PRIDE MONTH 2023! While we have covered a wide range of comics formats during our Pride Month celebrations here at Broken Frontier we haven’t as yet put a spotlight on any multi-creator anthologies. Given how important these group efforts can be in portraying many different LGBTQ+ experiences in one venue, and the sense of community they often engender, it’s only right that we make room for one example before the end of the month. The Color of Always, from A Wave Blue World, collects a number of short stories, usually around 10-12 pages in length, that are largely slice-of-life entries with occasional sidesteps into genre fiction.
Co-created and edited by Brent Fisher and Michelle Abounader, The Color of Always visits themes of coming out, identity, family and relationships from around thirty creative voices. As is always the case with anthologies certain stories, styles and approaches will resonate with individual readers more strongly than others. However, what is immediately striking about this as a collection is what a perfect introduction it could be to a non-comics reading LGBTQ+ audience given the breadth of messages and experiences it covers in its 140 or so pages.
The highlights include ‘Long Away’ {above), written by Tilly and Susan Bridges, a carefully constructed time-travel story that follows Victoria, a trans woman, into her childhood past for one final meeting with the long dead, comic shop manager father she barely knew. Artist Richard Fairgray uses two muted but distinctive colour schemes to create a sense of time and place, while also keeping the readers’ attention focussed throughout on the characters’ interactions through shifting perspectives and interplay. This story of re-establishing connections and of understanding where we come from is beautifully realised on every level and worth the price of entry alone.
Other standouts include ‘Sea Change’ (above), a seafaring fantasy of centuries past that sees a young sailor plunge from a ship and encounter a sea monster in the depths. Writer Lillian Hochwender and artist Gabe Martini provide a visual metaphor for finding our true selves that is all the more accessible for being clothed in supernatural trappings. Christa Harader and Katie Hicks’ ‘Leaves’ also plays with ideas of self-discovery with minimal text, making its occasional use all the more dramatic. Hicks’ gorgeous visuals and impactful occasional application of white space showing great emotional eloquence throughout.
Brittany “Biggsy” Gonzalez and Elizabeth Malette’s ‘Both Sides’ (below) is undoubtedly the most poignant offering in the book with Gonzalez giving the reader a wider understanding of the circumstances behind the failing relationship between two women than perhaps the protagonists have. This is a powerful story of past trauma shaping the present with Mallette providing some truly striking single illustrations and sequentials that totally encapsulate the intensity of the moments they depict, especially one that depicts the growing gulf between the couple by the gap between their bodies in bed.
To reiterate The Color of Always would make a great entry point into the medium for the reluctant comics reader with an interest in queer fiction. The work herein is conversant with the properties of the form and exploits its mechanics to great effect but at the same time it’s not overtly experimental, making it very accessible for a new target audience. Those wanting to investigate more of A Wave Blue World’s respected anthology series can do so here.
Brent Fisher, Julia Paiewonsky, Mario Candelaria, Laura Helsby, Lillian Hochwender, Priya Saxina, Tilly Bridges, Sally Bridges, Michele Abounader, Nathan Long, Christa Harader, Kaj E Kunstmann, Brittany “Biggsy” Gonzalez, Christie Porter, Jazzlyn Stone (W), Elisa Romboli, Alex Putprush, Laura Helsby, Gabe Martini, Jenny Fleming, Tench, Nathan Long, Rachel Distler, Katie Hicks, Kaj E Kunstmann, Elizabeth Malette, Alina Wahab, Liana Kangas, Richard Fairgray (A), Jão Canola, Gab Conteras (C), Ariana Maher, Scott Ewen, Joamette Gil (L), Elisa Romboli (CA), Brent Fisher and Michele Abounader (E), Fell Hound and Justin Richards (Creative Advisors/E), Lucas Gattoni (Logo), Pete Carlsson (D) • A Wave New World, $19.99
Review by Andy Oliver
