Late last year there was a really moving blog post by Carrie Goldman that ran through the internets about a young girl who’d been bullied because she liked Star Wars.
I felt sad about that. So I decided to write a comic about my own experiences. ‘Cause girls can totally like Star Wars, and so can transboys! And so –
TRANSCRIPT:
Panel 1:
(There is a caption at the top of the panel, which reads:) As a kid I always wondered why my Jedi Mind Tricks didn’t work.
Younger Sam: (A person wearing a red polo, who is facing the viewer, but looking at a glass of orange liquid. Eyebrows are lowered and pushed together, mouth is closed, with slightly downturned edges and tongue sticking out. One arm is raised slightly at the shoulder and bent up at the elbow, hand palm down. There are pairs of parallel lines by Younger Sam’s elbow, hand, face, and by the glass.)
Panel 2:
(There is a caption at the top of the panel, which reads:) I knew it was uncool to be a girl who liked Star Wars (even though I watched it just as much as my brothers did.)
Younger Sam: (A person who is facing the viewer, but looking at the TV, with raised eyebrows and an open mouth, which has upturned edges. Younger Sam is sitting on a green couch.)
Younger Sam’s Brothers: (Are all facing the viewer, but looking at the TV, with raised eyebrows, and mouths with upturned edges. They are all sitting on the couch with Younger Sam.)
TV: Obi-Wan has taught you well..
Panel 3:
(There is a caption at the top of the panel, which reads:) So I hid it away, like most of my other “differences”
Younger Sam: (A person who is facing the viewer, but looking down, with raised eyebrows and a closed mouth, with downturned edges. Arms are raised at the shoulders and bent at the elbows, hands clasped together over Younger Sam’s chest, cradling rainbow ribbons.)
Panel 4:
(There is a caption at the top of the panel, which reads:) But now I’ve learnt to embrace it all.
Sam: (A person who is dressed as a Jedi, and is looking directly at the viewer. Eyebrows are lowered, and pushed together slightly and mouth is closed, with slightly upturned edges. Arms are raised at the shoulders, bent at the elbows, and hands are holding a green lightsaber.)
(There is another caption, at the bottom of the panel, which reads:) (and my Jedi Mind Tricks are getting stronger!!)
I was following that story–you’re right, it was wonderful to see the outpouring of support.
Yay awesome
I was really happy with how the online community reacted, except those few “helpful” ladies who mentioned that geek stuff is somehow better than girl stuff or that she was definitely cooler than the girls who only liked girl stuff, which made me sad(way to fight gender essentialism with sexism ladies!).
But on a less GRR note, this is effing precious. I’ve been waiting for the day that I can afford a proper lightsaber so that I can finally express my inner Jedi.
Mmmm yeh that’s a good point about the comments that went down that line 🙁
Yay for lightsabers though!
That original story really surprised me. My initial thought was “Why didn’t they accept her into their group?” I guess I was just lucky that the circles I hung out with at school included different genders.
Yeh, I think it’s great to talk with people who’ve had different experiences of friends in school – I definitely feel like I had a pretty ok time of it compared to others, so it’s cool you had such a positive experience 😀
I was totally that kid in elementary school who ran around the playground with boys and made the best paper lightsabers. Glad to hear there’s others out there.
Also, I love your expression in the first panel, and the last ones just super cool.
Haha yay!! I actually do the sticking tongue out thing to concentrate, so I thought it’d be appropriate
This is hilarious. Also, I couldn’t find a contact link anywhere, but I found a new article online this morning and was interested to see what your commentary would be on it (in comic form, of course =))
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/01/26/scans-show-difference-in-transgender-brains/
I’m just picturing a normal brain, and beside it my brain full of rainbows and tools and Cher and a double-dose of fabulous… but I’m not an artist, and you are. I love what you do so I thought I’d see if you’d like to add your perspective on the whole business. =)
Cheers!
Haha…. oh dear it’s funny how often those sorts of articles come up. I think my brain would reveal lots of useless knowledge, comic book and movie geekery, and would probably be in the shape of a sweater-vest!
I feel like there are unusually more geeks than average in the trans population. Star Wars is great, though. I’m glad I wasn’t allowed to change my name when I first wanted to at nine years old, or else I’d be called Anakin now (really begged my mom for that, plus a “haircut like a jedi”).
: )
Yes, I agree there seems to be an increased percentage of geeks in our population. Anakin would be a bad ass name for a little kid… come to think of it, it’d be pretty amazing to have a receptionist call out “Anakin” in the waiting room, and you get to be the one who stands up.