Scan barcode
genderqueer_hiker's review
2.0
I enjoyed parts of it but found it to be cissexist and somewhat depressing.
hawkietta's review
4.0
This is a comic anthology done right. Followers of LGBT webcomic artists will see a few familiar faces while also being able to pick up a few new ones, while those just in it for the anthology itself will find a well brought together, sensible collection with a clear overarching theme and interesting perspectives. There are so many comic anthologies that are misguided and messy, this one sets an example for all the rest.
queerandweird's review
4.0
An assorted collection of old, new, experienced and novice artists writing about bisexuality and other stories and sexuality and gender. Artists I want to read more of in this collection: Powflip, Kevin Boze, Eria Moen, Ellen Forney, Bill Roundy.
Some great art and fantastic stories!
Some great art and fantastic stories!
agnethamarie's review
2.0
i did like some of the comics and don't get me wrong, the artists draw truly beautiful! but many of them didn't feel written for a bisexual audience, some stories clearly stood out (a gay man who dates trans men who are - by definition - men? that has nothing to do with bisexuality??) and others always repeated the same story/plot/informations. many also made me feel really depressed. i closed this comic and was happy not to read any more sad storys about bisexuals who are treated badly by ... everyone.
caseythecanadianlesbrarian's review
3.0
Ugh. What a disappointment. I'm giving this three stars because I really like and respect the individual work of some of the creators in here, but I actually disliked this anthology as a whole. Where do I even begin. Let's see: the editor (who's gay) frames the book on the cover and in the intro as a collection about bisexuality for gay and straight people. Somehow the conversation about bi people is always framed around monosexuals. I mean, just look at the description for how it centres gay and straight people from the first sentence. The fucking front cover with the full title has the words gay and straight in big letters with any non-monosexual word left out. Christensen even writes in the intro about how important it is to him that "the refusal to accept bisexuality [is] a root cause of homophobia." OH SO BISEXUAL PEOPLE AND BIPHOBIA ARE IMPORTANT NOT FOR THEIR OWN SAKE BUT BECAUSE OF THE LINKS TO GAY PEOPLE AND HOMOPHOBIA. Seriously, what an ignorant piece of poop.
The comics selections themselves unfortunately overall don't so much to counteract the misinformed editing. There are plenty of boring, repetitive pieces trying to dispel myths about bisexuality and recalling biphobic coming out stories and conversations with supposed friends and partners. I understand that these kinds of pieces can be important but there were so many of the same thing it became redundant and depressing . If I were just coming out as bi this collection would scare the crap out of me and not give me much hope.
Other pieces didn't even seem like they fit. Like, why is there a story about a self-identified cis gay man who dates trans guys in here? Is it supposed to be implying he's bisexual, despite what he says and the fact that trans men are men? There's another story about a woman with a latex fetish that doesn't seem to have anything to do with non-monosexuality and another about a trans woman who hasn't come out yet who is confused about the differences between gender identity and sexual orientation.
I also would have appreciated more attention to the complexities of gender in here. A lot of the stories refer to "both men and women" totally excluding non-binary people (although a few have their own stories in here). Also, more creators of colour are definitely needed.
Overall this book is screamingly aimed at straight and gay people, in a way I've actually never seen with a bi/pan book before. I've read plenty of books by trans people clearly aimed at a cis audience (and know the equivalent exists for gay men and lesbians and used to be more common) but I've never encountered the equivalent for bi/pan people. I can't tell you how disheartening it is to pick up a book thinking "this is for me, written by people like me!" only to find it's been written for people privileged in relation to that part of your identity instead. It's the kind of book whose strategy of educating monosexuals about biphobia is to make them feel sorry for bisexuals. No thanks.
Shout-out to a lovely story by MariNaomi about being turned on by a woman eating a mango, which was my favourite piece. Ellen Forney's funny and practical guide to having bisexual threesomes was also rad. Nods also to pieces by Melaina, Jason A Quest, Erika Moen, and Lena H Chandhok.
The comics selections themselves unfortunately overall don't so much to counteract the misinformed editing. There are plenty of boring, repetitive pieces trying to dispel myths about bisexuality and recalling biphobic coming out stories and conversations with supposed friends and partners. I understand that these kinds of pieces can be important but there were so many of the same thing it became redundant and depressing . If I were just coming out as bi this collection would scare the crap out of me and not give me much hope.
Other pieces didn't even seem like they fit. Like, why is there a story about a self-identified cis gay man who dates trans guys in here? Is it supposed to be implying he's bisexual, despite what he says and the fact that trans men are men? There's another story about a woman with a latex fetish that doesn't seem to have anything to do with non-monosexuality and another about a trans woman who hasn't come out yet who is confused about the differences between gender identity and sexual orientation.
I also would have appreciated more attention to the complexities of gender in here. A lot of the stories refer to "both men and women" totally excluding non-binary people (although a few have their own stories in here). Also, more creators of colour are definitely needed.
Overall this book is screamingly aimed at straight and gay people, in a way I've actually never seen with a bi/pan book before. I've read plenty of books by trans people clearly aimed at a cis audience (and know the equivalent exists for gay men and lesbians and used to be more common) but I've never encountered the equivalent for bi/pan people. I can't tell you how disheartening it is to pick up a book thinking "this is for me, written by people like me!" only to find it's been written for people privileged in relation to that part of your identity instead. It's the kind of book whose strategy of educating monosexuals about biphobia is to make them feel sorry for bisexuals. No thanks.
Shout-out to a lovely story by MariNaomi about being turned on by a woman eating a mango, which was my favourite piece. Ellen Forney's funny and practical guide to having bisexual threesomes was also rad. Nods also to pieces by Melaina, Jason A Quest, Erika Moen, and Lena H Chandhok.
nico2022's review
5.0
Loved this diverse collection of comics centered around bisexuality! There's a great breadth of illustration styles, tones, gender and sexual orientation experiences, backgrounds, and storytelling sophistication.
Some of my favorite contributors include:
* Kate Leth (leading off with a sassy little primer on the bi experience)
* Agnes Czaja (oh to be a bi lady: "So are you, like, more straight, or like a percentage, like 60/40..." "Is it just safer for you to date men?")
* Alex Dahm (love their illustration style)
* Bill Roundy (charming as fuck and makes you just want a hug)
* Leah H. Candhok ("Anyway, I'm sure ALL straight women have crushes on other women, and are totally enamored with the female form, and would totally have sex with women. Yeah!")
* Erika Moen (how did I not know about this human before?!)
* Powflip (asexual latex enthusiasts' love story)
* Nick Leonard ("I mean first of all, they were grown men in a softball league. That's pretty damn gay! Plus, by the rules, each team is allowed up to 2 straight members. 3 bis, that equals 1/4 gays... I say they're safe by half a homo!")
I will say there were a couple stories that didn't feel totally complete ( I really wanted more from Randall Kirby's panels on "bisexuality" vs "pansexuality") or unique (Steve Orlando's story about two guys arguing over whether one of them is gay or bi feels tired at the end of the collection, when that theme has already been explored in more interesting ways), and Roberta Gregory's contribution felt like a weird personal publishing history.
But overall, I absolutely loved it, and I really appreciated a collection completely devoted to the bisexual experience (the good, the bad, and the fugly).
Some of my favorite contributors include:
* Kate Leth (leading off with a sassy little primer on the bi experience)
* Agnes Czaja (oh to be a bi lady: "So are you, like, more straight, or like a percentage, like 60/40..." "Is it just safer for you to date men?")
* Alex Dahm (love their illustration style)
* Bill Roundy (charming as fuck and makes you just want a hug)
* Leah H. Candhok ("Anyway, I'm sure ALL straight women have crushes on other women, and are totally enamored with the female form, and would totally have sex with women. Yeah!")
* Erika Moen (how did I not know about this human before?!)
* Powflip (asexual latex enthusiasts' love story)
* Nick Leonard ("I mean first of all, they were grown men in a softball league. That's pretty damn gay! Plus, by the rules, each team is allowed up to 2 straight members. 3 bis, that equals 1/4 gays... I say they're safe by half a homo!")
I will say there were a couple stories that didn't feel totally complete ( I really wanted more from Randall Kirby's panels on "bisexuality" vs "pansexuality") or unique (Steve Orlando's story about two guys arguing over whether one of them is gay or bi feels tired at the end of the collection, when that theme has already been explored in more interesting ways), and Roberta Gregory's contribution felt like a weird personal publishing history.
But overall, I absolutely loved it, and I really appreciated a collection completely devoted to the bisexual experience (the good, the bad, and the fugly).
micklesreads's review
4.0
I loved this collection, really. I'm the only bi person I know; my friends identify as either gay, lesbian, or straight. While they are mostly supportive and try to understand, I've been at the receiving end of a fair share of bi-phobia over the years. It was really refreshing to read stories written by folks who've had similar experiences; it felt like a hug in comics.
I give it four stars because it did get a little repetitive at times, but by (ha! word play!) and large, it was wonderful.
I give it four stars because it did get a little repetitive at times, but by (ha! word play!) and large, it was wonderful.
lanikei's review
4.0
A compilation with such a narrow theme runs the risk of getting repetitive. Different art styles helps save this one, but it's nothing exceptional. The notable thing about this collection is the issue it's addressing... being bisexual and how to fit into the spectrum of sexuality that society accepts. Many of the creators experience the same struggles, but there is some variety in attitude and approach.