Gay Comix

Gay Comix #1 was published in September 1980 by Kitchen Sink Press. It was 36 pages long and sold for $1.25. The cover art was by Rand Holmes.

It opened with a note from Howard Cruse:

Each artist speaks for himself or herself. No one speaks for any mythical ‘average’ homosexual. No one speaks for the Gay Movement…. In drawing this book, we gay cartoonists would like to affirm that we are here, and that we live lives as strewn with India inked pratfalls, flawed heroics, and surreptitious truths as the rest of the human race.

The cartoonists and stories featured were:

• "Stick in the Mud" by Lee Marrs
• "Reunion" by Roberta Gregory
• "Billy Goes Out" by Howard Cruse
• "When You’re in Love, the Whole World is Lavender" by Roberta Gregory

Themes touched on in this issue include coming out and settling down, in ‘Stick in the Mud.’ Grief and cruising, in ‘Billy Goes Out,’ and hope for a more tolerant future in ‘When You’re in love, the Whole World is Lavender.’[9]

Gay Comix #2 was published in November 1981 by Kitchen Sink Press. It was edited by Howard Cruse, who also did the cover art. It had a cover price of $1.50. The cartoons and artists featured were:

• "Jerry Mack" by Howard Cruse
• "Castroids" by Robert Triptow
• "Unnatural Desires!" by Roberta Gregory
• "Getting Domestic" by Howard Cruse
• "For Keeps and Forever" by Lee Marrs

Themes addressed in this issue include domestic partnered life in ‘Getting Domestic,’ internalized homophobia in ‘Jerry Mack,’ and experimentation in ‘Unnatural Desires!'[10]

Gay Comix #3 was published in December 1982 by Kitchen Sink Press. It was 44 pages long and had a cover price of $2. Howard Cruse was the editor. The cover art was done by Burton Clark. Gay Comix #3 was the first issue to include notes from its readers. The comics and artists featured in this issue were:

• "My Deadly Darling Dyke" by Lee Mars
• "Weekend Revolutionaries" by Kurt Erichsen
• "Castroids" by Robert Triptow (Two short Castroids comics were featured in this issue.)
• "I’m Me" by David Kottler
• "One for Sorrow" by Patrick Marcel
• "I Always Cry at Movies" by Howard Cruse
• "Necropolitan Life" by Billy Fugate
• "The Tale of Cha-Lee and Sat-yah" by Demian
• "As the World Grinds to a Halt" by Cheela Smith
• "Another Coming Out Story" by Roberta Gregory
• "Dirty Old Lovers" by Howard Cruse
• "Watch Out" by Vaughn Frick

Some of the themes addressed in this issue were activism, in ‘Weekend Revolutionaries’ and the pickup or cruising scene in ‘Castroids.’ This issue included a very positive comic about a gay trans man and his journey through transition. It shows a trans man in a committed, happy relationship living a normal, well-adjusted life.[11]

Gay Comix #4 was published by Kitchen Sink Press in November 1983. It was 44 pages long and sold for $2. Howard Cruse was the editor and Vaughn Frick did the cover illustration. It included the following comics and artists:

• "Poppers" by Jerry Mills
• "Scrapbook: Andy and I" by Jim Yost
• "Networking" by Lee Mars
• "Ode to Phyllis Anne" by Joe Sinardi
• "Walls" by Rick Campbell
• "A Word from our Sponsor" by Jackie Urbanovic and “Bird”
• "Murphey’s Manor" by Kurt Erichsen
• "Ready or Not, Here It Comes" by Howard Cruse
• "Etiquette" by Jennifer Camper
• "Stan Stone" by Vaughn Frick
• "The Unicorn Tapestry" by Roberta Gregory
• "Billie" by Jim Yost

Some notable themes in this issue were struggling with being in the closet, in Ode to Phyllis Anne and Walls. ‘A Word From Our Sponsor’ was a parody commercial for a product a lesbian could use to “de-dyke” her home in a hurry. The issue also touched on the topic of AIDS and safe sex in ‘Ready or Not.’[6]

Gay Comix #5 was published by Kitchen Sink Press in 1984. The editor was Robert Triptow, and the cover art was by T.O. Sylvester. It included the following stories and artists:

• "It’s Attitude" by Michael J. Goldberg
• "Leonard and Larry in Revenge of the Yenta" by Tim Barela
• "Just Because" by Roberta Gregory
• "Binnie Blinkers" by Richard Valley
• "Zen and the Art of Bush Sex" by Demain
• "Mesozoic Rescue" by Michele Lloyd
• "Simply Beastly" by T.O. Sylvester
• "Poppers" by Jerry Mills
• "Cabbage Patch Clone" by Howard Cruse
• "Better Times" by R. Campbell
• "When Worlds Collide" by Robert Triptow
• "Hot Summer Night" by Camper

Some of the themes in this issue were relations between gay men and lesbians, and gay men and their mothers, in ‘Revenge of the Yenta’ and ‘When Worlds Collide.’ This issue also discusses homophobia in ‘Just Because’ and ‘Binnie Blinkers.’[12]

Gay Comix #6 was published in November 1985 by Bob Ross. It was edited by Robert Triptow. This issue had a cover price of $2. The cover was illustrated by J Mills. Comics included in this issue were:

• "Tommy Teene" by Trina Robbins
• "Gideon and Friends" by Joe Sinardi
• "Terminal Lesbian Couple-itus" by Leslie Ewing
• "Leonard and Larry" by Tom Barela
• "The Sparkle Sisters: Stain on the Sofa" by Kurt Erichsen
• "The Elves and the Leathermaker" by Michael J. Goldberg and Richard Cornwell
• "Wendel in Shopping for Cornflakes" by Howard Cruse

Some of the topics and themes in this issue were anti-gay buzzwords used in marketing to show covert homophobia in ‘Shopping for Cornflakes,’ and the joys and pitfalls that come along with being in a lesbian couple in ‘Terminal Couple-Itus.’[13]

Gay Comix #7 was published in Spring 1986 by Bob Ross. It was edited by Robert Triptow. Donelan did the cover illustration. This issue had a cover price of $2. This issue included the following comics:

• "Leonard and Larry" by Tim Barela
• "Jayson Gets a Visitor" by J.A. Krell
• "Night Moves" by Donelan
• "Bi Bi Baby" by Robert Triptow
• "Late One Nite" by Roberta Gregory
• "Love Bait" by Michael Goldberg
• "The Sparkle Spinsters: Home Movies" by Kurt Erichsen
• "The Discussion Group" by Donelan
• "Swishy Fishy in Love Bait" by Michael J. Goldberg

Gay Comix #7 touched on AIDS in ‘Late One Night,’ bisexuality in ‘Bi Bi Baby,’ and coming out in ‘The Discussion Group.[14]

Gay Comix #8 was published in Summer 1986 by Bob Ross and was edited by Robert Triptow. The cover illustration was done by Kalynn. This issue was titled SUPER Gay Comix and all of the comics featured a superhero of some kind. Comics in this issue included:

• "The Sparkle Spinsters: A Midsummer Night’s Super Stud" by Kurt Erichsen
• "Fa-a-abuous Four" by Robert Triptow
• "+Persons" by Robert Triptow
• "Swishy Meets the Caped Cod" by Michael J. Goldberg
• "JaysonMan and ArenaWoman ...An Epicene Epic" by J.A. Krell

Comics in this issue included topics like gay bashing, in “JaysonMan and ArenaWoman,’ and AIDS in ‘+Persons,’ where a group of superhero-esque figures go to “cheer up terminal patients” at the hospital, but are forbidden by their leader to think about the grim realities of AIDS.[15] SUPER GAY Comix was later referenced in a prank call by the Jerky Boys.[16]

Gay Comix #9 was a special issue of the collected cartoons of Jerry Mills, titled Poppers. It was published in Winter 1986 by Bob Ross and edited by Robert Triptow. It had a cover price of $2.[17]

Gay Comix #10 was published in Spring 1987 by Bob Ross and edited by Robert Triptow. The cover illustration was done by Peter Keane. Issue #10 had a cover price of $2. Comics in this issue included:

• "A Donelan Look at Women" by Donelan
• "Satyr" by Burton Clarke
• "I Know You Are But What am I?" by Robert Triptow
• "Castro" by Bruce Billings
• "Jayson Dykes It Out" by J.A. Krell
• "The Gay In the Street" by Howard Cruse
• "The Crush" by Alison Bechdel
• "Leonard and Larry" by Tim Barela
• "Mindy and Millie" by Roberta Gregory
• "A Donelan Look at Men"
• "Swishy Fishy Fashion Cutout" by Michael J. Goldberg

Comics in this issue covered topics like the agony of a crush in ‘The Crush,’ and monogamy in Leonard and Larry.[18]

Gay Comix #11 was published in Winter 1987 by Bob Ross and edited by Robert Triptow. It had a cover price of $2. Comics included in this issue were:

• "Second Chance?" by Howard Stangroom and Stephen Lowther
• "Mid Dyke Crisis" by Leslie Ewing
• "Wee Wee’s Gayhouse" by Robert Triptow and Michael J. Goldberg
• "Let’s Get Visible" by Roberta Gregory
• "Jayson’s New Neighbor" by J.A. Krell
• "Fruitboy" by Robert Triptow
• "Lavendar Booties" by Angela Bocage

This issue discussed topics like homophobia and coming out of the closet, in ‘Let’s Get Visible.’[19]

Gay Comix #12 was published in Spring/Summer 1988 by Bob Ross and edited by Robert Triptow. It had a cover price of $2.50. The cover illustration was by Brad Parker. Comics included in this issue were:

• "Jayson Gets Engaged" by J.A. Krell
• "Future Shock Part 1" by Roberta Gregory
• "Romance in the Age of AIDS" by Leslie Ewing
• "Castroids" by Robert Triptow
• "The Sparkle Spinsters: In the Ghetto" by Kurt Erichsen
• "The All Unkind" by Michael J. Goldberg
• "Harry and Ken" by Howard Stangroom and Stephen Lowther

This issue covered topics such as illegal love under oppressive governments in ‘Future Shock,’ and lesbian safe sex in the face of AIDS in ‘Romance in the Age of AIDS.’[20]

Gay Comix #13 was published in Summer 1988 by Bob Ross and edited by Robert Triptow. It had a cover price of $2.50. The cover illustration was by Michael Goldberg. It had the tagline ‘Torrid Tales of Politically Incorrect Love.’ Comics included in this issue were:

• "Our Love Was Too Cosmic" by Vaughn Frick and Michael J. Goldberg
• "Future Shock Part 2" by Roberta Gregory
• "Birds of a Feather" by Robert Triptow
• "Tea and Sympathy" by Groc
• "Acquired Pronoun Deficiency Syndrome" by Michael J. Goldberg
• "My Boss" by Blue
• "Stonewall Riots" by Andrea Natalie
• "Bocage's Boys of the Bioregions," Conceptual Porn Series, Presents: Mission Accomplished by Angela Bocage

This issue covered topics such as homophobic bosses in ‘My Boss,’ and pronouns in ‘Acquired Pronoun Deficiency Syndrome.’[21]

Gay Comix #14 was published in Winter 1991 by Bob Ross. It was the first to be edited by Andy Mangels. As of issue 14, Gay Comix was to be moved to a regular quarterly publishing schedule, as opposed to the yearly and sporadic schedule it had kept up until that point. This was also the last issue to be titled Gay Comix; later issues were spelled Gay Comics. Mangels changed the title to Gay Comics in part to divest it of the "underground" implications of "comix". Gay Comix #14 had a cover price of $2.50. The cover was designed by Roberta Gregory.

This issue included the following works:

• "Ride the Wild Surf" by Howard Stangroom and Stephen Lowther
• "The Chosen Family: The Wonder If I Am Years" by Noreen Stevens
• "Peace of Mind" by Andy Mangles and Stan Shaw
• "Dyke Dating Game" by Jacki Randall
• "Angriest Dyke" by Jacki Randall
• "Grizzly & Ted" by Tim Barella
• "Future Shock" by Roberta Gregory
• "The Chosen Family: Tabloids" by Noreen Stevens
• "Camper" by Jennifer Camper
• "I Wonder" by Joan Hilty
• "Castro Street 2000" by Michael J Goldberg and Vaughn Frick
• "Mid Dyke Crisis" by Leslie Ewing
• "Bernie" by Dave Young
• "Stonewall Riots" by Andrea Natalie
• "Mistress Silver" by J.D. March
• "Teats" by J.D. March
• "Two Gay Dorks in Fezzes" by Howard Cruse

This issue explored themes including first young heartbreak and realizing your sexuality in ‘Chosen Family: Wonder If I Am Years.’ It dealt with AIDS and the horrible anxiety of not knowing your status as positive or negative in ‘Peace of Mind.’[22]

In addition to the regular issues, there were special issues, the first devoted to Leonard and Larry, a strip by Tim Barela. In his review of the special for The Comics Journal, Ray Mescallado called Leonard & Larry “consistently the high point of Gay Comix whenever it appeared,” and noted that Leonard & Larry “proposes something even more radical than an openly gay superhero: plausible gay characters in ordinary situations.” He finished his review saying that “Gay Comix Special 1 could well be the feel good comic of the year.”[23]

The second special issue was devoted to the work of Alison Bechdel.

Gay Comix was “one of the first undergrounds to look at life from a gay and lesbian perspective.”[24] It aimed to and succeeded in showing gay and lesbian people in as normal a light as anyone else. According to Cruse, “we wanted to reflect the feelings real people have. Gay people have been presented stereotypically so much you’d never know that we’re perfectly normal people.”[5]

Also historically significant is that Alison Bechdel, one of the most well-known lesbian comic artists alive saw Gay Comix as an inspiration for her own work. In the Comics Journal No. 282, Bechdel says: "I got out of college in 1981 and went into a gay and lesbian bookstore one day and found an issue of Gay Comix- I think it was the first one, that Howard Cruse had edited- and that was pretty mindblowing. It hadn't occurred to me at that point to put together my penchant for silly drawings with my personal life and my political interest in gay and lesbian issues, but there were these people who were doing it: Howard Cruse and Roberta Gregory and all those early Gay Comix artists...I'm very grateful to them for all that groundbreaking work.[25]