DC Pride 2023 Honors all kinds of queer love.
Starting with a poignant foreword by comics legend Phil Jimenez, DC Pride 2023 #1 offers necessary background for the entire anthology. Jimenez not only writes about his own experience being a gay man in the comics business but also notes the very real political problems queer people in the United States face this year, including a record number of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation proposed on the state and federal levels. DC Pride 2023, despite its corporate shine, feels like a radical statement of gay love, joy, and even rage in the face of a society that would deny that love, joy, and even wrath given political reality. Readers will find the romantic love of Earth-36's Flashlight and Red Racer in a story by Grant Morrison, Hayden Sherman, Marissa Louise, and Aditya Bidikar in the pages of this anthology as well as the vow renewal of Midnighter and Apollo in "Anniversary" by Josh Trujillo, Don Aguillo, and Lucas Gattoni. They will also come across tales about queer friendship (and rivalry) including Tim Drake, Connor Hawke, Nubia, newcomer Jules Jourdain, and more. "And Baby Makes Three" by Leah Williams, Paulina Ganucheau, and Frank Cvetkovic tells Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy as gay mentors to Lobo's daughter Crush, and is especially wonderful.
All of this to say that DC Pride 2023 #1's strength comes from how it highlights a spectrum of queer relationships—some romantic, yes, but many platonic, some petty, some familial, and all rendered via the eyes of real queer people rather than from traditionally-wrought superhero romances that just so happen to feature LGBTQ+ characters. More than that, these people have actual history; that history has given all of DC's Pride offerings over the years gravitas and depth. Some of these folks are decades old; "Hey, Stranger" by Nadia Shammas, Bruka Jones, Tamra Bonvillain, and Frank Cvetkovic is made all the more appealing knowing Tim Drake and Connor Hawke's team-ups from the 1990s. This is an important anthology because of such kind of diagetic and otherwise history.
DC Pride 2023: A Moving Anthology
DC Pride 2023 #1, with a grab-bag of stories, essays, pin-ups, and more, is the publisher's third Pride anthology—and its most meaningful yet. Another winter has passed, hence it is time once more to honor the annual DC Comics Pride anthology. Third Pride anthology from the publisher, DC Pride 2023 #1 is maybe the greatest and most significant yet.
Over the past few years, especially as DC keeps adding LGBTQ+ characters, series, and authors to its roster, DC's annual Pride anthologies have grown increasingly highly-anticipated. Though queer characters feature and even star in DC books year-round—the critically-acclaimed Poison Ivy ongoing launched as part of DC Pride line-up—DC Pride 2023 #1 is an intentional celebration of these characters' queerness, as well as a chance for the publisher to highlight both veteran and up-and-coming queer creators. This year's collection moves between the joyful and the angry, the lighthearted and the bittersweet, all with grace, humor, and pure, queer fun from a grab-bag of stories, essays, pin-ups, and remembrances.
Superhero History meets queer history.
The tribute to trans hero and former Doom Patrol writer Rachel Pollack, who passed earlier this year, stands out as DC Pride 2023 #1 respects its own gay past. Saying everything about DC's goals with this year's Pride line-up, the eight entire pages devoted to memories of Pollack—a trans woman who made a real influence on other very real people—say Like Green Arrow Connor Hawke, DC's ambition is real, producing the best Pride anthology ever. The waiting for DC Pride 2024 starts now.
Right now DC Comics has DC Pride 2023 #1 available!
Related: The Love Face of Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn Tests Knighth Terrorists Ultimate Challenge
Now available from DC Comics is DC Pride 2023 #1!
The Love Face of Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn Tests KNIGHT TERRORS Ultimate Challenge.
