Leo Rising: Queer Spaces, Sexuality, and Fame

From the artist behind the hit A Quick and Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns, Archie Bongiovanni, an examination of the intersection of fame, identity, and sexuality in their latest audacious and genuine LGBTQIA+ graphic novel, Leo Rising

Lesbian influencer. Lifelong Alaskan. Part-time owl researcher. Leo Rising follows self-proclaimed ＂celesbian＂ Laura on a hilarious and heart-wrenching exploration of queer spaces, sexuality, and fame. After years of struggling for acceptance, Laura knows exactly who she is--or does she?

By day, Laura thrives as the Internet’s lesbian bestie, a role model for thousands of followers worldwide, while working part-time at the Alaska Bird Observatory. But when an old friend returns to town and introduces Laura to queer parties and sex apps she’s never experienced, she starts questioning her gender and sexuality simultaneously.

Seeking answers, Laura creates Leo, a secret trans identity. As Leo’s encounters become more and more steamy, Laura’s divergent identities collapse with real-world consequences.

Perfect for readers who loved the classic Dykes to Watch Out For, Genderqueer, and Bongiovanni’s debut graphic novel Mimosa, Leo Rising is a horny and hopelessly real comic about navigating queer space, both online and off, under the midnight sun.

Archie Bongiovanni is a comics artist and illustrator who focuses on making work that’s gay and good. They’re the author of Mimosa on the Abrams ComicArts Surely list, the cocreator of the award-winning A Quick and Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns, and the creator of Grease Bats, a serialized comic about two queer BFFs navigating dating and late-stage capitalism. Bongiovanni is the author of History Comics: Stonewall, and their work has appeared in The New Yorker, the Nib, Vice, and Autostraddle. They live in Minneapolis.