Non-Binary Comix Featured During Queer Press Fest @ Push/Pull

This author went searching for non-binray themed comix at a recent Queer Press Fest - and was not disappointed!

Underground comix and art store Push/Pull, located in Ballard, WA, featured a variety of comics by and about non-binary persons during their recent Queer Press Fest event.

Of particular note was a beautiful anthology of fantastical non-binary narratives titled Heartwood: Non-binary Tales of Sylvan Fantasy. Printed out of Portland, OR, this anthology is the first-ever comics anthology devoted to non-binary creators & characters. Each short comic features at least one enby character and is done by enby artists, who are listed in the back of the anthology. The anthology is gorgeous, with a colorful, thick color and gold leaf on the pages. Enby details ripple throughout the details of the comics in a way cis-gendered persons might not think to do, such as some characters having un-called-out scars from chest surgeries and some character’s genders not being revealed at all. It also features a wide variety of ages, body types, familial dynamics, and gender presentations. I now consider it a “must-have” for any non-binary reading library!

Also available were the first four issues of Alex Priest, a fun and fast read about a genderqueer vampire hunter who must team up with their ex, a magical analyst, to save the world. The fifth and final installment of the comic comes out Fall 2019. (Of course I bought all four that are available now!). My favorite moment in the comic was when the main character, Alex, was misgendered and their boss and ex jump in to correct the mistake while they shrug.

Tucked away in a corner of a box, I found a very small comic called Notes from a Failed Sex Worker by Eve. This little $1, single-page print out detailed the attempts of a non-binary transfem to participate in sex work. I was very moved by this personal, hand-written account and was so glad to have found it in its otherwise hard-to-spot hiding place.

Push/Pull also had additional enby swag available, including an “All Genders” bathroom sign (which is now hanging up at my work), and a variety of enby-themed stickers.

When I asked the staff about non-binary comics, they were very exited to show me what was in stock! I was helped by an employee who had a transgender/third gender tattoo on their finger, and the owner of the shop assured me that often “artists are turned away [from Push/Pull] if their comics are too boring - you know, standard cis, white male stuff. There’s plenty of other places for that. I want to cultivate something different here.”

Although there were no agender-specific comics, the staff eagerly responded that they would keep a look out for me. They agreed that that would make a wonderful addition to the offerings of the store and hoped to add agender-themed merch to their store soon.

In the meantime, I’ll surely be returning to Push/Pull in the near future, not just to pick up the new Alex Priest but to see what other non-bnary goodies they have in stock!