).
Teamwork Makes The Dream Work - Steel invents a 'danger room'.
The Dance - Catman and Ghostmaker team up to fight and then get together. Sex positive with a full page panel of the post-coital.
My Best Bet - Jon Kent helps Constantine win a bet. Lovely, amusing, and bittersweet.
Bad Dream - Dreamer. Unfortunately I didn't like the art and the story was non-existent.
Favourite stories: The Dance & Anniversary.
September 23, 2023
That was fun. Some stories were great and some stories were a bit disjointed. Sigh. I'm side eyeing you Grant Morrison. I loved seeing my favorite power couple Apollo and Midnighter. I really liked seeing Jon Kent and Constantine interact. My favorite was Xanthe and Batwoman's story and art. Now I need to hunt down The Spirit World comic.
July 1, 2024
I'm continuously impressed by the art in these stories. Earlier, I mentioned how close we were to not having a Kevin Conroy contribution to the 2022 anthology. Here, unfortunately, we are left without the Rachel Pollack contribution due to her passing. Instead, her friends chime in in her honor, and panels of her Doom Patrol run are included.
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