In anticipation of the 2025 American Library Association (ALA) conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ONI Press unveiled its latest pre-order exclusive product collection, celebrating genderqueer and other notable works of bestselling graphic novels from cartoonist Maia Kobabe. This ONI initiative is part of the publisher’s ongoing battle censorship and I’m reading the Comics Initiative. A portion of the proceeds from this exclusive March Collection benefits the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF) and the Florida Freedom To Project (FFTRP).
Kobabe’s graphic memoir, Gender Queer, is a heartfelt, personal account of self-identity, first released in 2019, and has since garnered widespread critical acclaim despite its continued attack on the content of the work, which is unfounded (in my opinion). However, Oni stood in an ingenious court attempt at Kobabe’s Stonewall Book Award-winning graphic novel, combat and victory censorship attempts.
Genderqueer in particular was at the heart of Virginia’s indecent litigation. This is a case successfully defended by the CBLDF, and concluded that attempts to censor work in 2022 were unconstitutional. This was followed by labeling it as “the most banned book in American schools.”
“Freedom to read, access to information, freedom of learning are some of the most important rights in this country,” said Kobabe, who knows one or two about the ban on books as mentioned above. “Deleting books from schools and public libraries blocks people’s access to knowledge about the wider world and their lives within it. This is especially true for topics where books that are being deleted are less drawn to minority identities or popular culture. Free to write!”
Hunter Gollinson, president and publisher of ONI, said, “For almost a century, comics as art form have played a key role in defending the national ideals of freedom of speech, equality and anti-recognitionism. The press and fellow publishers to protect free expression across our comics and our media. We are proud to support the comic book legal defense fund and the freedom of Florida to read projects with our ongoing “censorship of battles, reading comics initiatives.”
Both Kobabe and Oni are excited to stand with CBLDF and FFTRP in the ongoing battle for free speech in the comic world. This month, Kobabe will be participating in ONI as a special guest at the ALA Conference, which will be held from June 26th to June 30th, 2025.
Fight censorship and read comic-specific products featuring genderqueer
ONI’s new collection features over 15 exclusive items, including unprecedented t-shirt designs by Kobabe. It comes in three unique artist-curated colorways and sizes to suit all bodies (XS to XXXL).
Photo Credit: ONI Press
Additionally, the pre-order exclusive collection of fight censorship, read comics includes genderqueer patches, enamel pins, keychains, and signed and numbered copies of Genderqueer: Deluxe Edition hardcover.
Photo Credit: Oni Press Photo Credit: Oni Press
Plus, don’t miss ONI’s high-quality 18×24-inch gicle prints that showcase the shed’s inspirational “fighting censorship, reading cartoons” artwork.
Photo Credit: ONI Press
This collection is available online only at Onipress.com. Anyone who supports the right to read can pre-order from June 17, 2025 to Friday, August 20, 2025 to September.
ONI will also be creating a Select, Advance Edition for some items that will be available for early sales at San Diego Comic-Con in July.
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