If only nonfiction books were as accessible as Criswell’s Queer as All Get out, I think there’d be way more people interested in learning about historical figures. In this graphic novel, Criswell highlights 10 people from history who were part of the LGBTQIAP+ community, paired with tales of their own struggles and immersive artwork that will make readers study the pages like it’s a “Where’s Waldo” book.
From the moment I picked up this graphic novel, I was enamoured. Criswell’s art style is super inviting and puts a smile on your face, guaranteed. I think I’ve seen one review call it “giving a comic feel” to the reading experience and I couldn’t agree more! This graphic novel includes biographies of ten historical LGBTQIAP+ individuals that are from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds. Most of them, I hadn’t even heard of before, so I definitely learned a lot from this reading experience.
What made this graphic novel work so well was the fact that Criswell, a genderqueer person, doesn’t just present the historical figures but instead infuses their stories and plights throughout time with the struggles they’ve personally faced in their own life. This graphic novel is parts memoir and parts biography and I loved how Criswell managed to weave these two elements together so seamlessly. It’s at times heartwrenching and at others uplifting to see Criswell draw parallels between their own experience of being part of the LGBTQIAP+ community and how other historical figures like, for example Mary Jones or Ifti Nasim, experienced being queer. There’s also this underlying energy of ambition and wanting to be more, doing more, for the community which felt so relevant.
It’s always hard reading fictional tales of queer people seeking acceptance and community but it always hits that little bit more harder when you hear about the struggles real-life people have faced and are still facing. Yet I loved how this graphic novel leaned more into the inspiring side of things, showing that even though things still aren’t where they’re supposed to be, there are reasons for hope. As much as I love being part of the LGBTQIAP+ community, it’s always hard to put into words just what it is I want to change about the world in order to be more accepted, but Criswell managed to put exactly that into words without ever talking down to the reader, which I really appreciated. Instead, this is an uplifting graphic novel that will hopefully get readers to think more about what and who inspires them and just how far kindness and community can go in the fight against unbasted (and very much unnecessary) hatred. It also was such a thoughtful way of showing that the people who inspire you aren’t necessarily the ones that everyone knows about.
With immersive illustrations, thoughtful biographies and enlightening personal experiences, Criswell’s gorgeous graphic novel is an inspiring and uplifting read, perfect for anyone who wants to learn more about the queer folks that came before them!
Queer As All Get Out is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
This graphic novel paints a picture of the lives of 10 specific LGBTQIA people from history, framed by the personal struggles of the author to find acceptance and to carve out a meaningful life as a genderqueer person. Each chapter focuses on a different relatively little-known historical character, presented within the context of the author’s own life. Shelby Criswell’s art is fun and engaging and brings a comic book feel to this enlightening and important subject matter.
