Earlier this year, Netflix released Heartstopper, the screen adaptation of Alice Oseman’s bestselling series of the same name. With pastel colours, an upbeat soundtrack and a sugar-sweet queer romance at its heart, Heartstopper has proven to be an instant hit among young and young-at-heart LGBTQ audiences. But what to read after you have already binged the series and devoured the novels? Well, while we wait for the second season of Nick and Charlie’s story, here are ten wonderful graphic novels by queer creators, with LGBTQ representation that will charm all readers.
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki
Written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Rosemary Valero-O’Connell, this novel follows Frederica “Freddy” Riley throughout her struggles with her on-again, off-again relationship with the eponymous Laura Dean. Illustrated in black and white, with pops of pastel pink, Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me is perfect for Heartstopper fans intrigued by the Ben-Charlie dynamic!
In this gorgeously illustrated sci-fi comic, a young girl named Mia joins a ragtag maintenance crew aboard the spaceship Aktis. Her aim? To find her estranged girlfriend Grace who lives in The Staircase, a lonely and formidable part of space. While the tone of the novel is very different to Heartstopper, Mia and Grace’s secret relationship while at school has similarities to Nick and Charlie’s story. Bonus: you can read the comic for free, online.
The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang
In late 19th century France, Prince Sebastian plays his role dutifully by day. But by night, he puts on daring dresses designed by his best friend, Frances, and takes Paris by storm as the fabulous Lady Crystallia―the hottest fashion icon in the world capital of fashion! Fun, heart-warming, and with full-colour illustrations, this is the sort of read that would probably make it to Charlie’s bookshelf.
This popular webcomic centers on vlogger and figure skater-turned-ice hockey player Eric “Bitty” Bittle as he deals with hockey culture in college, as well as his identity as a gay man. Needless to say, Nick Nelson fans will adore this sweet story, with its themes of sports culture and gay romance, which is available to read online.
Fence is a sporty comic series about Nicholas Cox, the illegitimate son of a U.S. fencing Olympic champion, who aspires to become a fencing champion like his father. However, events become complicated when he manages to get into the elite boys’ school King’s Row, only to discover that his No. 1 rival is his roommate. Sound good? You bet!
If you are looking for something that captures the softness and yearning of Nick and Charlie, then Bloom is a perfect choice. In this comic, Ari, who is just about sick of rising dough and hot ovens, meets Hector, a carefree guy who loves baking as much as Ari wants to escape it. As they become closer over batches of bread, it seems like summer love is brewing. Of all the entries on this list, this one captures best the blushing and fuzzy feeling that Heartstopper evokes.
The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen
Skilfully blending three colours to depict the worlds of the past, the present, and fairytales, The Magic Fish is a semi-autobiographical graphic novel telling the story of Tiến Phong, a second-generation American Vietnamese teenager, who helps his mother learn English through fairy tales while struggling to tell her about his sexuality. If you were left teary-eyed at Nick’s coming-out scene to his mother, then this might be the book for you.
Cheer Up: Love and Pompoms by Crystal Frasier
When a smart, antisocial lesbian is pressured to join the cheerleader squad alongside her former friend (a people-pleasing trans girl), the two rekindle a friendship they thought they’d lost and soon start developing feelings for each other. A multicoloured, youthful comic focusing on high school life, Cheer Up combines Nick’s sporty vibes with Elle’s narrative of transitioning in high school.
The Tea Dragon Society by Kay O’Neill
Set in a wonderful, whimsical fantasy world reminiscent of Studio Ghibli, this comic follows the life of Greta, a blacksmith’s apprentice who comes across a lost tea-dragon in the marketplace, and is soon swept up in the world of dragon care. While it is worlds apart from Heartstopper, The Tea Dragon Society is still an adorable comfort read with ample LGBTQ rep and a colourful art style.
Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe
Finally, this graphic novel is a poignant look at the author’s journey towards exploring their gender identity as well as coming to embrace their asexuality. While the other novels in this list center around queer romance, Gender Queer is a personal and introspective journey of an individual navigating a world of binaries and established rules to attain self-fulfilment.
