Since its debut a few years ago, Prism has been issuing these "year in review" books that examine gay content in mainstream comics and offer interviews with gay/bi creators or creators who include gay characters in their comics storytelling. This volume examines 2005 and the stories, characters and creators that touched on gay/lesbian/bisexual and/or transgendered culture. It's a well-designed package, and I certainly found of the pieces to be enlightening. Others offered only a cursory glance at gay content and storytellers.
The first part of the book is a rundown of gay-related characters or events in DC and Marvel super-hero titles. As a reader of most (if not all) of the titles listed, there was little in the way of new information for yours truly, and the section felt a little light. It's limited to DC and Marvel only, with nothing from DC's Vertigo stable. And where's Image? Dark Horse? What about the gender-bending world of manga? Still, the paragraph or two about each title inclouded in the section helped to show there are some strong LGBT portrayals of characters in super-hero comics.
The interview that stood out the most for me was one with which I had a personal connection. As I made my way through the volume, I was surprised to encounter a familiar name and face: Steve MacIsaac. Apparently known for erotic gay comics, MacIsaac had lived in Japan for several years and now makes his home in California. But he was once a student at a Nova Scotia university here in Canada, the same one as me. Steve was an old media cohort at school, and I had no idea he'd travelled the world and ended up illustrating comics. It's a shame the interviewer seems to take it for granted that the reader is familiar with Steve's work. I'm not, and the interview gives me the barest of glimpses into his craft and what drew him to the medium in the first place.
There's an essay in book about homoeroticism (or a lack thereof) in the Batman/Robin dynamic of the 1940s, '50s and '60s, but the piece is really about how much the characters have changed since their Golden Age introductions. I would have to have seen more essays rather than interviews, tackling the gay-themed content in modern comics rather than the kitsch of yesteryear.
There isn't any original comics content here, but there are plenty of samples of the material that's discussed. I think commissioning a couple of original short stories for the book might be a good idea for future issues.
I think the problem with this LGBT Guide to Comics is that it tries to be all things to all people (well, OK, not to homophobes). Some of the material is clearly crafted for those who know comics and what's happening in the industry. Other pieces are designed perhaps for those unfamiliar with modern comics but interested in the cultural impact of sexuality. The names involved in the project are familiar ones; this is a book crafted by lovers of the medium. Personally, I was looking for a little more depth, not only in terms of comics commentary, but of a more personal nature from the professionals who found themselves in the spotlight. 6/10
