sfe monster

Graphic novels are a great gift idea for the comics lovers in your life, but the last few years have also seen a huge rise in the number of comics anthologies being published, many of them centered on a particular theme, or showcasing work from marginalized creators, such as people of color, women, LGBTQ people. The next generation of comics stars are making their start right now, eight pages at a time, in these brilliant anthology projects --- so here's our guide to some of the best comics anthologies to pick up this holiday season.

Does politics belong in comics? Can comics influence politics? And what impact do we expect the election of Donald Trump to the presidency of the United States to have on the comic industry and on the stories it tells over the next four years? ComicsAlliance contributors Elle Collins, Kieran Shiach, Tom Speelman, and Tara Marie join editor-in-chief Andrew Wheeler for a roundtable discussion about the relationship between politics and comics.

Eth's Skin is a fantasy quest adventure by Sfé R. Monster, published online since 2014, about a genderqueer fisherperson named Eth, their mermaid best friend, and the troubles that begin when Eth encounters a long-lost mythical being.

Created by comics writer and editor Sfé Monster, Beyond is a planned collection of all-ages stories across all kinds of different genres, tones, and styles featuring contributions from at least 26 writers and artists. The book heads into fantasy and sci-fi in ways you don't often get to see in comics --- and also features a brilliantly-realized central conceit; all of the stories are about reflecting and celebrating diverse presentations of gender and sexuality, and presenting queer characters in a positive light. Sfé and assistant editor Taneka Stotts are now running a Kickstarter, to make the anthology a reality, and has already easily exceeded its initial target of $22000! We spoke to Sfé to find out more about the project, and where it might go from here.