Week 15: Revised Post - Underground Comics

What a time the 60s-80s must have been if you were a comic artist. So for this week's reading I took it upon myself to read through a couple different comics on the list that seemed like they'd be best to understand where comics in standing within the last 40 some years in terms of style and cultural imagery. My readings were Gay Comix Issue 01 and Tits and Clits, please excuse the names. The titles were eye-catching enough if it weren't for the typical colorful and saturated imagery used on the covers. Not too mention the sexual innuendos in the imagery gave me a small chuckle. Comics back then appeared to not be "shy" with their use of incredibly explicit imagery. 

As an LGBT identifying person myself, reading these comics was really fascinating. To be able to read comics which took place in such an interesting time range in our culture I was able to see how the LGBT community saw itself back then and how it was treated through the stories drawn out. Many of the stories in the Gay Comix issues were relatable and were cool to read because even back in the heights of the 60s or 70s LGBT people weren't too different from the community today. Although the comics were strife with the usual stereotypes that even still exist today most of the imagery were presented positively. If it seemed offensive the image was probably intended as a social critique since back then if you were outed as LGBT you were more likely to be discriminated against or harmed. It was all the more power to the comic artist to express their sexuality in such an oppressive time.

I think it was also very important for comics such as these to exist at the time. The LGBT movement was starting to really pick up after the 60s and it exploded in the 80s due to the AIDs pandemic and other cultural issues. Comics like these were a good way to educate people and share the experiences of queer-identifying individuals who faced certain struggles in a time where the idea of sexuality was really being fought against. LGBT comics were also a good way to help bring more visibility to the community which has obviously been a success seeing as LGBT in comics today are even more present and seen in a more humane and positive light.