Although Filipino komiks have long reflected the spirit of their times, blending myth, melodrama, politics, and sharp visual storytelling, it’s only in recent years that queer romance has emerged as one of the medium’s most vibrant and vital forces, offering fresh takes on love that are tender, earnest, and unmistakably Filipino.
Queer writers and illustrators have embraced graphic novels as a space to tell their stories, using the medium to explore narratives about first crushes, quiet heartbreaks, and the intimacy of everyday life. Events such as Komiket have become key spaces for this wave of creators, championing independent voices and giving queer narratives the spotlight they’ve long deserved.
While there are dozens of rising artists creating their own queer-focused visual stories, we’ve narrowed it down to six graphic novels that have built their own dedicated cult followings and carved out a space in komik culture.
‘Ang Kagila-gilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Zsazsa Zaturnnah’ (2003)
Written and illustrated by Carlo Vergara, this queer classic centers on Ada, a sharp-tongued beauty salon owner who transforms into a superhero after swallowing a magical stone and shouting “Zaturnnah!” His alter ego, Zsazsa Zaturnnah, a voluptuous, flame-haired warrior, battles aliens, zombies, and a giant frog to protect her town. Along the way, Ada finds love with the charming Dodong and begins to embrace his body and identity. In 2003, the Manila Critics Circle honored the graphic novel with the National Book Award.
‘Ligaw-Tingin’ (2018)
Published by Gantala Press and edited by Emiliana Kampilan, Ligaw-Tingin is a collection of seven illustrated stories that center around different lesbian couples. From schoolgirls in love to grandmothers living out the silver years of their life together, the anthology was made by queer Filipino women comic book artists who wanted to highlight their own experiences trying to find love in safe spaces. Ligaw-Tingin was listed as part of CNN Philippines’ list, “The Best Filipino Comics of 2018.”
‘Nang Mainlove Ako sa Isang Sakristan’ (2019)
This comic by Richard Mercado tells the story of Francis, son of the local school’s religious and conservative principal. When Francis is caught kissing Didoy, a sacristan, behind the town chapel after mass, the two boys decide to run away. What follows is a thrilling but short-lived adventure about finding love, safety, and acceptance.
‘Champion of the Rose’ (2020)
This graphic novel, written by Cat Aquino and illustrated by Dominique Duran, follows Rey, a trans swordsman far from home, and Rosa, the strong-willed princess of an empire. When Rosa’s father, King Castor VI, announces a deadly tournament of four impossible tasks — offering Rosa’s hand in marriage to the last man standing — the two form an unlikely pact: Rey will fight as her champion to help her reclaim her freedom, and in return, Rosa will help him find his way back home.
‘Ang Jowa Kong Crosswise’ (2022)
Blending elements of Filipino folklore and fanfiction into one romantic slice-of-life graphic novel, Ang Jowa Kong Crosswise explores the relationship between Leo, a human, and Tomas, a manananggal. Ang Jowa Kong Crosswise, written and illustrated by artist Tsambolero, accepts the supernatural as a normal part of life, instead focusing on the very human moments in the couple’s life, ranging from navigating a busy city commute to coming out to family and friends.
‘Cicatrix’ (2021)
Written and illustrated by Elle Shivers, queer artist and co-founder of the Manila Comics Fair, Cicatrix is an autobiographical graphic novel about how Shivers’ guilt over being born into a family of Marcos loyalists has materialized within their physical body. As Shivers worries over a growing lump beneath their ear, they must also come to terms with their feelings about the Marcos family, the American government, and their own family’s complicity during the era of martial law.
