DC Comics begins Pride Month, beyond what the publisher has done in its celebratory anthology in the past. Previous anthology was merely a collection of short stories by LGBTQIA creators featuring strange DC characters. It was just as fun as the previous anthology, but DC Pride 2025 still collaborates with the boldest creators.
DC Pride 2025 begins with Green Lantern/Alan Scott visiting an old hangout in the LGBTQIA community with a transman called Ethan Rivera. This triggers a (probably magic) response in the universe by showing Ethan where he and Johnny Rudd (actually the Red Lantern/Vladimir Sokov) carved their hearts into the wall in 1936. More specifically, the walls are infused with energy from both Star Heart and Crimson’s flames, creating alternative reality for many of the DCU’s strange heroes and villains. But like everything else that happens in the DCU, it’s not all visible.
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Through collaborations between Vita Ayala, Tim Sheridan, Josh Trujillo, Maya Houston, Don Aguillo, Alex Moore, Vincent Cecil, and many more creators, each of the short stories is actually a little story with a much larger story. More specifically, each creator focuses on one or two strange characters from the DC universe, covering a wide range of LGBTQIA experiences. This is where alternative reality plays a key role. Each world explores the hopes and fears of each hero and villain.
For example, the world of Sojourner “Jo” Mullein explores her desire to be loved and accepted, despite originally choosing solitude. The world of Alan Scott explores his desire to retire from superhero to spend a stolen life with Johnny Rudd before he learns that he is a Red Lantern. His story also explores how important it is to accept that some relationships are not intended and to accept the importance of coming to an agreement with loss. Even a red lantern (or rather, a crimson flame) explores the dangerous ways that strange people can maradap when faced with a challenge. Blue Snowman in particular explores maladaptive methods to seek acceptance.
What really stands out about individual stories is the way they accurately capture the complex emotions that come with LGBTQIA experiences, including intersectionality. One thread that repeats in every story is the need for acceptance, but fears the consequences of genuine life in a world still hostile to the LGBTQIA community. This would be twice as many (even triple) for those who are members of multiple marginalized groups, such as being trans Latinas (as in Ethan Rivera’s case) or black lesbians.
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Related to these issues is the experience of anger and frustration at the world, particularly in Congress, that advocate for classifying people into strict binaries, while fiercely erasing the larger spectrum of sexual and gender identity. This is explored more deeply in the Bruce Snowman story, but one story that cuts deeper into how this feels is Jenny Blake’s non-fiction autobiographical story.
Most comic book fans are already familiar with Blake’s work as Tony Isabella, as they created iconic characters such as Black Lightning and Mystinight. Both are adapted to television. Blake’s long journey into transition and life as a real self is a universally shared experience among many people identifying as trans, non-binary, and gender fluids.
What really goes home with Blake’s autobiographical account is the internalization of transphobia and the social pressure to comply with the sex assigned at birth, spending your life believing that something is wrong with you. I also have the very real experience of being able to feel comfortable wearing clothes that make me feel more comfortable due to the safety and comfort of my home.
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But in addition to Blake’s painful explanation of living in a world that doesn’t embrace trans people, she also highlights the importance of the community and the fact that she has a healthy support system. Many times, through our most important relationships, many trans and LGBTQIA people ultimately find self-acceptance and confidence, and the confidence to live their lives openly and truly openly.
The last thing that makes DC Pride 2025 a must read is the end of the comic fan account that spotlights how superhero comics have helped them throughout the course of their lives. Overall, DC Comics actually made an announcement at DC Pride 2025. Previous anthology was a joy to read every year, but this year’s complications set the bar even higher.
DC Pride 2025 fully captures the LGBTQIA experience
DC Pride 2025
DC Pride 2025 sets even higher bars as highly acclaimed comic creators explore the complex lives of the LGBTQIA community through both fiction and non-fiction.
Powerful collaborations between LGBTQIA creators tell big stories through small stories.
Very attractive artwork in bright colors from various artists.
Every story explores the complex layers of the LGBTQIA experience.
It features a heartfelt autobiography of Tony Isabella’s transition to Jenny Blake.
It features DC fans’ stories about how Superhero Comics changed their lives.
