Colloquium Project

Abstract:

In a medium in which relationships with the reader are fairly dependent on physical images, it is important for said reader to feel as though they are represented in the books they read. This has been paramount for queer creators who are bringing their personal stories to the mainstream. Relationships of all types, identities, and expressions are becoming more accessible to young readers who yearn to connect these stories to their own experiences. For cartoonist Julia Kaye, the growing exposure of her graphic collection, Super Late Bloomer: My Early Days in Transition, has opened doors for other trans creators to share their experiences in a space that is growing to welcome them. I seek to address the importance of comics as a form of storytelling, as well as a tool for representation for more marginalized voices. I will additionally explore how Super Late Bloomer approaches topics of gender dysphoria, misgendering, and identity, making the collection not only a valuable work of graphic art, but also an earnest and empowering narrative of the transgender experience.