ComiXology Original “Liebestrasse” Queer Romance in a Time of Fascism Releasing Tomorrow!

ComiXology has announced the original graphic novel Liebestrasse. It has been described as an “unforgettable LGBTQ love story set in Germany during the 1930s.” You can own it on November 6, 2019.

Liebestrasse features a story of two men who fall in love in the shadow of rising fascism. It marks the graphic novel debut of writer and comic book editor Greg Lockard. The title has art by co-creator Tim Fish (Cavalcade of Boys), coloring by Héctor Barros, lettering by Lucas Gattoni, and it has been edited by Will Dennis.

Liebestrasse debuts November 6, 2019, and will be available to read at no additional cost for Amazon Prime, Kindle Unlimited, and comiXology Unlimited members, and will also be available for purchase on Kindle and ComiXology.

Here’s the official description:

In Liebestrasse, Sam, an American banker, meets Philip, a German art critic, while living and working in Berlin. The freedom of the Weimar Republic is over as the Nazis win power and their sweet, bilingual romance is quickly hit with an unspeakable reality as Philip is arrested and disappears. Sam desperately searches for Philip with the help of Philip’s sister and their friends. Eventually, the political situation around Sam has deteriorated enough that he is forced to return to the United States. Terrorized by the things he saw, Sam eventually returns to Berlin for answers as the post-war reconstruction begins in 1952. But his survivor’s guilt and shattered heart have sent him on a fool’s errand, across a city, country, and world that have been forever and horrifically altered.

“There have been countless comics, books, films and television shows about Germany’s descent into fascism because it’s essential that these stories continue to be told,” said writer Greg Lockard.

“After touring the campsite at Auschwitz, I sat on a bench in the Planty Krakowskie outside the walled city of Krakow, in a surreal daze,” shared artist Tim Fish. “To escape the horror I struggled to comprehend, my mind kept jumping back to the week prior while I visited the camp Theresienstadt. The Nazis had made a significant effort in maintaining the camp conditions and records in an effort to convince the Red Cross they were treating its inhabitants humanely. As a result, the camp museum contains dozens of biographies of its residents. While I was there, it became obvious to me who the gay men were. Instead of facts such as “had three children,” it said things such as “was active in the Berlin theatre.” Sitting in the Planty, I kept thinking of those men…how happy they were in a progressive and tolerant society, and how abruptly it ended. I drew several sketches of a couple, broken apart by the war…one German, sent to a camp, and one American, forced to flee Berlin.”

“Tim and I have been friends and collaborators for over 15 years and we co-created this graphic novel to shine a light on a troubling period of world history, from a perspective that will hopefully allow for new discussions and thinking,” said Lockard. “This is the story of two gay men in Nazi Germany, told by two gay comic creators living in America. We hope the story of Liebestrasse will resonate with readers everywhere.”

I do feel that such stories, no matter how gut-wrenching, need to be told. Considering the ever-changing political landscape, many people are still at risk of losing their rights. Some don’t even have rights at all. It’s important for society to be reminded of the horrors certain human beings are capable of, and why heinous acts in history should never be repeated.

“Liebestrasse is an incredibly poignant love story wrapped in history that feels simultaneously of the past and the present,” shared comiXology Head of Content, Chip Mosher. “Greg Lockard and Tim Fish deftly tell the story of a tumultuous time for the LGBTQ community in WWII Germany, and it is an honor to be able to bring this story to the world via comiXology Originals.”

The upcoming graphic novel has an interesting backstory. It came to the attention of comiXology Originals at last year’s “Thought Bubble” in Leeds, England, where it began as a 12-page historical LGBTQ romance that the creative team self-published as a mini-comic.

Now, the entire graphic novel will be available as part of the comiXology Originals line of exclusive digital content come November 6, 2019, timed to this year’s festival where “comiXology is once again the lead sponsor.”

Greg Lockard, Tim Fish, and Héctor Barros will be at “Thought Bubble,’ the UK’s largest comic art festival, taking place at the Harrogate Convention Centre on November 9 and 10, 2019.

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Author: Farid-ul-Haq

Farid has a Double Masters in Psychology and Biotechnology as well as an M.Phil in Molecular Genetics. He is the author of numerous books including Missing in Somerville, and The Game Master of Somerville. He gives us insight into comics, books, TV shows, anime/manga, video games, and movies.

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