Gay Comix


 * Not to be confused with Gay Comics, published by Marvel Comics from 1945–1949.

Gay Comix (also spelled Gay Comics) was an underground comics series published from 1980–1998. Created by Howard Cruse, Gay Comix featured the work of gay, lesbian, and transsexual artists. Much of the early content was autobiographical, but more diverse themes were explored in later editions. Autobiographical themes include falling in love, coming out, repression and sex. Gay Comix also served as a source for information about non-mainstream LGBT-themed comics and events.

The contents of Gay Comix were generally about love and affection, rather than sex. It is generally less sexually explicit than the similarly themed Meatmen series of graphic novels.

Artists producing work for Gay Comix included Mary Wings, creator of the first one-off lesbian book Come Out Comix (1972) and Dyke Shorts (1976); Roberta Gregory, who created Dynamite Damsels (1976), the first lesbian underground serial comic book, and the character Bitchy Bitch; Jerry Mills, creator of Poppers; Howard Cruse, editor of the first four issues; Robert Triptow, editor of issues #5 through 13; Jennifer Camper, editor of Juicy Mother; Tim Barela, creator of Leonard & Larry; Jon Macy creator of Teleny and Camille, and Lee Marrs and Trina Robbins, two of the original members of the Wimmen's Comix Collective.

Kitchen Sink Press published the first five issues of Gay Comix; thereafter it was published by Bob Ross, publisher of the Bay Area Reporter gay newspaper.

The first four issues were edited by Cruse; issues #5 through #13 were edited by Triptow. Andy Mangels edited issues #14 to #25 and a special issue featuring Barela; Mangels changed the title to Gay Comics starting with issue #15, in part to divest it of the "underground" implications of "comix".

Excerpts from Gay Comix are included in the 1989 anthology Gay Comics.