Rye Hickman

Yaaay can’t wait to read it!

The cover of OPTING OUT, a middle grade graphic novel by Maia Kobabe and Swati "Lucky" Srikumar. The cover shows the main character, a 12 year old Desi teen named Saachi who has short black hair and brown skin, wearing a tshirt and shorts and gleefully dumping out a backpack full of eclectic items: a soccer ball, a sword, candy, pens, paper, a magazine, a book, a sunflower, a pumpkin vine, tape, a ruler, earrings and a nazar amulet

Opting Out Maia Kobabe and Swati “Lucky” Srikumar, illus. by Swati “Lucky” Srikumar. Graphix, $25.99 hardcover (256p) ISBN 978-1-5461-1012-5; $14.99 paper ISBN 978-1-339-01224-7 A tween reconciles puberty’s effects on her body with shifting feelings about her gender identity in an empathic graphic novel from Kobabe (Breathe: Journeys to Healthy Binding) and debut creator Srikumar. Navigating seventh grade proves challenging for Saachi, especially since her best friend, Lyla, seems more interested in talking about boys than the fictional worlds the pair used to bond over. Saachi’s confusion surrounding recent dreams in which she is a boy, pressure from her parents to take on a more active role in managing the household, and mental and bodily discomfort from her first period manifest in emotional outbursts, which she channels into physical altercations with a classmate. Concerned about Saachi’s changing demeanor, her mother gives Saachi a book about puberty, and sections about nonbinary and transgender kids prompt personal reflection (“How would I know if I’m not a girl?... I think I prefer things that fall in the middle”). Saachi’s internal monologue, journal entries, and poetry provide multiple avenues across which the creators reflect on themes of identity and adolescence. Character expressions and body language rendered in rich jewel tones take center stage in this tender and intimate portrait. The protagonists are depicted with various skin tones. Ages 10–12. Agent: (for Kobabe) Emily Mitchell, Wernick & Pratt. (May)

My forthcoming book, OPTING OUT, with @luckyscomix.bsky.social just got its first starred review from @publisherswkly.bsky.social! Review is here www.publishersweekly.com/9781546110125 and you can pre-order here bookshop.org/p/books/opti... The book is out on May 5 2026!

on with friday

(i'm still paying for the domain, so www.not-but.com for all your reminding needs)

Aaaah right back atcha 🖤

CONGRATS!!!!

Come to AZCAF! Get this poster! See the panel I'm moderating! Talk to me about word balloons!

Samson

Pride in Panels event poster featuring cartoon art of various cartoonist people. Text: Pride in Panels SF Queer Comics Fest 2026 Feb 15th 12-5 PM SF Main Library 100 Larkin St.

graphic for Pride in Panels event Up From The Underground: Queer Comics Pioneers two figures inside a comic panel cling to each other text: Moderator: Maggie Dahlstrom Robyn Adams Dylan Edwards Leslie Ewings Lee Marrs 2pm - 2:45 pm [Sunday, Feb 15]

Graphic for Pride in Panels featuring a photo of Dylan Edwards text: Tabling at PIPfest Dylan Edwards

Zine cover featuring a comic drawing of two trans guys in superhero garb text: TrannyToons Presents: Annotated Trans Comics of the Early '00s by Dylan "NDR" Edwards

I'm going to be at Pride in Panels in San Francisco on Feb 15 (this Sunday!), and will be a guest on the Up From the Underground: Queer Comics Pioneers panel!
www.prideinpanels.org

I'll also have copies of my new zine TrannyToons Presents: Annotated Trans Comics of the Early '00s

#QueerComics

Yesssss! It’s so thicc

do I have any friends or followers who I could talk to about what it's to grow up with diabetes (particularly when you were a teenager, like 14-15), as well as what it's like to use modern tech to manage it? it's for a comics thing

Heero Yuy, from the anime Gundam Wing, is wearing a school uniform and tearing an invitation in half.

Relena Peacecraft, from the anime Gundam Wing, is wearing a school uniform and looking shook as she watches Heero rip apart her invitation.

Roses are red,
My gaze Prussian blue
Nice to meet you Relena,
Omae o korosu

Looked em up and yeah, it does. (It’s a parkour gym haha)

A photograph of part of a sign saying, “WEIGHT ROOM RULES, AGES 12+ ONLY, FEEL FREE TO USE THE WEIGHT ROOM TO WARM UP OR WHILE YOU WAIT, THE WEIGHT ROOM IS STRICTLY FOR CONVENTIONAL EXERCISES ONLY”

Sign posted by the squat rack and bench press at…guess what kind of gym

Happy #ValentinesDay bluesky! We got you a 10 page preview of our gay, witty, billionaire-hating romcom. You don’t have to get us anything, but giving it a read would be appreciated ❤️

Yesssss!

That makes me happy! Honestly I applied bc the show focuses on actual comics, which is rarer than it used to be for suuuure. Plus it’s not a bad drive down haha

I’m also very excited!!!

Me and @barkmouchard.bsky.social and @longtalljodie.com have a short in this one! Out 4/29!

i teamed up with @ryehickman.bsky.social and @longtalljodie.com for a story in HELLO BODY HORROR #1!! our comic, BODY POSITIVITY, follows a body positive influencer who joins an influencers-only gym where things aren’t quite right…

pre-order at your LCS!! out 4/29/26 from @boom-studios.com !! 😈

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERGALACTIC, by Jadzia Axelrod, Nicole Maines, Travis Moore and Tamra Bonvillain

GALAXY: AS THE WORLD FALLS DOWN by Jadzia Axelrod, Rye Hickman and Jodie Troutman

The Spring of Galaxy and Dreamer is coming!

April 29: They're in JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERGALACTIC, by me, @nicoleamaines.bsky.social, Travis Moore & @tamrabonvillain.bsky.social!

May 6: Teenage Galaxy & Dreamer are in GALAXY: AS THE WORLD FALLS DOWN by me, @ryehickman.bsky.social & @longtalljodie.com!

Just finished reading Testament by @jmarshallsmith.bsky.social and omggg it is SO good!!! The sense of space and quiet, and all the delightful little creatures! I’ll be thinking about Testament all alone out there for a while

Graphic that says “2026 CREATOR THE ARIZONA COMICBOOK ARTS FESTIVAL SAT. FEB. 28TH” and features my profile pic as well as a crop of the Dreamer cover

Thrilled to tell y’all that at the end of the month I’ll be joining some really cool creators in Phoenix! Come say hi and pick up some comics! I’ll be taking a few commissions too- something I do v infrequently!

Graphic that says “2026 CREATOR THE ARIZONA COMICBOOK ARTS FESTIVAL SAT. FEB. 28TH” and features my profile pic as well as a crop of the Dreamer cover

Thrilled to tell y’all that at the end of the month I’ll be joining some really cool creators in Phoenix! Come say hi and pick up some comics! I’ll be taking a few commissions too- something I do v infrequently!

I do actually think there’s a super-casual version of this that could work

Oof! I hope you mend fast and well!

Problem 2- every time I read ‘the oct is more $$$ than other long trails bc you can’t dispersed-camp’ I simply plan to not get caught so you’ll have to have a similar ethos/lack of cash lol
Problem 3- do we just rotate through who writes the ‘LATE’ emails to our editors or

While I’m here not doing promo, I have this (terrible) idea to get a bunch of cartoonists to do the oregon coast trail w me since so many of yall live out there.
Problem 1- most of us are houseplants. you’d have to also be feral

I obviously won’t be doing that, it makes no sense to reluctantly return to soc med and then immediately do the worst job I know how to do. So expect it to start late Mon morn, when the east coasters w desk jobs get bored 🤗

I’m back (took Jan as a mental health break 10/10 would rec) because I have comics stuff to tell everyone about so get ready I guess
Should I rapid-fire all my promo all at once on a Saturday morning and then disappear back into the woods is that good