Review: DC Pride 2021

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

DC Pride #1Writers: James Tynion IV, Steve Orlando, Vita Ayala, Mariko Tamaki, Andrew Wheeler, Sam Johns, Danny Lore, Sina Grace, Nicole Maines

Artists: Trung Le Nguyen, Stephen Byrne, Skylar Partridge, Amy Reeder, Luciano Vecchio, Klaus Janson, Lisa Sterle, Ro Stein, Ted Brandt, Rachael Stott, Travis Moore, Alejandro Sanchez, David Talaski, Brittney Williams, Kevin Wada, Kris Anka, Nick Robles, Sophie Campbell,  Daniel Quasar, Jim Lee, Scott Williams

Colorists: Jose Villarrubia, Marissa Lousie, Rex Lokus, Enrica Eren Angiolini, Dave McCaig, Tamra Bonvillain

Letterers: Becca Carey, Steve Wands, Ariana Maher, Aditya Bidikar, Josh Reed, Tom Napolitano

                                                        Reviewer: Tony Farina

Summary

DC celebrates Pride Month with nine all-new stories starring fan-favorite LGBTQIA+ characters Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Midnighter, Extraño, Batwoman, Aqualad, Alan Scott, Obsidian, Future State Flash, Renee Montoya, Pied Piper, and many more! This anthology will also feature:
-The thrilling introduction of new hero DREAMER in the DCU
(as seen on The CW’s Supergirl)!
-A pinup gallery with art by Travis Moore, Kris Anka, Kevin Wada, Sophie Campbell, Nick Robles, and more!
-Six exciting new profiles of DCTV’s LGBTQIA+ characters and the actors who play them!

Positives

DC Pride #1 is perfect. No, not every single panel of every single story is perfect. I am not going to pretend that is the case. However, I am going to say that the fact that this book exists is perfect. The love, care and thought that went into each word, each panel, each splash of color and each letter is evident. That is what makes it perfect.

I could go through each story and tell you why it is amazing, but I am not going to do that. You know why? Because I want you to do it. I want you find the thing you love in this book. I will say however, that the story with Alan and Todd is particularly moving. It feels like that story has been in the works for years and years. You may need a hanky before you start reading it.

Negatives

DC Pride #1 is only weak in the way that any comic like this could be. There is just not enough time for all the stories to develop into something bigger. Of course, that isn’t the point, so I can’t knock it.

Verdict

DC Pride #1 is glorious. I love it. You should love it too. The choice of the word glorious there is a nod to the intro written by Marc Andrekyo. I am sure most people planned on skipping it. Don’t. Seriously. He says everything I want to say here, in that essay. Buy this book. Give it to people you love. Give it to people who have open minds and to people with closed minds. Buy. Read. Repeat.

 

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