Howard Cruse bol americký alternatívny komiksový autor, známy svojím skúmaním gejských tém v jeho komiksoch. Jeho tvorba sa často zaoberala hľadaním identity a spolupatričnosti v širšej spoločnosti. Cruse využíval svoj jedinečný vizuálny štýl a satirický prístup na hlbšie ponorenie sa do zložitosti ľudských vzťahov a spoločenských noriem. Bol priekopníkom v zobrazovaní queer života a jeho vplyv na komiksovú tvorbu, ktorá sa zaoberá LGBTQ+ témami, je nepopierateľný.
Just in time for its twenty-fifth anniversary, First Second is republishing Howard Cruse's groundbreaking intersectional graphic novel about coming out and finding your voice during the civil rights movement.
The collection showcases Howard Cruse's gay-themed comic strips and stories spanning over three decades, from 1976 to 2008. It includes both published works and previously unpublished material, providing insight into the evolution of LGBTQ representation in comics. Notably, some stories were featured in adults-only underground comix, warranting a "for mature readers" label. This compilation serves as a significant contribution to the genre, highlighting Cruse's unique voice and artistic vision.