THOUGHT BUBBLE MONTH 2024! With a remit to explore “queer love stories in medieval/historical fantasy settings” Queer Knights features three stories; one from KitsuneArt who has featured on a number of occasions here at Broken Frontier, one from French artist Audrey Molinatti, and one from the intriguingly named Italian artist Atlantisvampir. As anthologies go at less than forty pages it’s a compact affair but it’s also an engaging introduction to the work of the artists concerned, two of whom I admit to being previously unfamiliar with.
What all the entries herein have in common is that they are sumptuously illustrated. The first is ‘Devotion’ by Atlantisvampir. It begins with a warrior’s final moments on the battlefield before flashing back to his attachment to the armour he wears; a connection that becomes so pronounced that it takes on a spiritual quality. To say more would be to give too much away but what really stands out here is Atlantisvampir’s considered use of colour as a mood-building tool, creating an ethereal atmosphere to this unlikely love story.
Audrey Molinatti’s ‘Fight or Love’ is perhaps slight in plot but again in terms of visual storytelling it’s beautifully set out, full of tender moments, and the contrast between the intensity of battle and the reconnection of two women who first met as knights in war is particularly poignant.
The final entry is KitsuneArt’s ‘Knight & King’, a study of the love between the two titular characters in the moments before the latter must choose his wife. I have been much impressed in the past by KitsuneArt’s ability to give a period feel to her stories, and her manga-style influences here work to give this short but powerful character study a touching and quietly defiant tone.
If you’re looking for work at Thought Bubble that is self-contained, acts as an intro to artists you may not have seen before, and is queer-themed then Queer Knights will certainly tick all those boxes for you. It’s also a reminder that KitsuneArt is one of the most underappreciated artists currently working in the UK small press scene. Check out not just this but her other comics too in Harrogate this weekend.
Harl Jones will be at Table B38b in the Redshirt Hall at Thought Bubble.
Thought Bubble 2024 runs from November 11th-17th with the convention weekend taking place on the 16th-17th. More details on the Thought Bubble site here.
Read all our Thought Bubble 2024 coverage so far in one place here.
Art by Rocío Arreola Mendoza
