This has felt like a conversation I’ve been having with myself for a while now. I had heard about the Drink and Draw Like a Lady evenings in Portland and thought “woah, that’d be awesome! If I were there I’d totally go!”, and then did a double take. Nope, I wouldn’t go. Sad.

As I let more and more people know about where I’m at, and start to ask them to use Sam and male pronouns, I become more aware of the things that I have to give up. It’s not a regretful kind of thing, just a noticing of loss.

So, yes, apologies to: Erika MoenDylan MeconisCristy C. RoadLucy Knisley, Danielle Corsetto, and Kris Dresen.

 

TRANSCRIPT:

Panel 1:

First Sam: (A person wearing a white t-shirt, a grey vest, and darker grey trousers, who is facing and looking directly at the viewer. Eyebrows are raised, and mouth is open. Arms are bent up at the elbows, hands are palm up, and open, with fingers curling back towards the palms somewhat.) I feel pretty sad moving away from the category of ‘woman comic artist’.

Second Sam: (A person standing behind the First Sam who is turned away a little, towards the side of the viewer, and is looking at the first Sam, with a small, closed mouth.)

Third Sam: (A person standing behind the Second Sam, who is facing away from the viewer, and towards the Fourth Sam.)

Fourth Sam: (A person who is both facing, and walking away from the Sams, and the viewer.)

(There are three sets of two lines. One between the First and Second Sams, one between the Second and Third Sams, and one between the Third and Fourth Sams, all of which indicate movement. There is a caption at the bottom of the panel, which reads:) It’s one of the biggest losses I feel transitioning.

 

Panel 2:

Sam: (Sam has two heads sharing the same body. The first head has one eyebrow raised and the other lowered, with an open mouth that has slightly downturned edges. The second head has both eyebrows raised, and an open mouth. One arm is raised slightly at the shoulder and bent up at the elbow, with the palm facing the viewer, and the fingers bent forward a little. The other arm is bent up at the elbow, fingers and thumb are bent forward at the knuckles, so that the tips are touching. The first head is saying:) I don’t want to become another guy in an industry already over represented (no full stop, as the next line starts with ‘and’) (The second head is saying:) and I don’t read a lot of comics by men.

(The background on the same side as the first head is covered in pale blue symbols. Each symbol is comprised of a circle with an arrow on its outside edge, which is pointing away from the circle. The background on the same side as the second head is also covered in pale blue symbols. Each symbol is comprised of a circle with a ‘plus’ symbol on its outside edge, at the bottom.)

 

Panel 3:

Dylan Meconis: (A person with short, dark brown hair and small rectangular glasses, who is wearing a greyish olive v neck long sleeve shirt, and is looking directly at the viewer. Both eyebrows are raised high, and mouth is open, with very upturned edges. One arm is raised at the shoulder, bent up at the elbow, and fingers closed in a fist. The other arm is raised at the shoulder, forearm bent back towards Dylan’s side, hand in a fist, at Dylan’s hip.)

Danielle Corsetto: (A person with long, tied up, brown hair, who is wearing an olive v neck long sleeve shirt, and is looking in the direction of the viewer. One eyebrow is raised, the other lowered and mouth is closed and small. One arm is bent up at the elbow, palm is facing the viewer, fingertips bent forward.)

Erika Moen: (A person drawn in black and white, with short, light-coloured hair, who is wearing an even lighter-coloured singlet, and is looking directly at the viewer. Both eyebrows are raised, one more than the other. Mouth is open, with very upturned edges. One arm is raised slightly at the shoulder, bent up at the elbow, and hand is open, palm facing the viewer. Both upper arms have tattoos.)

Lucy Knisley: (A person with short, dark blonde hair and rectangular glasses, who is wearing a blue t-shirt, with a picture of a chunk of Swiss cheese on it, and who is looking directly at the viewer. Eyebrows are raised, mouth is closed, with one edge upturned. One arm is raised at the shoulder, bent up at the elbow, palm is facing the viewer, fingertips bent forward.)

Kris Dresen: (A person drawn in black and white, with shoulder-length, light coloured hair and rectangular glasses, who is wearing a darker coloured collared shirt, and a necklace. She is looking directly at the viewer, with one raised eyebrow, and a closed, neutral mouth.)

Cristy C. Road: (A person with medium brown hair, which is tied up in a blue bandana, who is wearing a pink singlet, and is looking directly at the viewer. One eyebrow is raised, mouth is closed, with slightly downturned edges. There is a tattoo across Cristy’s upper chest.)

(There are two captions. The caption at the top reads:) Not that I’m even in the same class as my heroes. (The caption at the bottom reads:) …but they are my heroes.