It was something of a challenge narrowing my list down to ten items, because there is so much out there that I find inspiring and really well done. Not all of my suggestions are specifically gay-themed, and they are in no particular order, but what I have mentioned here is stuff that I personally found moving and wonderfully crafted. I hope you will enjoy this little list!

1) Storm #1 by Eric Jerome Dickey and David Yardin
Published by Marvel Comics

Gay boys love their strong female heroines, and we all know what an impact Wonder Woman has had on our culture, but for me, ever since I was a little kid, Storm has been my own personal heroine. The latest limited series Marvel has released is about her teen years, growing up in Africa. The series is wonderfully written by Eric Jerome Dickey, and David Yardin's artwork is simply beautiful. Storm is just starting to discover her mutant abilities and faces many difficulties, which in some ways are parallel to what a gay kid faces coming to terms with his or her homosexuality.

Buy this book here or ask for it at your local comics shop.

2) G-Man by Glen Hanson
Published by Bruno Gmunder Verlag Gmbh

Okay, so this is not strictly a "comic book" per se, but the art IS breathtaking. Mr. Hanson is a formidable talent and has an exquisitely lush style. His beefcake boys are curvaceous and sultry and over the years, he has evolved a very unique style of illustration. The book is a hardcover edition and 64 pages of stunning male imagery.

Buy this book here or ask for it at your local comics shop.

3) Earth's Mightiest Heroes by Joe Casey and Scott Kollins
Published by Marvel Comics

I am a sucker for a hero, and Marvel's Avengers may not be as high profile as the Uncanny X-Men, but they are certainly as much fun in my humble opinion. This hardcover collects the original 8-part limited series and revisits the debut of the original Avengers while setting the story in modern times. The art is by Scott Collins and is really wonderful. The man is a nut for detail, which lends a very realistic aspect to the book. It's a great, fun read and a lot more uplifting than a lot of comics currently on the market!

Buy this book here or ask for it at your local comics shop.

4) Masters Of The Universe: Dark Reflections by Val Staples, Emiliano Santalucia, and Enza Fontana
Published by MV Creations

I am a child of the 80s, so I feel very nostalgic for my childhood heroes. He-man was one of my favorites, and growing up as a gay man, well...who doesn't love a muscular stud in a loincloth. But seriously, MVC did a great job updating the franchise in comic format. The illustrations are really beautiful and created with major attention to detail, and the stories are always good fun!

Buy this book here or ask for it at your local comics shop.

5) Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Willow And Tara by Amber Benson, Christopher Golden, Andi Watson and Terry Moor
Published by Dark Horse Comics

Okay, so you may have to dig through the back issues at your local comic shop for this one, but it's well worth the effort. Amber Benson, who portrayed Tara on the show, co-wrote the issue with Christopher Golden, and Terry Moore illustrated it. The story features our two favorite vampire-fighting lesbians in a cool little side-story which just goes to show that the best thing about Buffy wasn't always Buffy herself! If you like this one, check out the sequels that came out after it.

Buy this book here or ask for it at your local comics shop.

6) Vacation In Ibiza by Lawrence Schimel and Sebas
Published by Eurotica

Mr. Schimel is a brilliant writer who weaves an entertaining and realistic tale about the Ibiza experience. He shows us both sides of the equation in a way that is witty and surprisingly moving. With terrific artwork by artist Sebas, this book has become a staple in my collection of gay-themed comics.

Buy this book here or ask for it at your local comics shop.

7) Superman: Secret Identity by Kurt Busiek and Stuart Immonen
Published by DC Comics

Recently released by DC Comics, this collected edition is a very intimate and brilliantly narrated account of a boy who's secret identity (which sort of takes him by surprise) affords him escapism from the mundane. This title is packed with touching moments and is guaranteed to appeal to the romantic in you. A wonderful read for certain.

Buy this book here or ask for it at your local comics shop.

8) The Gaydar Gang by the Brit Doodz (Theo Bain and Jack Lawrence)
Published by gaydar.co.uk

Okay so this is a web comic, but trust me, it's well worth the surf! Thought the series only lasted for five episodes, the Brit Doodz put together a wickedly fun and SUPERBLY well drawn strip. The characters are sexy and funny, and the sex is blistering hot! Good clean fun!

See this strip here. (WARNING: Adult content!)

9 ) Blacksad by Juan Diaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido
Published by IBooks

Being French, I am always very interested in what French creators have to offer. Blacksad is one of those series which is so gripping, you wanna cry once you've read the only three existing books. The first two volumes of the series have been translated into English and are definitely worth picking up. Again, the art in this is brilliant, and the stories are very engrossing, centering around Jon Blacksad, an anthropomorphic 50s-ish detective with a very personal involvement in all his cases. In English there is also a Blacksad: The Sketch Files trade paperback which offers more background on the first volume of the series.

Buy these books here, here, and here or ask for them at your local comics shop.

10) House of M by Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel
Published by Marvel Comics

I generally hate crossovers, but it's hard to hate them when they revolve around the Scarlet Witch. Another one of my all-time favorite heroines, Wanda is single handedly responsible for "disassembling" the Avengers. What is really cool about this crossover though, is that it is a "what if?" look at many of our favorite heroes. What if Spidey was loved and adored by all mankind? What if Captain America had never been frozen in ice during WWII? A great read that is impossible to put down and leaves you begging for the continuation.

Buy this book here or ask for it at your local comics shop.

Patrick Fillion is the creator of several gay erotic themed comics, including Naked Justice, Camili-Cat, Satisfaction Guaranteed, Guardians of the Cube, and Deimos. He also illustrates for several well-known gay publications, such as Black Inches, Latin Inches, and Freshmen magazine.

All characters and images © their respective owners.

Prism Comics promotes the works of the LGBT community in comics. It does not implicitly endorse any other material or products associated with those works. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s).