I can say with utter certainty that this is the first time I’ve ever, ever even seen the word ‘aromantic’ in any printed media, let alone had any sort of time and care taken to explain it (& with lovely illustrations/character design to boot). Instead I read the comic while smiling (very widely, probably like a loon), then went on to read the following two pages, and lingered there until I was ready to move forward. For a moment, though I wasn’t too surprised per se that aromanticism might be included in a book depicting so many diverse identities, I honestly felt as though I might cry. So, despite being fully aware that asexuality and aromanticism are often associated with one another (& are similar in concept, i.e., the lack* of a certain specific type of attraction), I was not entirely prepared to flip the page and see, in unapologetically bold bubble type, ‘Dame Sonatina, the Aromantic Siren’. After all, not only is there ace representation, but also representation for multiple a-spec labels, including the one that I identity with?! Let me tell you, already I could feel this book clearing my skin and watering my crops, and that’s even before the seeming miracle of what came next. The inclusion of gray-a gargoyles made me emotional as well, especially as I didn’t expect it, several pages after the asexual succubus. And I do feel like it’s worth pointing out that I love the demisexual sword. It encompasses a wide range of sexuality and gender identities, including many lesser-known and rarely represented ones, such as genderfluid, nonbinary, genderqueer, demisexual, pansexual, and polysexual.Īs someone who is gray-asexual, the asexual succubus made me cackle a bit to myself (& also gave me feelinngggssss, but I digress).

Minority Monsters! is a wonderfully illustrated and delightful read.

Minority Monsters! by Tab Kimpton