Queer as Comics: UK's first major queer comics exhibition opens at Quentin Blake Centre

The inaugural major exhibition on queer comics in the UK, titled Queer as Comics, has opened at the newly established Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration in London. Curated by Paul Gravett, this showcase features the works of over 50 artists, spanning from the 1940s to today. It begins with early queer-coded pieces by Tove Jansson (Moomin) and Tom of Finland, created during a time when homosexuality was illegal in Finland. The exhibition is organized by decade, highlighting the underground comix of the 1960s, the AIDS crisis, and the emergence of graphic novels. Notable works include Oliver Frey's influence on Russell T. Davies' Queer as Folk, original pages from Burton Clarke's Gay Comix, and panels from Jul Maroh's Blue is the Warmest Colour. Contemporary contributions feature Alice Oseman's Heartstopper along with artists from Britain, Cameroon, and Lebanon. The exhibition will be available until 4 October.