Synopsis
Black, weird, awkward and proud of it. Welcome to the club!
Tired of feeling like you don’t belong? Join the club. It’s called the Section. You’d think a spot to chill, chat, and find community would be much easier to come by for nerdy, queer punks. But when four longtime, bookish BFFs—Lika, Amor, Lala, and Tony—can’t find what they need, they take matters into their own hands and create a space where they can be a hundred percent who they are: Black, queer, and weird.
The group puts a call out for all awkward Black folks to come on down to the community center to connect. But low attendance and IRL run-ins with trolls of all kinds only rock everybody with anxiety. As our protagonists start to question the merits of their vision, a lifetime of insecurities—about not being good enough or Black enough—bubbles to the surface. Will they find a way to turn it around in time for their radical brainchild, the Blackward Zine Fest?
From: Drawn & Quarterly
Notes on This Title
The focal characters of this title are four queer Black friends: Lika, Tony, Amor, and LaLa. Lika is a bisexual woman with anxiety. Tony also alludes to living with anxiety, while Amor has ADHD and LaLa has depression.
Awards
35th Annual GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Original Graphic Novel/Anthology - Nominee
2024 Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ+ Comics - Nominee
2024 Eisner Award for Best Publication for Teens - Nominee
Reviews
“A paean to the radical joy of being every part of yourself.” (Source: Kirkus Reviews)
“Anyone who has felt like a misfit will appreciate it, though I think it will resonate most deeply with Black nerds.” (Source: No Flying No Tights)
“This winning mix of tough and tender will enchant misfits of all stripes.” (Source: Publishers Weekly)
“Blackward was the balm I needed for these scary times we’re living in.” (Source: Smart Bitches Trashy Books)
Interviews
Kirkus Reviews: “To Be Young, Awkward, and Black“