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Love Is Love: A Comic Book Anthology to Benefit the Survivors of the Orlando Pulse Shooting
The comic industry comes together in honor of those killed in Orlando. Co-published by two of the premiere publishers in comics—DC and IDW, this oversize comic contains moving and heartfelt material from some of the greatest talent in comics, mourning the victims, supporting the survivors, celebrating the LGBTQ community, and examining love in today’s world. All material has been kindly donated by the writers, artists, and editors with all proceeds going to victims, survivors, and their families. Be a part of an historic comics event! It doesn’t matter who you love. All that matters is you love.
144 pages, Paperback
First published December 28, 2016
About the author
Marc Andreyko
490 books82 followersMarc Andreyko is a comic book and screenplay writer, best known for writing the 2000s ongoing series Manhunter for DC Comics.
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August 1, 2018Love Is Love is a collection of one- to two-page stories about the tragedy that took place on June 12, when 49 people were killed when a gunman opened fire in Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando. It includes stories that mourn the victims, examine love and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.
To say that I was anticipating this would be understatement – Love Is Love had incredible potential to become a complete game-changer. But I quickly found that instead of targeting its focus on highlighting #ownvoices, this anthology decides to voice a lot of straight white men feeling sad and not really using their privilege to speak up in their immediate communities. To paraphrase one of the contributors, I felt like they were inserting themselves into a story that wasn’t about them… the people who can actually contribute something to Love Is Love were being overshadowed quite heavily.
I'm just flummoxed over the fact that they would ask multiple straight white men to contribute to this collection when you could have featured #ownvoices who know what they’re talking about compared to this:
(Just one example out of quite a few.)
If you know this isn’t your story to tell, why are you still telling it?? It just really bothered me that these supposed allies put the main focus on themselves rather than on the people that actually got hurt and affected.
So in order to take my mind over how worked up this made me, I’m instead going to feature the 1 page stories that actually did contribute something more than “I don’t know what to say because I’m privileged as hell.” If I sound bitter, it’s because I am still a little bitter.
That last one knocked the breath out of me.
Love Is Love was for the most part a heartrending and hopeful tribute to the LGBTQIA+ community. And I'm more than appreciative of the contributors that participated in this collection.
*Note: I'm an Amazon Affiliate. If you're interested in buying Love Is Love, just click on the image below to go through my link. I'll make a small commission!*
Support creators you love. Buy a Coffee for nat (bookspoils) with http://Ko-fi.com/bookspoils
To say that I was anticipating this would be understatement – Love Is Love had incredible potential to become a complete game-changer. But I quickly found that instead of targeting its focus on highlighting #ownvoices, this anthology decides to voice a lot of straight white men feeling sad and not really using their privilege to speak up in their immediate communities. To paraphrase one of the contributors, I felt like they were inserting themselves into a story that wasn’t about them… the people who can actually contribute something to Love Is Love were being overshadowed quite heavily.
I'm just flummoxed over the fact that they would ask multiple straight white men to contribute to this collection when you could have featured #ownvoices who know what they’re talking about compared to this:
(Just one example out of quite a few.)
If you know this isn’t your story to tell, why are you still telling it?? It just really bothered me that these supposed allies put the main focus on themselves rather than on the people that actually got hurt and affected.
So in order to take my mind over how worked up this made me, I’m instead going to feature the 1 page stories that actually did contribute something more than “I don’t know what to say because I’m privileged as hell.” If I sound bitter, it’s because I am still a little bitter.
That last one knocked the breath out of me.
Love Is Love was for the most part a heartrending and hopeful tribute to the LGBTQIA+ community. And I'm more than appreciative of the contributors that participated in this collection.
*Note: I'm an Amazon Affiliate. If you're interested in buying Love Is Love, just click on the image below to go through my link. I'll make a small commission!*
Support creators you love. Buy a Coffee for nat (bookspoils) with http://Ko-fi.com/bookspoils
December 30, 2016
Boy, am I tired after reading this anthology. I gotta say, when I read that this book would "mourn the victims [of the Pulse shooting], examine love and celebrate the LGBTQ community," this is not what I imagined.
Based on the joyful and optimistic cover image, I expected an emphasis on joyful and optimistic stories about LGBTQ indivuals, or else honest and insightful stories reflecting the range of LGBTQ experience, with some reference to the shooting. I knew that many of the contributing creators would be cishet (non-LGBTQ), but I expected that the anthology as a whole would be for an LGBTQ audience, or at least not alienating to that audience.
The collection does contain a handful of joyful, optimistic stories about LGBTQ individuals and honest, insightful stories reflecting the range of LGBTQ experience, but the vast majority are specifically about the Pulse shooting, which was a shock, if only because I was seeking solace about being LGBTQ in an unwelcome world when I picked up the book. But that was my bad for judging it by its cover; I adjusted my expectations and moved on.
My main issue with the anthology is that a LOT of it is dedicated to cishet perspectives on the Pulse shooting, allyship, LGBTQ issues, and LGBTQ spaces. Recurring themes include "how do I, a cishet ally, explain this tragedy to my child," "that time someone came out to me," and the platitude of love being stronger than hate, offered by those not affected by the hate sanctioned by our laws and ingrained in our culture. LOVE IS LOVE reads like a book about the LGBTQ community—but by and for cishet allies, who at best cannot contribute anything as true and nuanced as LGBTQ creators can and at worst are straight-up offensive. I found myself sighing in relief when my favorite cishet creators' contributions were completely unremarkable.
Which is not to diminish the contributions of LGBTQ creators, whose personal narratives I am immensely grateful to have read. The story by James Tynion IV and Molly Ostertag, in particular, was the kind of honest LGBTQ narrative I was looking for when I picked up the book.
My favorite pieces in the anthology are the following:
- "Harley & Ivy" Paul Dini, Bill Morrison, Robert Stanley, Sal Cipriano
- Kaare Andrews
- Steve Foxe, Isaac Goodhart, K Michael Russell, Taylor Esposito
- Matthew Rosenberg, Amancay Nahuelpan, Tyler Boss, Ryan Ferrier
- "Pride" James Tynion IV & Molly Knox Ostertag
- Marguerite Bennett, Aneke, Travis Lanham
- Chuck Kim, Phil Jimenez, Jordan Boyd, Jared K. Fletcher
- Jason Aaron & Jason Latour
What's that? "Quite a list of mostly men," you say? There weren't. Very many. Women.
So, buy it because it's for charity and it's $10, but. 2 stars: It was ok.
Based on the joyful and optimistic cover image, I expected an emphasis on joyful and optimistic stories about LGBTQ indivuals, or else honest and insightful stories reflecting the range of LGBTQ experience, with some reference to the shooting. I knew that many of the contributing creators would be cishet (non-LGBTQ), but I expected that the anthology as a whole would be for an LGBTQ audience, or at least not alienating to that audience.
The collection does contain a handful of joyful, optimistic stories about LGBTQ individuals and honest, insightful stories reflecting the range of LGBTQ experience, but the vast majority are specifically about the Pulse shooting, which was a shock, if only because I was seeking solace about being LGBTQ in an unwelcome world when I picked up the book. But that was my bad for judging it by its cover; I adjusted my expectations and moved on.
My main issue with the anthology is that a LOT of it is dedicated to cishet perspectives on the Pulse shooting, allyship, LGBTQ issues, and LGBTQ spaces. Recurring themes include "how do I, a cishet ally, explain this tragedy to my child," "that time someone came out to me," and the platitude of love being stronger than hate, offered by those not affected by the hate sanctioned by our laws and ingrained in our culture. LOVE IS LOVE reads like a book about the LGBTQ community—but by and for cishet allies, who at best cannot contribute anything as true and nuanced as LGBTQ creators can and at worst are straight-up offensive. I found myself sighing in relief when my favorite cishet creators' contributions were completely unremarkable.
Which is not to diminish the contributions of LGBTQ creators, whose personal narratives I am immensely grateful to have read. The story by James Tynion IV and Molly Ostertag, in particular, was the kind of honest LGBTQ narrative I was looking for when I picked up the book.
My favorite pieces in the anthology are the following:
- "Harley & Ivy" Paul Dini, Bill Morrison, Robert Stanley, Sal Cipriano
- Kaare Andrews
- Steve Foxe, Isaac Goodhart, K Michael Russell, Taylor Esposito
- Matthew Rosenberg, Amancay Nahuelpan, Tyler Boss, Ryan Ferrier
- "Pride" James Tynion IV & Molly Knox Ostertag
- Marguerite Bennett, Aneke, Travis Lanham
- Chuck Kim, Phil Jimenez, Jordan Boyd, Jared K. Fletcher
- Jason Aaron & Jason Latour
What's that? "Quite a list of mostly men," you say? There weren't. Very many. Women.
So, buy it because it's for charity and it's $10, but. 2 stars: It was ok.
February 6, 2017
Let me be clear, as what this graphic novel stands for and the donations towards it all this is a 10/5. This is special. This is something only goodhearted people can create.
Now the stories.
Some of them just didn't connect. Some felt a bit repetitve. I get that, it's supposed to be the writers own views on it, but some just didn't gel well with me. I didn't feel like they had the right mindset. Also some didn't connect on the level of the events and what happened for me.
On the flipside the good is the art for the most part is amazing. I really loved a lot of the stories here, especially the "white angry writer who doesn't know what to write" because it's similar to my view points, also the dog one killed me, I loved the one about mom and son, and even the Batman one was great when he visited the crime scene.
Listen this is worth buying for the fact of where your money is going to a good cause AND the meaning behind it. It's not perfect but it's a wonderful tribute for the most part. Please do buy it and see which stories connect for you.
Now the stories.
Some of them just didn't connect. Some felt a bit repetitve. I get that, it's supposed to be the writers own views on it, but some just didn't gel well with me. I didn't feel like they had the right mindset. Also some didn't connect on the level of the events and what happened for me.
On the flipside the good is the art for the most part is amazing. I really loved a lot of the stories here, especially the "white angry writer who doesn't know what to write" because it's similar to my view points, also the dog one killed me, I loved the one about mom and son, and even the Batman one was great when he visited the crime scene.
Listen this is worth buying for the fact of where your money is going to a good cause AND the meaning behind it. It's not perfect but it's a wonderful tribute for the most part. Please do buy it and see which stories connect for you.
January 4, 2018
I thought this was an amazing tribute. There is a lot of love in this book. This is a collection of 1 and 2 page stories to support people hurting from the Orlando Pulse Shooting. Writers from everywhere contributed, all in love.
I'm going to start with my complaint. The stories were too short. I wanted to stick with a story for a few pages. There should have been a story or two that was the anchor for the other short stories.
Ok, that is my only complaint. The rest - amazing. So many emotions ran with this. So many stories of bravery and this book as a collective shows how important it is to be yourself. It also celebrates being yourself, being brave in the face of fear and not allowing fear to stop you from Loving who you should. Love is Love.
Thank you so much for putting this out. I was so moved!
I'm going to start with my complaint. The stories were too short. I wanted to stick with a story for a few pages. There should have been a story or two that was the anchor for the other short stories.
Ok, that is my only complaint. The rest - amazing. So many emotions ran with this. So many stories of bravery and this book as a collective shows how important it is to be yourself. It also celebrates being yourself, being brave in the face of fear and not allowing fear to stop you from Loving who you should. Love is Love.
Thank you so much for putting this out. I was so moved!
February 28, 2017
Read this in tribute to the Orlando victims, in protest of legislation removing hard won rights for LGBT people, for love that is revolution. But keep a box of tissues handy, as in more than one.
April 5, 2017
Even though there were some stories better than others in here I just couldn't give this anything less than 5 stars!
It was so powerful and it really did have an effect on me when reading. At times, I could only read a few pages a day because it had such a hard impact on me and was really pretty emotional!
The stories were beautifully drawn and beautifully told and it was awesome to see some familiar faces in the stories too, such as dc characters and even the riverdale group!
This book will never leave me and I really encourage you all to go out and buy this! I am so blessed and thankful for the existence of this comic, what an empowering creation. Thank you to DC and all those that came together to write this, the world needs more people like you!
It was so powerful and it really did have an effect on me when reading. At times, I could only read a few pages a day because it had such a hard impact on me and was really pretty emotional!
The stories were beautifully drawn and beautifully told and it was awesome to see some familiar faces in the stories too, such as dc characters and even the riverdale group!
This book will never leave me and I really encourage you all to go out and buy this! I am so blessed and thankful for the existence of this comic, what an empowering creation. Thank you to DC and all those that came together to write this, the world needs more people like you!
February 5, 2017
Love wins!
But this graphic novel. Not so much.
But this graphic novel. Not so much.
October 30, 2017
It probably goes without saying that this is a tear-jerker. I don't recommend it for reading on your commute, coffee-break, or at time when you are likely to be repeatedly interrupted by someone asking technical questions.
The entries are all short, one or two page spreads. Of course the quality varies, but I thought it was generally high, remarkably so given that the contributors apparently whipped it out in a matter of days. Clearly there wasn't a lot of time to try to coordinate or make sure everyone was on the same page. Thus, some are literal stories about the shooting or someone reaction to the news, some are metaphors, some are superhero investigations, etc. A few I didn't get, but that may be due to lack of familiarity with a specific extant graphic series that is being referenced. Some are even poems! My favorite of the last was Pedro Villora's rewrite "Furious Orlando".
My favorite image was probably Carla Speed Mcneil's depiction of text messages, which I'll try to add later. I'll definitely check out more of her work.
The entries are all short, one or two page spreads. Of course the quality varies, but I thought it was generally high, remarkably so given that the contributors apparently whipped it out in a matter of days. Clearly there wasn't a lot of time to try to coordinate or make sure everyone was on the same page. Thus, some are literal stories about the shooting or someone reaction to the news, some are metaphors, some are superhero investigations, etc. A few I didn't get, but that may be due to lack of familiarity with a specific extant graphic series that is being referenced. Some are even poems! My favorite of the last was Pedro Villora's rewrite "Furious Orlando".
My favorite image was probably Carla Speed Mcneil's depiction of text messages, which I'll try to add later. I'll definitely check out more of her work.
September 6, 2024
Love is Love is a comic book anthology to benefit the survivors of the Orlando Pulse shooting. Published by IDW, in conjunction with DC, writers and illustrators came together to honor those killed in the Pulse nightclub on June 12th, 2016. All the proceeds from the book will go to the charity Equality Florida to benefit the victims, survivors and their families.
As with any anthology (no matter if poems, short stories or comics), this collection was uneven. Written with the best of intentions, these one-shot stories that are only a page or two vary in tone and authenticity. Some of the comics were powerful and made me tear up, or even better, made me think about the issues beyond that page. Others were trite and lacked depth.
Winners:
Thoughts & Prayers– Lenson & Lopez: Shows how easy it is to be shocked and dismayed by something, but to let opportunities slip by and do nothing about it. Just saying “My thoughts and prayers are with you” can be meaningless. Do something to help!
Hand Me Down– Beals & LaFuente: Two different parenting styles equal two different outcomes. Our children ARE listening.
Phone Call*– DeFilippis, Weir & Vieceli: Supportive parents are the best!
Shelter Pet Adoptions*– Lope & Sadowski: Two dates- 4/3/2009 & 6/15/2016 bookened this heartbreaking tale about an owner and his dog.
Pride– Tynion & Ostertag: A high school boy worries about wearing a rainbow bracelet to school, but does it anyway, to be true to himself.
Mother & Son *– Lindelof & Yu: A beautiful tribute to Brenda Lee Marquez McCool and her son Isaiah. Brenda died at Pulse but told her son to run and he lived because of her encouragement. This one picture conveys so much.
*There were no titles on these comics, I made them up.
Misses:
A Swan Song– Zeus is portrayed here as a great lover of both men and women through the ages, and a supporter of the LGBTQ community. Sorry, this guy is a rapist, if you really read the myths about him closely. Not buying this story of him as a good guy.
Basically all the DC superhero stories. I totally think these stories should have representation in them, but these one-shots felt like overkill. Let's make sure we continue the equality in the mainline comics, ok?
I have to applaud this book, for these artists did not just sit back and send their best – no, they did their best and donated their time and talent to help a hurting community. The stories open lines of communication, and I hope more artists can add to the dialogue. While not a perfect book, the right intent is there, and purchases will benefit those in need.
This review can be found on my blog: https://graphicnovelty2.com/2017/05/1...
As with any anthology (no matter if poems, short stories or comics), this collection was uneven. Written with the best of intentions, these one-shot stories that are only a page or two vary in tone and authenticity. Some of the comics were powerful and made me tear up, or even better, made me think about the issues beyond that page. Others were trite and lacked depth.
Winners:
Thoughts & Prayers– Lenson & Lopez: Shows how easy it is to be shocked and dismayed by something, but to let opportunities slip by and do nothing about it. Just saying “My thoughts and prayers are with you” can be meaningless. Do something to help!
Hand Me Down– Beals & LaFuente: Two different parenting styles equal two different outcomes. Our children ARE listening.
Phone Call*– DeFilippis, Weir & Vieceli: Supportive parents are the best!
Shelter Pet Adoptions*– Lope & Sadowski: Two dates- 4/3/2009 & 6/15/2016 bookened this heartbreaking tale about an owner and his dog.
Pride– Tynion & Ostertag: A high school boy worries about wearing a rainbow bracelet to school, but does it anyway, to be true to himself.
Mother & Son *– Lindelof & Yu: A beautiful tribute to Brenda Lee Marquez McCool and her son Isaiah. Brenda died at Pulse but told her son to run and he lived because of her encouragement. This one picture conveys so much.
*There were no titles on these comics, I made them up.
Misses:
A Swan Song– Zeus is portrayed here as a great lover of both men and women through the ages, and a supporter of the LGBTQ community. Sorry, this guy is a rapist, if you really read the myths about him closely. Not buying this story of him as a good guy.
Basically all the DC superhero stories. I totally think these stories should have representation in them, but these one-shots felt like overkill. Let's make sure we continue the equality in the mainline comics, ok?
I have to applaud this book, for these artists did not just sit back and send their best – no, they did their best and donated their time and talent to help a hurting community. The stories open lines of communication, and I hope more artists can add to the dialogue. While not a perfect book, the right intent is there, and purchases will benefit those in need.
This review can be found on my blog: https://graphicnovelty2.com/2017/05/1...
April 12, 2017
missed the mark completely. lots of focus on cishets and their feelings and not near enough about, y'know, LGBT people. the book also felt alarmingly white given that the shooting was purposely done during a Latinx night. too many str8 superheroes crying and honestly? too many depictions of dead bodies. it felt extremely disrespectful and only gets two stars for a handful of decent LGBT stories
March 6, 2017
This is a collection of poetry, stories, and graphic artwork rather than one story. While all of the works included are expressing reactions to the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, the overarching theme of the collection is love. Love in various forms.
The artwork in this collection is fantastic, and really made me stop to think about it.
The artwork in this collection is fantastic, and really made me stop to think about it.
March 16, 2017
This was such a powerful, heart wrenching story. There are no other words I could use to describe this. Please, just read this. It's so important.
November 29, 2017
2.5*- 3*..?
Ummm....well this collection had IMMENSE potential, but it fell somewhat flat for me. Don't get me wrong, many of the one-to-two page spreads were beautiful and spot on but there are SO MANY crucial components of the LGBTQIA+ community missing. It focuses too much on romantic type of love only and there are some spreads that shouldn't be there, like the cis-het man trying to think of what to say while realizing he has nothing TO say because he's inserting himself in something that isn't about him. So why is he there then?! That was a spread you could have given to someone ace, bi, trans, etc.! Some of the art is beyond beautiful, no denying. Overall, it was ok. It had great intentions but we know at the end of the day that not really what fully counts. Also, ABSOLUTELY NO FUCKING NEED FOR SOME OF THOSE SPREADS TO SHOW PULSE VICTIMS IN THE WAY IT DOES. Be aware some spreads can be VERY triggering because of how the depict the victims on the floor of the club, post-attack.
Ummm....well this collection had IMMENSE potential, but it fell somewhat flat for me. Don't get me wrong, many of the one-to-two page spreads were beautiful and spot on but there are SO MANY crucial components of the LGBTQIA+ community missing. It focuses too much on romantic type of love only and there are some spreads that shouldn't be there, like the cis-het man trying to think of what to say while realizing he has nothing TO say because he's inserting himself in something that isn't about him. So why is he there then?! That was a spread you could have given to someone ace, bi, trans, etc.! Some of the art is beyond beautiful, no denying. Overall, it was ok. It had great intentions but we know at the end of the day that not really what fully counts. Also, ABSOLUTELY NO FUCKING NEED FOR SOME OF THOSE SPREADS TO SHOW PULSE VICTIMS IN THE WAY IT DOES. Be aware some spreads can be VERY triggering because of how the depict the victims on the floor of the club, post-attack.
October 3, 2018
With every turn of the page, I cried. I also smiled. Deep in my core I felt all my emotions running amok. Each page a different story, each one just as powerful.
Heartbreaking tales, beautiful tales.
My heart goes out to those who's light was stolen from them.
My heart goes out to those who lost loved ones.
My heart goes out to those who survived that night.
My heart goes out to those who have to hide.
My heart goes out to those who live in fear.
I hope for a day like in the Superboy strip, a day when we all can finally live and love.
We need to end hate and fear.
Love is love, love is love, love is love, love is love is love....
Hate is taught....we are not born evil.
Heartbreaking tales, beautiful tales.
My heart goes out to those who's light was stolen from them.
My heart goes out to those who lost loved ones.
My heart goes out to those who survived that night.
My heart goes out to those who have to hide.
My heart goes out to those who live in fear.
I hope for a day like in the Superboy strip, a day when we all can finally live and love.
We need to end hate and fear.
Love is love, love is love, love is love, love is love is love....
Hate is taught....we are not born evil.
January 2, 2017
I would love to rate this higher, but like all anthologies, and collections where people are contributing, there are some ups and downs. This anthology is for a very good cause, the victims of the nightclub shooting in Orlando. Just because I am rating it only three stars does not mean that I didn't rush out and buy it. It is important to support this sort of thing.
But...there is something off about this. It is almost as though the contributors weren't sure what statement they wanted to make, beyond love is love. There is a lot of use of Batman and Superman in this, and that seems to not be quite it. As much as superheroes are the "other" they are not adding an unique voice here. As another reviewer Yuuhy pointed out, a lot of the stories in this anthology are written by what appears to be straight allies explaining lgbt love to their children. This is not to say there aren't gay artists here. I did spot a few, but the stories are not inspiriting. They are just statements of shock.
Perhaps the call for contributors came too soon after the shooting, so there was not time to reflect? Many of the stories are raw, and hurting.
So, I would recommend this to people who want to support survivors of the Pulse shooting, but it is not a fun read (not that it would be), and I doubt I will be rereading it any time in the future.
But, I did love Poison Ivy telling a flirting gay couple to "Flirt Louder, There isn't enough time"
But...there is something off about this. It is almost as though the contributors weren't sure what statement they wanted to make, beyond love is love. There is a lot of use of Batman and Superman in this, and that seems to not be quite it. As much as superheroes are the "other" they are not adding an unique voice here. As another reviewer Yuuhy pointed out, a lot of the stories in this anthology are written by what appears to be straight allies explaining lgbt love to their children. This is not to say there aren't gay artists here. I did spot a few, but the stories are not inspiriting. They are just statements of shock.
Perhaps the call for contributors came too soon after the shooting, so there was not time to reflect? Many of the stories are raw, and hurting.
So, I would recommend this to people who want to support survivors of the Pulse shooting, but it is not a fun read (not that it would be), and I doubt I will be rereading it any time in the future.
But, I did love Poison Ivy telling a flirting gay couple to "Flirt Louder, There isn't enough time"
May 26, 2017
I was crying when I found out about the shooting & I'm crying right now.
February 6, 2017
I didn't mean to read this.
Or I guess I should say that I didn't know this existed.
Or that I didn't meant to read it now
My library informed me all the proceeds from borrows of this (via Hoopla app) go to Equality Florida. I very quickly downloaded it and encourage others whose library's use Hoopla to do this same.
The overall message behind this anthology is one of unity, and one I believe is extremely important. Some of the comics capture this very well and were very beautiful.
Others, I felt were a little misguided:
- Bodies of victims of the Pulse Shooting were depicted several times in fairly gory ways. This felt insensitive.
- The only time the term "asexual" is used, it's actually misspelled.
- Bisexuality is not portrayed very well. Few of the comics mention it, and one strip is devoted solely to someone switching identities. The message of this was that everyone is valid and should be loved, despite this identity-- but it ends up resembling the "bisexuals can decide" stereotype
Some of these comics brought tears to my eyes, both with the power behind them and the fact that this exists. I wish we lived in a world where there was a never a need for such a collection.
While some of these miss the mark, it's a very personal and important anthology.
Or I guess I should say that I didn't know this existed.
Or that I didn't meant to read it now
My library informed me all the proceeds from borrows of this (via Hoopla app) go to Equality Florida. I very quickly downloaded it and encourage others whose library's use Hoopla to do this same.
The overall message behind this anthology is one of unity, and one I believe is extremely important. Some of the comics capture this very well and were very beautiful.
Others, I felt were a little misguided:
- Bodies of victims of the Pulse Shooting were depicted several times in fairly gory ways. This felt insensitive.
- The only time the term "asexual" is used, it's actually misspelled.
- Bisexuality is not portrayed very well. Few of the comics mention it, and one strip is devoted solely to someone switching identities. The message of this was that everyone is valid and should be loved, despite this identity-- but it ends up resembling the "bisexuals can decide" stereotype
Some of these comics brought tears to my eyes, both with the power behind them and the fact that this exists. I wish we lived in a world where there was a never a need for such a collection.
While some of these miss the mark, it's a very personal and important anthology.
April 2, 2018
10/10
That's all I can say for now. So many feelings. Read it ASAP!!
EDIT:
Το Love Is Love είναι ένα graphic novel που δημιουργήθηκε για να τιμήσει τα θύματα του Ορλάντο (12/6/2016) . Περιλαμβάνει ιστορίες 1-2 σελίδων και κάνουν guest εμφανίσεις πολλοί γνωστοί υπερήρωες όπως ο Batman, η Wonderwoman, η Supergirl, η Catwoman, η Poison Ivy και η Harley Queen.
Οι πραγματικοί ήρωες των ιστοριών όμως είναι οι απλοί άνθρωποι, μέλη της LGBTQAI+ κοινότητας, που χωρίς υπερδυνάμεις προσπαθούν να ξεπεράσουν το τραγικό συμβάν και να ξανασταθούν στα πόδια τους. Αυτοί είναι και θα είναι πάντα οι πραγματικοί ήρωες.
Κάποιες ιστορίες ίσως τα καταφέρνουν καλύτερα από άλλες να περάσουν το μήνυμα, αλλά αυτό δεν είμαι σε θέση να το κρίνω. Το σημαντικό είναι ότι δύο από τους μεγαλύτερους εκδοτικούς οίκους comic, η DC και η IDW, συνεργάστηκαν για να βγάλουν αυτό το αποτέλεσμα. Όλοι οι καλλιτέχνες δούλεψαν εθελοντικά για αυτό το graphic novel και τα κέρδη πηγαίνουν στα θύματα του Ορλάντο και στις οικογένειές τους.
That's all I can say for now. So many feelings. Read it ASAP!!
EDIT:
Το Love Is Love είναι ένα graphic novel που δημιουργήθηκε για να τιμήσει τα θύματα του Ορλάντο (12/6/2016) . Περιλαμβάνει ιστορίες 1-2 σελίδων και κάνουν guest εμφανίσεις πολλοί γνωστοί υπερήρωες όπως ο Batman, η Wonderwoman, η Supergirl, η Catwoman, η Poison Ivy και η Harley Queen.
Οι πραγματικοί ήρωες των ιστοριών όμως είναι οι απλοί άνθρωποι, μέλη της LGBTQAI+ κοινότητας, που χωρίς υπερδυνάμεις προσπαθούν να ξεπεράσουν το τραγικό συμβάν και να ξανασταθούν στα πόδια τους. Αυτοί είναι και θα είναι πάντα οι πραγματικοί ήρωες.
Κάποιες ιστορίες ίσως τα καταφέρνουν καλύτερα από άλλες να περάσουν το μήνυμα, αλλά αυτό δεν είμαι σε θέση να το κρίνω. Το σημαντικό είναι ότι δύο από τους μεγαλύτερους εκδοτικούς οίκους comic, η DC και η IDW, συνεργάστηκαν για να βγάλουν αυτό το αποτέλεσμα. Όλοι οι καλλιτέχνες δούλεψαν εθελοντικά για αυτό το graphic novel και τα κέρδη πηγαίνουν στα θύματα του Ορλάντο και στις οικογένειές τους.
June 23, 2018
I feel kind of bad giving this a 2.5 star because it is such an important anthology, but I honestly ended up skimming half of it because it was very repetitive. I don't think there were enough differentiating types of stories and art forms to keep this interesting enough to read all the way through.
I read this on the 2 year anniversary of the Pulse shooting, and it felt incredibly impactful as I read it.
These were stories about the families, the shooter, the government, the LGBTQ+ community, each filling about 2 pages.
I loved that they choose this format for the anthology, especially because graphic novels are, sadly, one of the few formats that include a lot of diversity. I just wish there had been a few more different kinds of outlooks on the situation or on the community.
I read this on the 2 year anniversary of the Pulse shooting, and it felt incredibly impactful as I read it.
These were stories about the families, the shooter, the government, the LGBTQ+ community, each filling about 2 pages.
I loved that they choose this format for the anthology, especially because graphic novels are, sadly, one of the few formats that include a lot of diversity. I just wish there had been a few more different kinds of outlooks on the situation or on the community.
January 6, 2017
Brilliant an excellent tribute to the awful event of last year, was nearly in tears at some of the panels.
They handled this very well and I highly recommend this.
They handled this very well and I highly recommend this.
October 31, 2017
I can only read a tiny bit at a time because of all the crying. People are horrible and also capable of empathy and compassion and grace. Ineffable.
June 16, 2019
I struggled a bit to finish this. In the end, it was okay; some strips were amazing, the art beautiful, the mini-plot on point, etc. Others not so much, but the intention behind them all is the same. Dozens of artists came together in the name of love, created their own stories and put them all in one book to support all the survivors of the horrible Orlando shooting of 2016, where 49 people were killed in a gay club because they were not afraid to love who they loved.
I don't really know what to say about it, because nothing will be enough. Just stop the hate and embrace everyone as they are, and make love win.
*EDIT ON JUNE 2019*
Now that I read my review from 2017, I see that my opinion has changed regarding this collection of comics. I don't really remember the specifics and I doubt I will read it again, but even though I gave it an average 3-star rating, I give it a 2-star one now, just for the title. I came to dislike that catchphrase more and more (explained in detail on a recent Instagram post of mine here https://www.instagram.com/p/Byf0dP7gZOD/). The only reason I gave it 2 stars instead of 1 is because its profits were donated to a good cause.
I don't really know what to say about it, because nothing will be enough. Just stop the hate and embrace everyone as they are, and make love win.
*EDIT ON JUNE 2019*
Now that I read my review from 2017, I see that my opinion has changed regarding this collection of comics. I don't really remember the specifics and I doubt I will read it again, but even though I gave it an average 3-star rating, I give it a 2-star one now, just for the title. I came to dislike that catchphrase more and more (explained in detail on a recent Instagram post of mine here https://www.instagram.com/p/Byf0dP7gZOD/). The only reason I gave it 2 stars instead of 1 is because its profits were donated to a good cause.
February 4, 2017
Wow. I'm so happy I bought a copy of this comic anthology honoring the people who were injured and killed in the Orlando Massacre in 2016. Such an amazing tribute to these brave souls from the comic community. Beautiful, diverse, and from the heart. As it should always be.
This is a true keepsake.
This is a true keepsake.
February 5, 2017
This is a little lengthy. Please skip to the end and check out some of the amazing story selections I included in here. I just want more people to read this or at least look at the stories I include at the end of my review.
Wow. I loved this so much. Words can't really describe it. I sent pictures of a few stories in here to my other queer friends and even some to my straight sister and mother. They were just so powerful that I had to share it with people who would appreciate it. And something that genuinely surprised me about this was how deeply it affected me. Most of the stories were only one page long but they packed a brutal punch. I cry so rarely that I don't remember the last thing I cried over or when, but almost all of these pieces made me tear up so badly in public that I had to take half a minute to regain composure. I have seen reviews where people say that they didn't understand why this comic had to be so sad. It's sad because the Pulse shooting is absolutely devastating. To honor the victims, people have to be made to feel some of the pain of this tragedy, made to realize everything that is wrong about what happened. And any books about queer people that live in an accepting environment with limited to no homophobia, their characters are ridiculously (perhaps unbelievably...?) lucky. But there are also some very uplifting stories here too. I'm glad it included both sides.
On a more technical note, most of these pieces don't have to do with the superheroes. Just because it is a DC/IDW comic, their characters are not the point of the book. The purpose is to highlight and honor the Pulse shooting victims and support the gay rights movement. But there were some stories that had superheroes in them, mostly just being shattered and confused at the hatred that drives people to commit acts of violence and hate like this. And of course there's a brief Harley/Ivy piece. There were a few pieces in here that were just artwork and a few that were prose or poetry pieces with some art. Overall, I found that most of the stories made sense and were great. Some of the stories were just alright and a few made little sense to me. But I got over that easily because of the sheer number of brief but powerful pieces in this anthology.
This comic was amazing not just because of its support of queer issues but also its inclusiveness. There were people from all different economic, racial, sexual, gender, ability, and even a few religious backgrounds. It really shows how invested in equality something or someone is when they make the effort to be inclusive and representative. And as a queer comic reader, I just want to say thank you to everyone who worked on this book and everyone who enjoyed reading it. Being reminded that there are people out there who support us and stand with us in times of trouble makes me feel like there is some hope. And having this representation, especially from such big companies like DC and IDW, means so much. Reading stuff like this helps me gain strength and courage. This book is helping build me up to come out to the rest of my family.
I just wanted to include some of the stories from the beginning of the book that I shared with my friends and family. I apologize for the blurriness, so I'll include the hyperlinks too. Hopefully this piques someone's interest. The first one shows the darker side of this comic and the second shows the uplifting side. The second, uplifting story changed me.
Hand Me Down by Daniel Beals
...by Teddy Tenenbaum
July 16, 2017
Love is love é uma coletânea de histórias de diversos artistas, roteiristas e coloristas - coisas curtas, de uma ou duas páginas - e a arrecadação do gibi vai para as famílias das vítimas do massacre da boate Pulse, em Orlando.
Há histórias bacanas, há relatos terríveis, há peças belíssimas - e há redundâncias ou peças medíocres. Como toda coletânea, é bastante inconsistente, mas o motivo é nobre, e as histórias que pegam no coração são certeiras. Love is love is love is love, afinal.
Eu me acabei de chorar.
Há histórias bacanas, há relatos terríveis, há peças belíssimas - e há redundâncias ou peças medíocres. Como toda coletânea, é bastante inconsistente, mas o motivo é nobre, e as histórias que pegam no coração são certeiras. Love is love is love is love, afinal.
Eu me acabei de chorar.
March 13, 2019
This is the comics industry's heartfelt response to the 2016 Pulse mass shooting in Orlando. It's comprised entirely of 1-2 page microstories, essays, testimonials, poems, and textless art. All proceeds are donated annually to LGBT causes and charities.
There's no narrative, it's all about feels: expressions of support, relief, grief, determination, love, heartache. Many of them landed for me, which exceeded my expectations. A few left me confused. A couple even made me think.
And I can see this being a somewhat comforting read after the inevitable next American mass shooting.
There's no narrative, it's all about feels: expressions of support, relief, grief, determination, love, heartache. Many of them landed for me, which exceeded my expectations. A few left me confused. A couple even made me think.
And I can see this being a somewhat comforting read after the inevitable next American mass shooting.
June 3, 2020
I don't think I have ever cried so much with a book. It was so heartbreaking and hopeful and beautiful and heartbreaking.
February 8, 2024
Very affecting. An excellent tribute to something much larger than the Pulse Nightclub tragedy. The interpretations of, and creative responses to, loss generally, and to the resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community specifically, are incredibly varied. My favorite panel was by Jeff Parker. Each reader will have a different section which speaks most directly to them.
I worked at a bar which was later targeted by Eric Rudolph, so I have a narrow emotional thread which ties to this experience, an indescribably horrific event. Yet, the tone throughout is mostly hopeful, emphasizing strength, power, unity, and most of all, love.
I worked at a bar which was later targeted by Eric Rudolph, so I have a narrow emotional thread which ties to this experience, an indescribably horrific event. Yet, the tone throughout is mostly hopeful, emphasizing strength, power, unity, and most of all, love.
October 8, 2018
Es muy linda, pero muy triste, obviamente. Falta representación, pero la intención general del comic esta bien.
May 2, 2018
“When you believe in something, fight for it. And when you see injustice, fight harder than you’ve ever fought before.”
– Brad Meltzer
Es gibt Geschichten, die schiebt man vor sich her, bevor man schließlich zu ihnen greift. Manchmal muss man den richtigen Moment abwarten; manchmal aber, so scheint es, gibt es den richtigen Moment nicht. Love is Love ist ein Comic, das schon ziemlich lange auf meinem SUB gelegen hat, zu dem ich allerdings erst kürzlich gegriffen habe. Ich war mir über die Intensität dieser Anthologie bewusst, vielleicht habe ich deshalb auf diesen einen richtigen Moment warten wollen. Ich bezweifle allerdings, dass es den richtigen Moment überhaupt gibt, um sich mit einem Thema, dass so schwer auf dem Herzen lastet wie dieses hier, zu befassen. Wahrscheinlich griff ich auch genau aus diesem Grund schließlich zu dem Comic. Weil kein Moment der Richtige ist, auf der andere Seite gleichzeitig aber irgenwie auch jeder Moment der Richtige ist.
Wie ihr euch vielleicht denken könnt, ringe ich mal wieder mit den Worten. Ich hadere mit mir selbst, auf der Suche nach den richtigen Worten, nur um festzustellen, dass es sie ebenso wenig gibt, wie den richtigen Moment. Mein Herz weint, so unendlich laut. Ich habe es zerbrechen hören, wieder einmal, in so viele winzig kleine Teile, dass ich schon fast daran zweifelte, es jemals wieder zusammen setzen zu können.
Ohne noch einmal großartig auf die schreckliche Tat aus dem Jahre 2016 im Club Pulse in Orlando eingehen zu wollen, möchte ich meine Gefühle und Gedanken mit euch teilen; möchte euch aufzeigen, wieso ich es am Ende doch geschafft habe, die einzelnen Scherben meines Herzens wieder zusammenzusetzen.
Solltet ihr, was die Tat im Pulse Club in Orlando angeht, nicht ganz auf dem Laufenden sein, könnt ihr bei Zeit Online noch mal genauer über diese Tat nachlesen. Und hier findet ihr eine Gedenkseite für die Opfer des Attentats.
“Even if you don’t agree with other people – with what they believe, or what they choose, or who they are – it doesn’t mean you should punish them. Race, religion, sexuality, identity, all of it. Love for everyone. Acceptance, tolerance. However you need to think of it. At the very least, just live with each other, and we’ll all be in a better world. That’s a truth we should all be able to accept.”
In dieser Anthologie werden Worte und Zeichenstile der verschiedensten Personen miteinander vereint, Menschen, die auf ihre ganz persönliche Art und Weise ihre Anteilnahme und ihr Mitgefühl ausdrücken und auf eine gewisse Weise auch ihrer Wut und Trauer Platz machen. Was mir sehr gut gefallen und den einzelnen Geschichten noch mehr Intensität verliehen hat, ist die Tatsache, dass sich sämtliche Kurzgeschichten auf maximal zwei Seiten erstrecken, primär allerdings nur auf eine. Es erfordert einiges an Fingerspitzengefühl und Herz, so viele Emotionen in so wenigen Worten auszudrücken. Manchmal bedurfte es noch nicht einmal Worte, einzelne Bilder und Zeichnungen genügten, um die Wichtigkeit der Botschaft, die hinter diesen hübschen Zeichnungen steckt, zu verdeutlichen und dem Leser nahe zu bringen.
Die Botschaft “Alle Menschen sind gleich” wurde dabei immer sehr stark in den Fokus gerückt, z. B. durch das Integrieren von interrassistischen Liebespaaren oder auch von Kindern, die – unschuldig wie sie sind – immer dieselbe Frage stelllten: “Warum?” Auch mir stellte sich diese Frage während des Lesens und ich bezweifle, dass wir jemals eine Antwort darauf bekommen werden.
Niemand kommt bereits hasserfüllt zur Welt. Wir werden nicht mit dem Gefühl von Hass geboren, wir bekommen es gelehrt, aufgezeigt, vorgelebt, und zwar von denjenigen, die uns eigentlich ein Vorbild sein sollten: Eltern, Großeltern, Tanten, Onkeln, Freunden, Bekannten. Es sind genau diese Menschen, Eltern, Großeltern, etc. pp. die uns einen angemessenen Weg ebnen sollten; mit gutem Beispiel vorangehen sollten; uns Werte lehren sollten, Werte, nicht vergleichbar mit dem Gefühl von Hass, Rassismus, Homophobie, Antifeminismus, Antisemitismus, etc. pp.
Die Zeichnungen und auch die Texte, haben mich unfassbar berührt, gingen mir durch Mark und Bein, waren ihre Botschaften so stark und wichtig, dass ich fast nach jeder Kurzgeschichte eine kurze Pause einlegen musste, nicht nur um sie auf mich wirken zu lassen, sondern auch um sie zu verarbeiten. Die Tränen der letzten Geschichte mussten erst einmal versiegen, bevor ich mit der nächsten beginnen konnte.
Besondere Auftritte gab es zum Beispiel auch von Supergirl, Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Poison Ivy und Harry Potter. Insgesamt wurden Superhelden häufig mit in die Geschichten eingebaut, ebenso wie Kinder, von deren Weltoffenheit wir Erwachsenen uns hin und wieder tatsächlich noch ein gutes Stück abschneiden können. Und auch wenn mich sämtliche der Geschichten unglaublich berührt haben, gab es einige, die mich ganz besonders berührt haben.
Brenda und Isaiah, Mutter und Sohn, die gemeinsam des öfteren den Club Pulse aufsuchten, um gemeinsam zu feiern und zu tanzen. Klingt komisch? War aber so. Sie waren nicht bloß Mutter und Sohn, sie waren Freunde. Brenda war eine Kämpfernatur; bereits zwei Mal hatte sie schon den Krebs besiegt. Sie liebte ihr Leben, sie liebte ihren Sohn. Als sie angeschossen wurde, schrie sie ihrem Sohn zu, zu laufen; sich in Sicherheit zu bringen. Er tat es. Er rannte los. Er brachte sich in Sicherheit. Er überlebte. Sie nicht.
“Everybody who knew my mom knew she was the mom everybody wanted. She always took everybody in with open arms. She loved everybody equally, no matter what.”
– Isaiah Henderson
Dieses Bild, diese wenigen Worte, hatten eine solch immense Wirkung auf mich, dass ich für einen winzigen Moment keine Luft mehr bekam. Ein Gefühl von Wut überkam mich, Wut und endlose Trauer, die ich kaum verarbeiten konnte.
Und dann gab es noch diese Geschichte, ein Mann, der 2009 einen Hund aus dem Heim adoptierte, ihn liebte wie ein eigenes Kind und ihm ein Leben schenkte, das lebenswert war. Und dann, 2016, eines Tages, kommt sein Herrschen nicht mehr nach Hause und der Hund muss zurück ins Heim.
Diese Geschichte hat mich für fast eine Stunde vollkommen ausgeknocked. Ich war völlig fertig mit den Nerven, bekam keine Luft und die Tränen wollten einfach nicht versiegen, selbst jetzt, genau in diesem Augenblick, in dem ich diese Worte schreibe, verschwimmen sie vor meinen Augen, weil mich erneut diese ungeheure Tränenflut überkommt. Selbst das Foto zu machen, ist mir schwer gefallen, weil es mir so unfassbar nahe geht.
Doch obwohl sich diese Comic-Anthologie thematisch mit dem grauenhaften und schrecklichen Anschlag auf den Pulse Club in Orlando, ein Club, in dem Mitglieder der LGBQT+ Community miteinander feierten, befasst, sprüht dieses Comic nur so von Hoffnung, Toleranz, Akzeptanz und Liebe, ganz besonders von Liebe und zwar Liebe, wie sie unterschiedlicher nicht sein könnte. Der Schrei nach Gleichberechtigung ist so laut, dass er kaum zu überhören ist.
Ich würde dieses Comic am liebsten jedem in die Hand drücken. Die Hoffnungslosigkeit, die in einem herrscht, wird kompensiert durch die Menschlichkeit, die – so unglaublich es manchmal auch erscheint – noch immer Teil von uns Menschen ist. All wenn all diese schrecklichen Taten einen Schritt zurück in unserer Gesellschaft bedeuten, so gewinnt die Liebe doch immer, solange wir zusammenhalten, uns nicht verstecken und kämpfen; miteinander kämpfen; kämpfen für eine Welt, in der es sich zu leben lohnt.
Die Message, die in diesem Comic steckt ist so unglaublich wertvoll und wichtig; so wichtig, man sollte sie ganz laut in die Welt hinausschreien, nur um sicher zu gehen, dass sie auch jeder gehört hat.
Anmerkung: Auch in den USA wurden von den Einnahmen Gelder in entsprechende Fonds gespendet. Ich hatte mir die englische Version des Comics zugelegt, die ebenfalls sehr einfach zu lesen ist. Nur für den Fall, dass sich manche vielleicht nicht sicher sind, ob sie jetzt doch lieber das deutsche, oder das englische Comic lesen möchten.
Originalpost: http://ivybooknerd.com/rezension-love...
– Brad Meltzer
Es gibt Geschichten, die schiebt man vor sich her, bevor man schließlich zu ihnen greift. Manchmal muss man den richtigen Moment abwarten; manchmal aber, so scheint es, gibt es den richtigen Moment nicht. Love is Love ist ein Comic, das schon ziemlich lange auf meinem SUB gelegen hat, zu dem ich allerdings erst kürzlich gegriffen habe. Ich war mir über die Intensität dieser Anthologie bewusst, vielleicht habe ich deshalb auf diesen einen richtigen Moment warten wollen. Ich bezweifle allerdings, dass es den richtigen Moment überhaupt gibt, um sich mit einem Thema, dass so schwer auf dem Herzen lastet wie dieses hier, zu befassen. Wahrscheinlich griff ich auch genau aus diesem Grund schließlich zu dem Comic. Weil kein Moment der Richtige ist, auf der andere Seite gleichzeitig aber irgenwie auch jeder Moment der Richtige ist.
Wie ihr euch vielleicht denken könnt, ringe ich mal wieder mit den Worten. Ich hadere mit mir selbst, auf der Suche nach den richtigen Worten, nur um festzustellen, dass es sie ebenso wenig gibt, wie den richtigen Moment. Mein Herz weint, so unendlich laut. Ich habe es zerbrechen hören, wieder einmal, in so viele winzig kleine Teile, dass ich schon fast daran zweifelte, es jemals wieder zusammen setzen zu können.
Ohne noch einmal großartig auf die schreckliche Tat aus dem Jahre 2016 im Club Pulse in Orlando eingehen zu wollen, möchte ich meine Gefühle und Gedanken mit euch teilen; möchte euch aufzeigen, wieso ich es am Ende doch geschafft habe, die einzelnen Scherben meines Herzens wieder zusammenzusetzen.
Solltet ihr, was die Tat im Pulse Club in Orlando angeht, nicht ganz auf dem Laufenden sein, könnt ihr bei Zeit Online noch mal genauer über diese Tat nachlesen. Und hier findet ihr eine Gedenkseite für die Opfer des Attentats.
“Even if you don’t agree with other people – with what they believe, or what they choose, or who they are – it doesn’t mean you should punish them. Race, religion, sexuality, identity, all of it. Love for everyone. Acceptance, tolerance. However you need to think of it. At the very least, just live with each other, and we’ll all be in a better world. That’s a truth we should all be able to accept.”
In dieser Anthologie werden Worte und Zeichenstile der verschiedensten Personen miteinander vereint, Menschen, die auf ihre ganz persönliche Art und Weise ihre Anteilnahme und ihr Mitgefühl ausdrücken und auf eine gewisse Weise auch ihrer Wut und Trauer Platz machen. Was mir sehr gut gefallen und den einzelnen Geschichten noch mehr Intensität verliehen hat, ist die Tatsache, dass sich sämtliche Kurzgeschichten auf maximal zwei Seiten erstrecken, primär allerdings nur auf eine. Es erfordert einiges an Fingerspitzengefühl und Herz, so viele Emotionen in so wenigen Worten auszudrücken. Manchmal bedurfte es noch nicht einmal Worte, einzelne Bilder und Zeichnungen genügten, um die Wichtigkeit der Botschaft, die hinter diesen hübschen Zeichnungen steckt, zu verdeutlichen und dem Leser nahe zu bringen.
Die Botschaft “Alle Menschen sind gleich” wurde dabei immer sehr stark in den Fokus gerückt, z. B. durch das Integrieren von interrassistischen Liebespaaren oder auch von Kindern, die – unschuldig wie sie sind – immer dieselbe Frage stelllten: “Warum?” Auch mir stellte sich diese Frage während des Lesens und ich bezweifle, dass wir jemals eine Antwort darauf bekommen werden.
Niemand kommt bereits hasserfüllt zur Welt. Wir werden nicht mit dem Gefühl von Hass geboren, wir bekommen es gelehrt, aufgezeigt, vorgelebt, und zwar von denjenigen, die uns eigentlich ein Vorbild sein sollten: Eltern, Großeltern, Tanten, Onkeln, Freunden, Bekannten. Es sind genau diese Menschen, Eltern, Großeltern, etc. pp. die uns einen angemessenen Weg ebnen sollten; mit gutem Beispiel vorangehen sollten; uns Werte lehren sollten, Werte, nicht vergleichbar mit dem Gefühl von Hass, Rassismus, Homophobie, Antifeminismus, Antisemitismus, etc. pp.
Die Zeichnungen und auch die Texte, haben mich unfassbar berührt, gingen mir durch Mark und Bein, waren ihre Botschaften so stark und wichtig, dass ich fast nach jeder Kurzgeschichte eine kurze Pause einlegen musste, nicht nur um sie auf mich wirken zu lassen, sondern auch um sie zu verarbeiten. Die Tränen der letzten Geschichte mussten erst einmal versiegen, bevor ich mit der nächsten beginnen konnte.
Besondere Auftritte gab es zum Beispiel auch von Supergirl, Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Poison Ivy und Harry Potter. Insgesamt wurden Superhelden häufig mit in die Geschichten eingebaut, ebenso wie Kinder, von deren Weltoffenheit wir Erwachsenen uns hin und wieder tatsächlich noch ein gutes Stück abschneiden können. Und auch wenn mich sämtliche der Geschichten unglaublich berührt haben, gab es einige, die mich ganz besonders berührt haben.
Brenda und Isaiah, Mutter und Sohn, die gemeinsam des öfteren den Club Pulse aufsuchten, um gemeinsam zu feiern und zu tanzen. Klingt komisch? War aber so. Sie waren nicht bloß Mutter und Sohn, sie waren Freunde. Brenda war eine Kämpfernatur; bereits zwei Mal hatte sie schon den Krebs besiegt. Sie liebte ihr Leben, sie liebte ihren Sohn. Als sie angeschossen wurde, schrie sie ihrem Sohn zu, zu laufen; sich in Sicherheit zu bringen. Er tat es. Er rannte los. Er brachte sich in Sicherheit. Er überlebte. Sie nicht.
“Everybody who knew my mom knew she was the mom everybody wanted. She always took everybody in with open arms. She loved everybody equally, no matter what.”
– Isaiah Henderson
Dieses Bild, diese wenigen Worte, hatten eine solch immense Wirkung auf mich, dass ich für einen winzigen Moment keine Luft mehr bekam. Ein Gefühl von Wut überkam mich, Wut und endlose Trauer, die ich kaum verarbeiten konnte.
Und dann gab es noch diese Geschichte, ein Mann, der 2009 einen Hund aus dem Heim adoptierte, ihn liebte wie ein eigenes Kind und ihm ein Leben schenkte, das lebenswert war. Und dann, 2016, eines Tages, kommt sein Herrschen nicht mehr nach Hause und der Hund muss zurück ins Heim.
Diese Geschichte hat mich für fast eine Stunde vollkommen ausgeknocked. Ich war völlig fertig mit den Nerven, bekam keine Luft und die Tränen wollten einfach nicht versiegen, selbst jetzt, genau in diesem Augenblick, in dem ich diese Worte schreibe, verschwimmen sie vor meinen Augen, weil mich erneut diese ungeheure Tränenflut überkommt. Selbst das Foto zu machen, ist mir schwer gefallen, weil es mir so unfassbar nahe geht.
Doch obwohl sich diese Comic-Anthologie thematisch mit dem grauenhaften und schrecklichen Anschlag auf den Pulse Club in Orlando, ein Club, in dem Mitglieder der LGBQT+ Community miteinander feierten, befasst, sprüht dieses Comic nur so von Hoffnung, Toleranz, Akzeptanz und Liebe, ganz besonders von Liebe und zwar Liebe, wie sie unterschiedlicher nicht sein könnte. Der Schrei nach Gleichberechtigung ist so laut, dass er kaum zu überhören ist.
Ich würde dieses Comic am liebsten jedem in die Hand drücken. Die Hoffnungslosigkeit, die in einem herrscht, wird kompensiert durch die Menschlichkeit, die – so unglaublich es manchmal auch erscheint – noch immer Teil von uns Menschen ist. All wenn all diese schrecklichen Taten einen Schritt zurück in unserer Gesellschaft bedeuten, so gewinnt die Liebe doch immer, solange wir zusammenhalten, uns nicht verstecken und kämpfen; miteinander kämpfen; kämpfen für eine Welt, in der es sich zu leben lohnt.
Die Message, die in diesem Comic steckt ist so unglaublich wertvoll und wichtig; so wichtig, man sollte sie ganz laut in die Welt hinausschreien, nur um sicher zu gehen, dass sie auch jeder gehört hat.
Anmerkung: Auch in den USA wurden von den Einnahmen Gelder in entsprechende Fonds gespendet. Ich hatte mir die englische Version des Comics zugelegt, die ebenfalls sehr einfach zu lesen ist. Nur für den Fall, dass sich manche vielleicht nicht sicher sind, ob sie jetzt doch lieber das deutsche, oder das englische Comic lesen möchten.
Originalpost: http://ivybooknerd.com/rezension-love...
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