Who loves LGBTQ+ comic heroes?!

The It Gets Better Project sure does! Our obsession began in 2013, when we first partnered with Archie Comics to celebrate Kevin Keller Day. We’ve been working to elevate LGBTQ+ voices and stories from the comic world ever since.

That’s why we began partnering with Otis College of Art and Design in Spring 2018, as a community partner for the school’s Comic Book Heroes course.

https://vimeo.com/217881752

Our objective together has been simple: help create a course that encourages Otis’ students to embrace “immersion design” – i.e. the creation of content that encourages audiences to be active rather than passive consumers and to embrace social equality.

The results have been amazing! Dozens of student groups have written and designed original comic stories that feature new and exciting LGBTQ+ characters. Each one has used It Gets Better as a central theme, and inclusion and diversity were core tenets.

Check out all of the comics from talented students below. Just click a title and enjoy the show!

SPRING 2022

Binaural Beats: While trying to grieve the recent loss of a friend, A violinist named Red is tormented by “demons” while she sleeps. It’s up to herself and her trusty sidekick best friend, Cashew, to try to stop the forces that plague her while she sleeps.

False Awakening: A young woman finds herself in a dream during a 1970’s gay rights parade but
strange events begin to occur that end with her death and introduction to odd yet familiar strangers.

Neptune and the Moons: A teen musician with a perfect reputation finds their identity by becoming a singer in a rock band by night.

Nova: A neurodivergent boy, Nova Young struggles to connect and feels judgment from those around, except from his grumpy, strange cat, Oken. When Oken goes missing, he finds an unexpected connection in search for his best friend.

Sunny and Rose: A heartwarming tale of a nervous student and their talking stuffed animal conquering their first day at a new school.

FALL 2021

Alter Ego: After getting kicked out of battle of the bands because of a transphobic parent, a trans girl and her 2 best friends are determined to win.

Buttermilk: A lonely cat thinks that they have finally discovered the love of their life – but can they even survive their first date?

Esme: A fairy comes to the human world and fights for her right to make friends and be happy.

Flaming: Carmen is constantly bullied for her sexuality, until one day, a fire awakens in her, and she sets her eyes on revenge.

Insomnium: The story about people fighting their fears and helping others do so as well.

The Staff of Utopia: On a quest to save their friend, one hero demonstrates their resilience and determination to help everyone they meet.

SPRING 2021

Helping Hand: A superhero fights a shadow creature that feeds off the negative emotions of a questioning boy.

Witch of Hearts: The Princess of Gearingdale accidentally took the witch’s Love Potion…and fell in love with her.

Rebel Hearts: In a dystopian universe where people are separated by their sexuality, a group of teens team up to take down the system and restore balance to the universe.

Blacksmith: With the threat of the goblins now seen as a forgotten memory, the task of maintaining the town gate lies in the hands of one blacksmith and his son, Stephan.

Monstrous Crush: In a world where lies have consequences, a girl named Max has a big crush on her classmate Meredith but is unable to confess properly – turning her into a monster.