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DC Pride 2025 has a very ambitious multi universe storyline that encompasses a looooot of different writers, artists and characters. There’s also a separate story attached at the end where a trans person shares her personal story throughout her life at DC and within a country that inhabits increasingly intense hatred towards people like her.
Before I go into how amazing I think this anthology is I just wanted to add a caveat. Fitting because it rubbed me the wrong way from the very start. Why are we starting the Pride issue with an American army soldier and then a police commissioner? I’m so tired of seeing “representation” in DC constantly flattering the very forces of the world that keep queer folk down! And I understand that the anthology tries to be critical of the country that sends people off to die but even then I find it incredibly surface level and honestly nationalist. Especially when we know that the soldier was sent to Afghanistan yet the writer deplores the fate of the American soldier and not the countless people who were truly affected by the horrors of the “War on Terror”… the Afghani people, ain’t they the ones that actually deserve empathy? For those who accuse me of making this opening too political then I ask you, what are you reading? It’s Pride, which started as a radical political action against the police with rioting and the declaration that queer people will not be ashamed or erased! So don’t start off with the soldier or the cop, start your anthology with the ones who don’t wield the arm of the law against queer folk! Especially egregious that this anthology seems to parody radical actions by ridiculing Snowman. I see you, DC Pride, and I’m not impressed at all by your political message…
But what about the story? Well it’s incredible really. Everyone brings their A-game (except the Snowman writers, not sure who invited them to the party) and it’s a constant treat of amazing art with a fittingly loose plotline that has powerful emotional beats and captivating snapshots of characters. I think it’s really smart to have all the different characters inhabit these different universes but still being tied through their interaction with a queer bar that’s about to shut down.
Queer bars can be a safe haven where you realize that there are lots of other people like you and can often be the first time that you get to interact with an entire room full of queer people. I remember fondly “The Hideaway”, a queer bar (near a southern city I won’t disclose, iykyk) that is incredibly hard to find where you get to escape the horrible stares of a heteronormative society and just have a good time, meet cute and interesting people who are all, finally, unabashedly themselves. The bar in this anthology is no different and I love that it’s tied to the magic of being connected to so many queer heroes as well as representing idealized escapes from a horrible world.
The multiple universes all mash together in a way that reminds me of Multiversity (I’m honestly shocked that Grant Morrison wasn’t asked to do something for this) and each art style is GORGEOUS. There are so many slices of lives rendered with endless fascinating panel compositions, letterings and swirls of colors that had me staying on each page just admiring with my mouth wide open. I love the pastiche of some of the more cartoony universes and the dominant green and red colors that have serious impact due to the themes of the Crimson and Green Lantern characters. There are also really heartfelt moments between characters who have to leave the sense of comfort they’re being provided with that is sad and nuanced and so well written.
Now. About the Snowman in the room… I’m being really harsh and I think there’s actually two ways of reading this part. The gracious interpretation would be that this is about reclaiming the ridiculousness of right wing rhetoric. Creating an image of a trans person that has very messy politics and uses every slogan imaginable without realizing that they contradict each other. It’s a very common thing in certain trans circles to disempower these ridiculous stereotypes by throwing them at each other. This activity shines a light on how ridiculous it is, makes the trans people repurposing these takes feel like they get to have power over themselves and the conversation around them and helps you cope with the nonsense. This part feels like it could be that but then there’s the less charitable interpretation. And sadly given my rant at the beginning of this review about the politics of this comic I feel like the less charitable one is correct.
The writers have a villain character, Snowman, who’s queer. So how do they write a character that’s supposed to be bad while also making it a moment of representation? Well easy, just make them a parody of all the things you actually can’t stand within the queer community. Especially the signs saying “be snow do crimes” and “gatekeep, gaslight, girl boss” being used together at a rally is just dumb because the first (ie. Be Gay Do Crime) is often used by radical leftists in legitimate calls to action. So associating it with the joke sentence “gatekeep, gaslight, girlboss” and replacing Gay with Snow, just undermines the radical slogan to be another punchline. Making fun of Snowman for the crimes they commit whenever people deny the existence of trans people also, because it makes it seem like there’s never a reason to fight back against hate speech. And let’s not forget the fact that Snowman is just in it for the money which makes their motives feel shallow and undermines their desire to support the trans community. When in reality queer crime is essential to queer identity. Look at the Queer Bash Back movement, look at the countless queer people who used to hide in the bushes to be with each other when it was illegal to be together in public and Stonewall??? So yeah, it sucks that Snowman is written this way. It is possible that both of my interpretations can exist together though and it’s really up to you if you’re laughing with or at the character. I’m curious, what do you think about this part?
The reason I’m hyperfocusing on a few criticisms and being super vague about the things I love in this comic is simple. I want you to go out and experience it yourself. I don’t want to spoil anything and I can’t recommend this story enough. Not for it’s politics… sadly. But for the fact that the writing is on point and the art backs it up like crazy.
But if that’s not enough, this anthology also contains an incredible part two from a trans elder who has been part of DC for decades. It’s so rare to hear about older trans people and it’s so heartwarming to have them share their story. It’s a deeply touching showcase of their life that stands in direct contradiction to the way that her country tries to depict trans people. I love the way that this anthology goes from a multiple universes massive scale story to the individual life of an iconic trans granny. Politically this also is so much nicer to me because it’s a real person who is simply telling their story. A person who does not exploit or harm others for their country but just lives and loves and cracks wise about growing up with crossdressing and comics. Amazing! Can’t wait to pick up her full comic the moment it comes out!
Recommended if:
You want to cry tears of joy
You want to cry tears of sadness
You want to hear trans granny share her wonderful life
Overall
Hate the politics of the big story. Love everything else. Buy this! (My score will be independent of politics though and do keep in mind that I’m much nicer with my ratings of anthologies!)
Score: 10/10
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“}]] DC Pride 2025 has a very ambitious multi universe storyline that encompasses a looooot of different writers, artists and characters. There’s also a separate… Read More