REVIEW: ‘DC Pride 2022’

Featuring 13 stories about LGBTQIA+ characters, including Tim Drake, Alesia Yeoh, Jon Kent, and more, DC Pride 2022 is the second edition of DC’s Pride anthology. DC Pride 2022 is published by DC Comics. Since so many wonderful people have worked on this labor of love, full credits for each team are listed at the end of this review.

If you’ve been active in comics spaces online recently, you’ve probably seen the iconic panel of Alesia Yeoh saying, “Please. I’m a trans woman in Gotham. Of course, I have a weapon.” That panel comes from the “Up At Bat” story. As I previously mentioned, this is my favorite story out of the entirety of DC Pride 2022.

On her way home from the Gotham Trans Wellness Conference, Alesia runs into an injured Batgirl. Not one to leave a friend in need, she drives Batgirl back to her hideout. And when Killer Moth shows up, Alesia suits up and takes him on, showing that you don’t need to be a superhero to stand up for your friends. I love the art within this story one, because of the “I’m a trans woman” panel, and two, because of the way Yoshii illustrates Alesia’s fight with Killer Moth. She might not have Bat-fam training, but sometimes all you need is a baseball bat and fighting spirit.

Another standout story,  my second favorite of the anthology, is “A World Kept Just for Me.” Colored in a soft, dreamlike way, this story looks like what falling in love feels like. Jackson Hyde and his boyfriend, Ha’Wea, visit Ha’Wea’s home. Jackson can’t relate to Ha’Wea’s experience of having a tight-knit, supportive family because he was raised isolated from the water by a mother who wanted him to act as human as possible. She also wanted him to be straight.

Despite this, Jackson takes Ha’Wea to visit the town where he grew up. And while he can’t remove all of his bad memories of the place, he realizes that sometimes, a family can be the people you choose to love, the ones who love you unconditionally. And found family is a concept many queer people, myself included, can relate to.

There’s a lot of variety in the gender and sexuality of the characters represented in DC Pride 2022. Someone who stands out particularly is Conner Hawke, in “Think of Me,” who reveals that he’s asexual. It’s a great reminder that people on the asexual spectrum, and the aromantic spectrum, are part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Asexual and aromantic representation has improved in recent years, and continued inclusion keeps that trend going.

While some stories have melancholic moments or elements, there’s an overarching feeling of happiness. Ultimately, this anthology features stories about queer joy and hope. In a world hostile towards us, this anthology feels like a liferaft to cling to for escapism, reminding us that our existence is to be celebrated and valued.

Some companies put out Pride Month content solely for the good press. Thankfully that isn’t the case here, as DC also has a variety of upcoming stories featuring LGBTQIA+ characters. DC Pride 2022 is a well-put-together look at stories from across the wider DC Universe that feel crafted with genuine love and care. I can’t recommend it enough.

DC Pride 2022 is available now wherever comics are sold.

“Super Pride” is written by Devin Grayson, drawn by Nick Robles, colored by Triona Tree Farrell, and lettered by Aditya Bidikar. “Confessions” is written by Stephanie Williams, illustrated by Meghan Hetrick, colored by Marissa Louise, and lettered by Ariana Maher. “Think of Me” is written by Ro Stein and Ted Brandt and lettered by Frank Cvetkovic. “Up At Bat,” is written by Jadzia Axelrod, drawn by Lynne Yoshii, colored by Tamra Bonvillain, and lettered by Ariana Maher. “A World Kept Just for Me” is written by Alyssa Wong, drawn and colored by W. Scott. Forbes, and lettered by Ariana Maher. “The Gumshoe in Green: A Far Sector Mystery” is written by Tini Howard, drawn by Evan Cagle, and lettered by Lucas Gattoni. “Public Display of Electromagnetism” is written by Greg Lockard, drawn and colored by Giulio Macaione, and lettered by Aditya Bidikar.  “Bat’s in the Cradle,” is written by Stephanie Phillips, drawn by Samantha Dodge, colored by Marissa Louise, and lettered by Lucas Gattoni. “Special Delivery” is written and drawn by Travis Moore, colored by Enrica Angiolini, and lettered by Ariana Maher. “The Hunt,” is written by Dani Fernandez, drawn by Zoe Thorogood, colored by Jeremy Lawson, and lettered by Aditya Bidikar. “Are you ready for this?” is written by Danny Lore and Ivan Cohen, drawn by Brittney Williams, colored by Erica Eren Angiolini, and lettered by Ariana Maher.