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This Artist Creates Comics Showcasing The Joys Of Being Transgender Despite Hardships (30 Pics)
Interview With ArtistAn open conversation about gender identity is crucial to normalizing this topic. Artists like Riri, the creator of the insightful and often emotional series Alienby Comics, showcase an honest portrayal of the transformation process and the range of feelings that come with it—both the joys and challenges.
You might find this series very relatable. Even if this topic doesn’t directly concern you, you might be interested in learning about the struggles some of your friends or family members are going through and how to empathize with or possibly help them. These comics are a great source of knowledge.
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Kid, you ain't just gonna be pretty, you are gonna be a beautiful individual. You have seen the future and it looks beautiful, even you know it deep within you.
We reached out to Riri to ask some questions regarding their comic series. Firstly, the artist gave us some insight into themes and motifs recurring in their work: “The underlying themes of my comics are the joys of being transgender despite hardships. There’s always an element of transformation in my work: of bodies, of beliefs, of feelings, of treatment by others. These big life changes can be jarring and uncertain, but I focus on the brighter side and the good and funny things that can happen with these changes. Trans people like me need joy right now!”
Good for you! Being comfortable in your own authentic skin is a blessing that some people sadly do not have.
The creator of the ‘Alienby Comics’ shared how they come up with ideas for new strips: “A lot of ideas for my comics come from real life experience, albeit with a bit of fantastical [flair] to capture the big feelings of experiences. Other ideas come from re-telling stories of well-known characters through a queer lens, often making existing subtext the literal text.”
I don't think a character has to explicitly say that they are trans/NB/queer etc, and if trans people find comfort in Gwen being trans, whats wrong with that?
All characters are trans unless explicitly stated in the source material to be cis, sorry but I don't make the rules.
Load More Replies...As cool as it would be, Spider-Gwen ain't trans, she's afab. Tbh, I don't know if any mainline marvel heroes are. DC has a few though, like Dreamer and Galaxy.
Why should Spider-Gwen be trans? Maybe Alienby is just a big Spider-Gwen fan? Or she can identify well with Gwen's dual identities and struggles?
Load More Replies...Riri shared that most of their comics are semi-autobiographical, featuring themselves and their real-life loved ones as characters. However: “Other characters are parodies of recognizable pop culture characters, like superheroes or video game characters.”
Yeah, I used to wear a big thick beard to cover most of my face cos I could never work out why it seemed wrong and not mine.
Lastly, the artist shared with us what they believe makes humor an effective medium for storytelling: “I believe positive feelings carry more weight and can be more memorable and persuasive than negative ones. People are more likely to want to engage with things that brighten their day and lighten their load. Funny and heartwarming stories are effective at relieving some of life’s tension.”
This is brilliant. They should have made one of the versions of the game like this.
Poor Vixen, she's so sad. Until she's finally free. Free to be herself.
IDIC - "Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations". The Vulcans have it right. And reading Science Fiction from a very early age, and making friends with plethoras of unfamiliar aliens, does wonders for developing tolerance.
This is the sweetest thing I hav ever seen and I absolutely love it.
It's pretty obvious on rewatching the 1980s Little Mermaid that Ariel never really cared about Eric. She just wanted to be human!
That dress is so pretty even in the drawing!! I can’t draw clothes but especially skirts/ruffles, I’m so jealous.
ok actually always eating the same thing can be a sign of something called ARFID, Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. It's separate from autism. (incidentally, I originally spelled 'separate' as 'seperate' - I forget exactly what just that it was misspelled - which was 'corrected' to 'desperate'.)
I can definitely see why it would be a hard step to take for some, I feel that one might feel pushed into surgery and hormones despite it not being needed by the individual, though at the same time it is great that it is an option for those who do want it.
As fun as these are, I find it odd to change the backstories of pre-existing characters.
If someone struggles with that, I recommend permanent laser hair removal
Being trans is wonderful and terrifying. Every day we fight with ourselves and the world. We listen to politicians call us freaks and call for our removal from society, religious leaders denouncing and negating our very existence, influencers trying to depict us as dangerous. Every day we have to choose between safety and expression, knowing that going out performing our real gender would be dangerous, but if we don't our own brain will try to kill us later. We want to just cuddle up, being left alone while we try our hardest to become ourselves, but rarely the world allows us this privilege. Yet being trans is beautiful. It's a voyage of self discovery and self forging, it's looking deeply inside yourself, digging deep and becoming aware of who you really are, despite what the society is telling you. It's taking your own life in your hands, and accept what you are. It's exhilarating and affirming and scary and dangerous. Is the adventure of a lifetime and I will never regret it
We are something society has taught people to fear: the embodiment of self-determination, refusing our assigned roles and finding our own path. We are free in a way that those who abide instead can never know. A way that many of them never feel any need to seek out, as they are content with that assigned role. Don't fear us, see what we represent: the freedom to be you outside of the boundaries set for you by others!
Load More Replies...Thank you for these lovely cartoons. You already had an ally in me, but these explain things so beautifully.
Thank you for being an ally. Now go out there and actually talk to some trans people in your life ^^
Load More Replies...I think Bored Panda has deleted a lot of comments that have a different take on the transgender issue. That's really disappointing, because debate only flourishes when all views can be discussed. Things might get interesting though when, according to expectation, Donald Trump will become President.
There is no "debate". They are human beings, and reputable scientists (which rightwing fanatics are not) verify Trans existence as normal and natural. Your ignorance and bigotry doesn't change or refute reality.
Load More Replies...These are beautiful. I’m currently trying to figure out my gender (I think I’m nonbinary but not totally sure?) and these really feel validating.
Remember, my dear: gender is a travel and an experience. You can experience it differently in different stages in your life. Explore, discover, look inside yourself and outside, to our wonderful community. Don't let world's expentancy to chain you down.
Load More Replies...Being trans is wonderful and terrifying. Every day we fight with ourselves and the world. We listen to politicians call us freaks and call for our removal from society, religious leaders denouncing and negating our very existence, influencers trying to depict us as dangerous. Every day we have to choose between safety and expression, knowing that going out performing our real gender would be dangerous, but if we don't our own brain will try to kill us later. We want to just cuddle up, being left alone while we try our hardest to become ourselves, but rarely the world allows us this privilege. Yet being trans is beautiful. It's a voyage of self discovery and self forging, it's looking deeply inside yourself, digging deep and becoming aware of who you really are, despite what the society is telling you. It's taking your own life in your hands, and accept what you are. It's exhilarating and affirming and scary and dangerous. Is the adventure of a lifetime and I will never regret it
We are something society has taught people to fear: the embodiment of self-determination, refusing our assigned roles and finding our own path. We are free in a way that those who abide instead can never know. A way that many of them never feel any need to seek out, as they are content with that assigned role. Don't fear us, see what we represent: the freedom to be you outside of the boundaries set for you by others!
Load More Replies...Thank you for these lovely cartoons. You already had an ally in me, but these explain things so beautifully.
Thank you for being an ally. Now go out there and actually talk to some trans people in your life ^^
Load More Replies...I think Bored Panda has deleted a lot of comments that have a different take on the transgender issue. That's really disappointing, because debate only flourishes when all views can be discussed. Things might get interesting though when, according to expectation, Donald Trump will become President.
There is no "debate". They are human beings, and reputable scientists (which rightwing fanatics are not) verify Trans existence as normal and natural. Your ignorance and bigotry doesn't change or refute reality.
Load More Replies...These are beautiful. I’m currently trying to figure out my gender (I think I’m nonbinary but not totally sure?) and these really feel validating.
Remember, my dear: gender is a travel and an experience. You can experience it differently in different stages in your life. Explore, discover, look inside yourself and outside, to our wonderful community. Don't let world's expentancy to chain you down.
Load More Replies...