Women and Nonbinary Creators Breaking Comics Barriers

It’s no secret — even in 2022, comic books are still a “boy’s club.” Much like video games, you’ll find significantly more men creating comics than any other gender identity. That said, the industry is slowly but surely diversifying, with women, nonbinary, and trans creators making their mark and amplifying the voices of the marginalized.

We’re starting to see a much-needed change in the landscape, and we can only hope said change never plateaus. As the range of perspective widens in comics, the stories can only get better. The following list of women, nonbinary, and trans creators shows a group of individuals who are courageously paving the way for more voices in the comic book world.

Gail Simone

Gail Simone is, hands down, a comic book legend. Simone has over two decades of experience under her belt and is a staple of geekdom. She got her start at?Marvel Comics?while working on?Deadpool?in 2003. After a short-lived stint at Marvel, Gail switched to?DC, penning?Birds of Prey?from #56. In 2007, Gail started writing for?Wonder Woman?from issue #14 and on, solidifying herself as the longest-running female writer for the titular character.?

Additionally, Gail wrote a new?Batgirl?issue with Barbara Gordon in 2011. She introduced Alysia Yeoh, the first trans character written in mainstream comics through a contemporary lens.?

Hot on the heels of?Birds of Prey, Gail penned a?Lara Croft?series,?Tomb Raider, for Dark Horse Comics. She’s also written for?Red Sonja?and?The Simpsons?comics. In short, Gail Simone kicks ass, and she’s left an indelible mark on the comic book industry. Plus, her Twitter account is top-tier.?

Melanie Gillman?

You might know Melanie Gillman’s 2017 creation,?As the Crow Flies, which tells the tale of Charlie. Charlie’s a queer, Black 13-year-old girl stranded at an all-white Christian youth backpacking camp. What started as a webcomic morphed into a graphic novel, with the American Library Association granting?As the Crow Flies?a Stonewall Book Award in 2018.

They’re also the author of?Stage Dreams, published in 2019, a lesbian Western graphic novel centered on Flor and Grace, a Latinx outlaw and a trans runaway who team up to thwart a Confederate plot in New Mexico Territory.?

Melanie is a cartoonist with an MFA in comics from the Center for Cartoon Studies and currently resides in Columbus, Ohio. Their artwork is undeniably gorgeous, and their stories are wonderfully diverse and touching. We need more representation in comics, and Melanie provides that in spades.?

Sophie Labelle

Sophie Labelle, a French-Canadian author, is most known for creating?Assigned Male?comics and its offshoot?Serious Trans Vibes. These comics have been in the public sphere since 2014, with 11 issues total. In addition to drawing comics, she’s also a children’s book author and novelist.

Notable works include?My Dad Thinks I’m a Boy?!?about seven-year-old Stephie, whose father mistakes her for a boy. Stephie is the star of the?Assigned Male?comics, and this book marks the beginning of her transition.?

Ciel in All Directions?features nonbinary teen Ciel, the best friend of Stephie, whose life blossoms while in high school.?

Sophie’s also a public speaker, lecturing to audiences ranging from kindergarten to university. There aren’t many trans creators in the mainstream comic book industry, and Sophie shines a light on trans stories and empowers trans youth to live life as their most authentic selves.?

Joyce Chin

?Joyce Chin works as a cover artist, inker, colorist, and comic book penciler in the industry. Her prolific career spans almost three decades, dating back to 1995. Joyce boasts quite the resume, including heavy-hitters like?Marvel,?DC, Dark Horse, Dynamite, and IDW Publishing.

You might recognize her work if you love?Red Sonja,?Wynonna Earp,?Tomb Raider,?Xena: Warrior Princess, and?Vampirella. She also collaborates frequently with fellow comic book titan Gail Simone. Some of her Marvel creations include 2014’s?X-Men?vs.?Hulk, as an artist, and?Hulk Team-Up #1?in 2009, which she penciled.?

You’d be hard-pressed to find a comics career as diversified as Joyce’s, especially considering who she’s worked for in the industry. It’s downright impressive.?

N.K. Jemisin

N.K. Jemisin made a splash in the literary world, and now she’s dipping her toes into the comic book pool. Most known for?Broken Earth, a science fiction trilogy, N.K. recently penned?Far Sector #1-12?with Jamal Campbell via?DC Comics?in 2019.?Far Sector?is a 12-issue sci-fi murder mystery featuring Green Lantern Sojourner “Jo” Mullein. Sojourner protects the City Enduring, a metropolis with 500 years of peace under its belt.

How did it accomplish such a feat? By removing the ability to feel from its citizens. So, when violence strikes, Sojourner’s thrust into an unraveling mystery. This innovative?Green Lantern?series received a 2021 Eisner Award nomination for Best Limited Series.?

N.K. is an immensely gifted writer, spinning intricate sci-fi worlds and immersive stories. While her foray into comic books is just starting, I have no doubt her future is bright.?

Kelly Sue DeConnick?

Like Gail Simone and Joyce Chin, Kelly Sue DeConnick is a comic book veteran, with her storied career including runs with?Marvel, Dark Horse, and?DC Comics. On the Marvel side of things, she wrote for?Captain Marvel,?Spider-Man, and?Captain America.?

However, her most notable work is?Bitch Planet?via Image Comics, which she created in 2014 with Valentine De Landro. The story centers on a dystopian Earth wherein noncompliant women get shipped off-world to a planet-prison.?

Kelly’s work stretches from niche to mainstream, showcasing her versatility as a writer and creator. In addition to developing the lore of well-known characters such as Captain Marvel and?Aquaman, she is also the creator of?#VisibleWomen, a signal-boosting social media initiative. She’s a genuine trailblazer in the comic book world.?

Who are your favorite women, nonbinary, and trans comic book creators? Let us know in the comments below and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!