I'm a bit of a writer and artist/cartoonist/illustrator... been doing comics since I could draw. Been doing webcomics almost since the internet. Anyway, one of my projects has been Magellan a superhero comic, started a bit over ten years ago. It has a small readership, maybe one or two thousand regulars (believe me, compared to some webcomics where the readership is 100,000 a day, mine is small change). I've been treating those readers badly for the last few months - I've been MIA, distracted by "other developments" in my life, aka "transition".
Anyway, I've decided to bite the bullet and tell them, not only am I now getting back to production but that I'm also trans.
The whole thing (and my webcomic) is here (http://magellanverse.com/hanging/).
If you just want to read the pertinent part here it is...
Well, I've been going through some "stuff" lately, which I kind of alluded to a while ago. It hasn't been the core cause for my muse skipping town on me but it no doubt played a part.
Essentially, I'm transgender and over the last few months I have transitioned to my preferred female gender identity – and I am now Grace Crowley. Nope, this isn't a joke, no my account hasn't been hacked. But yes, I am now living as a woman. Living, breathing, writing, cartooning and everythinging as Grace. The pronouns I'd ask you to use when referring to my work – past, present and future – are she and/or her. If you would I'd be deeply grateful.
I don't know what you know about trans people, chances are 99% of that is not all that accurate anyway given the portrayal of trans women in the media isn't particularly realistic. Stereotypes of trans women are generally demeaning, derogatory and wildly inaccurate. But hey, whatever, right? Stereotypes, gonna stereotype. I'm not about to try and lecture you on what being trans is all about, I'm not going to bring the politics of that into my comics – I'd link to something useful that really simply, clearly, non-condescendingly explains what the issues and processes are, except I'm yet to find that page. Anyway, the only thing you really need to know is that I'm so much more freaking happier now than I've ever been in my life. You seriously have no idea (unless you're trans too, I guess).
If you're cool about all this, then cool. Yay. If you don't care what flipping gender I am because all you really want is for me to pull my flipping finger out of my flipping butt and start drawing flipping Magellan again, then, uh, cool! If you're not cool about it and think nasty things about it and me, then please keep that to yourself, I'm not interested in hearing it.
The only change you should notice about the comic is that underneath, where it currently says my previous male name, it will begin to say "by Grace Crowley" instead. As there are almost 1,000 pages this might take a bit of time for me to accomplish but I'll get there...
So yeah. Gulp. And whew! :)
:-*
You Know!
Well get writing Grace.
Go, shoo
;)
Do we need to chain you to your drawing stuff till you publish the next lot Grace?
You're leaving people hanging! Go. Draw.
Before Cindy gets the whips and brands out.
Kudos to anyone who draws - I don't go past awesome stick figures which vaguely resemble match sticks.
Well written and any of 'those' people who decide to voice nasty things about you, clearly belong in the back of the garden shed with the rest of the tools.
Now get back to your desk start planning, start writing, start drawing, start re doing your old art work. So you can come out to play this weekend at supernova with a clear conscious.
Quote from: luna nyan on June 09, 2014, 05:20:40 AM
Kudos to anyone who draws - I don't go past awesome stick figures which vaguely resemble match sticks.
Don't know if you're familiar with XKCD (http://xkcd.com) - but that guy has accomplished an awful lot with stick figures! :)
Quote from: immortal gypsy on June 09, 2014, 05:32:26 AM
...so you can come out to play this weekend at supernova with a clear conscious.
I'll be there!
Brave girl!
I want first issue signed Grace!
Grace! That was an inspiring read. You hit all the right bases for a home run take home message.
You're awesomesauce!
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(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Foi58.tinypic.com%2F2mcw28x.jpg&hash=f420f7e01d2aa1728a63f80ef5cf14bf32599b3c)
Hiya Grace - excellent news, and I bet your website has taken quite a few more hits today (well, I visited at least :D )
Have to add yours to my list of comics to follow....
Mwah mwah!
J
I am now a fan of your comic! Good job Grace ;D
Quote from: Ms Grace on June 09, 2014, 05:37:28 AM
Don't know if you're familiar with XKCD (http://xkcd.com) - but that guy has accomplished an awful lot with stick figures! :)
He has. Geek humour at its best! Fangasm @ what if?
Quote
I'll be there!
I soooo wanted to go whenI heard Stan the man was going to be there. Sadly, i have work commitments all weekend. I still have Spidey comics lying around. It's out at homebush so I can't even sneak out if I wanted to. >:(
Thanks everyone - wow, I've been getting a great response from readers. Here are a couple of my favourites so far...
QuoteCongrats on transitioning. I have possibly an even dozen trans friends, or as I call them *friends*, so I have an idea what it involves. Good wishes to you, good luck, and good grief will you hurry up and get the next episode done!
QuoteOMG I'm trans male to female and have not been able to transition yet but do know what you mean and are talking about sweetie huggles I TOTALLY forgive you (for being MIA) hun and wb Grace!!!
More later...
very nice to know this congrats
Another one...
QuoteHuh, well, I already thought you were a woman before which is still true so! Congratulations I guess?
Also more Magellan! YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!
Hee hee
Wow! So Grace, very talented indeed. Guess there's more to you than just a pretty face and a winning smile, nice job explaining the hiatus to your readers!
You have a new reader here, Grace! I think you handled the whole coming out thing with, well, lots of grace. :laugh: It seems like your readership is full of some thoughtful and supportive people as well.
Grace, congratilations for taking the message out to your audience, I think it is very clear and to the point with all the important little details nailed, a very good read :). Am happy to see this so sensitive and clear message, kudos and I wish you the best of lucks.
I don't know why but this brings the start of tears to my eyes. I guess because one day I hope to be as brave and as beautiful as you are. This is just to awesome!!! I would like to include a link on my website. Which should be live today. I am feeling a little better in my life at the moment so I will be working on it some today. Transgenderfriendly.net Cant get my map links to work. But others should.
Smiles :)
Yippie skippie for Grace ;D
From the comments you've shared it seems all avid web comic readers, it seems that like most of us we don't care who is behind the comic as long as they (in this case you) keep on writing, and don't leave us hanging on a string wanting more.
Congratulations, well done
Congratulations Grace! I think your letter is perfect and that's so awesome that you're getting such a good response from your fans!
Congratulations, Grace! Keep moving forward! And it seems that most of your fans are completely ok with it, which is good.
Very cool, comic writer and all.
The coming out notice is spot on.
Please link the comic :)
The comic lives at magellanverse.com (http://magellanverse.com), you'll have to follow the previous and/or archive links to the right to access the stories, etc
I have to say that the response from my readers thus far has been nothing short of overwhelmingly positive. What an awesome bunch of people. I'll share some more comments from them when I get home from work.