What up y'all? I'm Penn, a Black-Asian genderqueer freelance pop culture critic, and this is my column, Queerly Nerdy, where I critique queer geekiness in comic books, anime, video games, and more.
During the holiday season, all my queer, geeky self wants to do is read comic books and play video games. However, there have been so many good releases in recent years that it can be hard to shift through it all. Allow me to help you find a new comic book or video game for someone else or yourself. Whether you celebrate the holidays or not, I hope these suggestions give you something good to curl up with.
Comic Books
Ooops... I Just Catharted! Fifty Years of Cathartic Comics by Rupert Kinnard
This book chronicles Rupert Kinnard's groundbreaking collection of Black queer comics strips first published in the '80s and '90s as well as Kinnard's journey as an artist and activist. With his iconic characters The Brown Bomber and Diva Touché Flambé, Kinnard provided commentary on politics and celebrities alike. You can get it from Stacked Deck Press.
The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All by Sumiko Arai
This ongoing yuri (i.e. girl's love) manga series currently has two volumes available in English, with a third that will be released before Christmas. It tells the story of two teenaged girls, Aya and Koga. Aya Oosawa is an outgoing girl who likes flashy things and rock music. When she starts to visit an old record store for new music, she meets the mysterious clerk Koga and develops a crush on him. Unbeknownst to Aya, Koga is actually one of her female classmates.
While Koga must decide whether or not to tell Aya the truth, Aya must grapple with how her crush, budding friendship, and her love of rock music start affecting how she is perceived by her group of friends. With an anime adaptation coming out sometime in the future, now is the perfect time to get into this rockin' series. Purchase it on the Yen Press Store, Bookshop.org, and anywhere manga is sold.
Trans History: From Ancient Times to the Present Day by Alex L. Combs and Andrew Eakett
As the title implies, this book is a vibrant look at the history of transgender people. From Ancient Egypt to present day America, this book showcases the highs and lows that transgender people have experienced throughout time. It is not only a vital archiving of LGBT history, but also a reminder that transgender people have existed and persisted throughout the ages. Get it from Candlewick Press.
Grand Slam Romance by Ollie Hicks and Emma Oosterhaus
When you mix magical girls, softball teams, messy lesbians, and a little spiciness, you get this series. It tells the story of Mickey Monsoon, a nonbinary softball pitcher for The Belle City Broads. When The Belle City Broads' rival team, The Gaiety Gals, come to town, Mickey's ex Astra Maxima comes with them. Now, Mickey must lead their team to victory while not giving in too much to Astra's wiles. The series concluded this year with Volume 3, making it an epic binge-read for newcomers. Get Grand Slam Romance on Bookshop.org.
Video Games
Kitsune Tails (Kitsune Games)
Available on Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4 and 5, and Itch.io, this queer platforming game won "Best LGBTQ+ Indie Game" of the year at the 2025 Gayming Awards. Heavily inspired by Japanese mythology as well as the classic video game Super Mario World, this game has you playing as a cute female kitsune (i.e fox messenger) that embarks on a journey of self-discovery, romance, and reconciliation as you discover the complicated relationship between kitsune and humans.
Get In The Car, Loser! (Christine Love)
You can get this lesbian roadtrip RPG on Nintendo Switch, Steam, and Itch.io. Originally released in 2021 before getting a Nintendo Switch version in 2024, Get In The Car, Loser! tells the story of three lesbians on a journey to battle The Machine Devil's cultists before they can summon him and unleash terror on the world. With a turn-based battle system inspired by JRPGS, retro-style pixel art, and a quirky modern day setting, this game is a must play for fans of RPGs.
Tavern Talk (Gentle Troll Entertainment)
For those who want a non-violent chill game to play, this might be up your alley. You play as an innkeeper in a fantasy world who must mix the right drinks to ensure the success of eclectic adventurers such as an anxious nonbinary elf, a broody rogue, and a vampire dandy. Playing this game is the equivalent of sitting down with a warm drink and a good book, as you will read and learn more about the characters as the story progresses by making them their preferred drinks. You can play this game on Nintendo Switch and Steam.
Battle Suit Aces (Trinket Studios)
Combining card battle mechanics with a found-family narrative and influences from mecha anime, Battle Suit Aces is available on Nintendo Switch, Steam, and Playstation 5. A recent update let players customize their battle deck so you can now choose which pilots, drones, and command cards to take with you. There are over 30 pilots to recruit as you battle the horde of alien monsters known as The Frenzied as part of the plucky mecha pilot crew known as Patchworks. In between battles, you will see them bond together in heartfelt dialogue brought to life with full voice acting.
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