Blackward is a 2023 graphic novel by Lawrence Lindell. It follows four Black queer friends who start their own zine festival. It was positively reviewed and was nominated for various awards, including an Eisner Award and GLAAD Media Award.
Plot Lika, Amor, Tony, and Lala are four Black queer friends. After being banned from their local community centre due to an anti-LGBTQ protest, they resolve to create a zine festival called Blackward (combining the words Black and awkward).
Development The book was based off a webcomic called The Section created earlier by Lindell. In an interview with Kirkus Reviews, he noted Tee Franklin's Bingo Love as an inspiration for creating his own "Black queer story".
Reception Blackward was given a starred review by Kirkus Reviews, which dubbed the book "A paean to the radical joy of being every part of yourself". It was also reviewed by Publishers Weekly and Broken Frontier. + Awards and honorsYearAward/HonorResultRef.2022Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in ComicsShortlisted2024Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ+ ComicsShortlistedGLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Graphic Novel/AnthologyShortlistedEisner Award for Best Publication for TeensShortlistedJacqueline Woodson AwardShortlisted
See also
Buckle Up - another graphic novel by Lindell
References