Queer eye on comic books

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has announced the nominees for this year's Media Awards, including the Outstanding Comic Book category. And the nominees are . . .

Ex Machina (Wildstorm/DC Comics)
Hard Time (DC Comics)
Luba (Fantagraphics Books)
My Faith in Frankie (Vertigo/DC Comics)
Strangers in Paradise (Abstract Studio)

For those who aren't familiar with the awards, a little explanation from the organization's website: "The GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor the media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives." The 2005 awards honor works that were published, broadcast, or otherwise hit the streets during 2004. You can get further details, and an inside view of how the Outstanding Comic Book category works, in a rant I wrote for Sequential Tart back in July 2003. You can also find a complete list of the English-language nominees -- including movies, TV, print media, music, and theater -- here, and the Spanish-language nominees (sorry, no comic books) here.

I'm on the nominating committee for the comic book category, and I also get to vote for the winner(s), so I'm not gonna tell you what I think of this list . . . at least not now. Check with me again in a few months, after the winners are announced.