NO STRAIGHT LINES: THE RISE OF QUEER COMICS
Vivian Kleiman | USA | 2021 | 79 min | ENGLISH
WATCH Q+AComics legends Alison Bechdel, Rupert Kinnard, Jennifer Camper, Mary Wings, and “the godfather of queer comics” Howard Cruse (who died in 2019) are joined by the slew of queer Next Gen Comics they inspired, in order to colour in the history of diverse thinking that flouted the often “bland vision” of mainstream production.
Able to stand in the shoes of pioneers, we are drawn into iconic moments, from the first known lesbian comic book by an out lesbian in 1973 to the first serialized queer black character in comics in 1977, as well as key shifts: syndication in the 90s, the turn-of-the-millennium dry spell, the rise of zine culture and the explosion of webcomics, and even Broadway. And we see how flashpoints like the Comics Code Authority and the AIDS epidemic affected the art wrung from hardship. As eye-popping and irreverent as its subject matter and enlivened by an immersive soundscape, this adaptation of an anthology by Justin Hall is perfect for comics lovers and aspiring artists, or simply those who appreciate a wealth of visual and verbal ingenuity (and a tight costume or two).
Q+A / VIVIAN KLEIMAN
Meet the filmmaker Vivian Kleiman, director of the documentary NO STRAIGHT LINES: THE RISE OF QUEER COMICS. An interesting and insightful talk about her work, the why and the how and more, with Montreal author Christopher DiRaddo.