BETWEEN THE MARGINS AND THE DECADES

LESBIAN REPRESENTATION IN 'DYKES TO WATCH OUT FOR', BY ALISON BECHDEL

Abstract

Comics, which gained prominence in the early 20th century, reached their peak around 1940, a period known as the Golden Age of American comics. The recognition of underground comics occurred with the publication of Zap Comix, created by Robert Crumb. The historical trajectory of comics has therefore been marked by processes of marginalization, during which the first feminist collectives emerged, as well as graphic narratives that achieved academic and literary relevance with works exploring fracturing themes, autobiographical accounts, and coming-of-age processes. In this context, this paper analyzes the graphic novel The Essential Dykes to Watch Out For (2021), focusing on the representation of the lesbian characters Mo and Lois. The theoretical framework includes the concepts of graphic narrative (Eisner, 2005) and the historical trajectory of comics (García, 2012). The thematic study centers on the lesbian continuum and lesbian existence (Rich, 2010) as well as lesbian comics (Bauer, 2015). Through interpretive reading, we understand the characters’ developmental trajectory and highlight their singularities as lesbian women, where some stereotypes are confirmed while others are challenged. Thus, the discussions presented may contribute to broadening the debate on comics, gender, and sexuality.