COMIC: Queer (2012)
In 2012 I was honored with an invitation to participate in Projet 17 mai, a French comics anthology which was, in their words, a « Project collectif de dessinateurs et de dessinatrices contre les LGBTphobies (Lesbophobie, homophobie, biphobie et transphobie). » ("Collective project made of artists who are against LGBTphobias [Lesbophobia, homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia]")
There are certain years and projects that stand out in your life, and this comic is one of those milestone events in mine.
I had cut my teeth on comics by drawing uninhibited autobio stories from my teen years till my early 20s, a lot of them talking about my own sexuality and sex life. The internet was a different place back then, sharing that kind of stuff didn't feel dangerous- it felt liberating! Well, by my mid-20s I had definitely gotten that misconception beaten out of me. I pretty much quit making autobio and queer comics in 2009. I was not in a good place.
Three years rolled by and I was then approached in 2012 by the French cartoonist Silver, who was organizing an anthology of comics responding to LGBTphobias. My gut reaction was to decline, based on the punishment I was still recovering from for sharing my earlier comics about my queer identity and life. But then...
I still had the desire to tell these stories. Maybe it would be better received in another language and country...? And also, obviously, I am a giant dork for French.
So, I accepted.
Making this comic was a turning point for me- mentally, emotionally, and professionally.
It put me back on track- the next year I went on to launch Oh Joy Sex Toy with Matt.
And it was mostly positively received! So that felt good, too ;)
In the last 14 years, my life, identity labels, and fashion have continued to change, so the comic may no longer be up-to-date with where I am now as a 43-year-old in 2026, but it is nice to have this little time capsule of where I was as a 28-year-old in 2012.
NSFW
(This comic uses terms that may offend delicate sensibilities and shows bodies doin' sexy-type stuff. Read at your own risk and don't @ me if you take issue with anything. Also, if you are an in-law you should probs just skip this one, for the sake of us both at the next reunion.)
(For the record, at this point, as a 43-year-old in 2026, I am firmly in my Hot Middle Age Bisexual era U_U )
French version! Translated by immensely talented artist and my French friend of 20 years, Dwam ❤
Comments (18)
Started as a “straight” Dar enjoyer in 2009, delighted to report that I’m gay as hell and now live in Portland where queer is the only acceptable umbrella ❤️ I love your comics Erika
🥹❤️
This is the first time I'm seeing it and I love it. I met you through bloom scrolling here and came along for the ride bc you're my people. I saw Oh Joy a long long time ago when a very young friend showed it to me bc it was helping them with a lot of identity issues. When I discovered you were the Oh Joy person after looking at a bazillion of your amazing flowers and casually chatting with you about your photo descriptions, my head almost exploded. 🤯 Your body of work is fantastic!
🥰🥰🥰 Thank you!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Ah, can I be mushy for a moment? I remember coming across oh joy sex toy in its relative infancy on tumblr in about 2013, and this comic in particular! At the time I was 18 and at a conservative Christian university and NOT out to anyone including myself. OJST has really been the foundation of my sex ed. This comic in particular is a foundational text to me… thank you for showing 18 year old me what my future could look like and giving me a seed of hope! For the record I am now 31, genderfluid and bisexual and I live with my nonbinary bisexual partner and our relationship looks a whole lot like the last panel of you and Matt lol 😂💞
That means the WORLD to me and I’m so happy for you 🥹❤️
I think I remember this comic? or a similar one...you and Dar and every comic you've done since have helped me feel comfortable with what I identify as myself, and deal with some of my own depression and grief and explain it to others. thank you for being you Erika and continuing to share your stories.
That means so much to me, thank you, Danielle ❤️
OK I do not speak French at all but "Traitresse" is kind of a cool word... obviously not in this context. But it feels fancy in a fun way
It’s sexy!
This comic is why I use queer to describe myself!
It's been amazing to see you grow as a person.
I love this! And I need that umbrella :)
Ah mais j'ai ce livre haha ! (et le deuxième tome) Et je me rappelle de ce strip aussi.
Je suis jalouse, je n’ai pas une copie de ce livre !
Just shows how long I’ve been following your comics.
Me too!! 🥰 I remember this one so well, it meant a lot to me
Oh I love this so much. You're the inspo for me deciding to occasionally use Queer for my own identity too. It's just such a great term. Yay for Dwam and translation skills!