By
David Rondinelli
Looking to find out more about comics, comic’s history and comic critiques through the gay perspective, well look no further as Geek’s Out presents three fantastic YouTube Channels devoted to comics and pop culture all hosted by members of the LGBTQ community.
Whether you are looking to get educated or invigorated you’ll be glad you checked out these channels. Like any good YouTube watcher, be sure to subscribe.
1.) Gay Comic Geek
(https://www.youtube.com/user/GayComicGeek)
It can’t get any more specialized with this YouTube Channel. With over fourteen thousand subscribers and three million page views, it’s easy to see that the Gay Comic Geek, also known as Paul Staffelbach, is a certified YouTube celebrity. His videos are made specifically with a gay slant towards the comics, gaming and geek community. He offers a wide variety of content on his channel as well. Educating allies and appealing to fan boys of all orientations, he creates a space with his videos that is both fun and laid back.
His channel offers helpful reviews of everything from mainstream and independent comics, games, figures, cosplay, conventions and even gay porn all wrapped up in a cool set background and a host with killer abs. He could be the gay Peter Parker, so Marvel…take note.
2.) Its Super Effective
(https://www.youtube.com/user/SprEffective)
Making it an international list, we have ISE. He has built quite a following with his specialized videos that give the back histories of some of comics more obscure as well as popular characters. With equal coverage of characters from both DC and Marvel, ISE is great for viewers who are just getting into comics. It is also effective for fans to get an overall look at a character’s historical highlights without having to read several decades worth of back issues or sludge through a Wikipedia page, because he does it for you.
Openly gay and a self-proclaimed chaos magician, he has several videos explaining his belief in magic and how it fits into the comic book landscape. Tying into his videos are comics as metaphors for tolerance that prove to be as colorful as his ever changing hair. Once you’ve gotten the history lesson of a lifetime, you can head over to his separate gaming channel that is just as effective. Here’s hoping ISE gets its own comic book series.
3.) Rantasmo
(https://www.youtube.com/user/rantasmo)
Relevant and to the point, Rantasmo offers viewers short tidbits into the world of media criticism with his “Needs More Gay” videos. Whether he is deconstructing anime and video games such as Cutie Honey, Persona 4, or creating his own - Mystical Battle Princess Natalie- or reviewing American Horror Story, Magic Mike and The Covenant it’s hard to imagine any of these “needing” more gay as opposed to being glaring examples of gay pop culture. Still, with his insightful look at the medium of television, literature, anime and video games the only thing that Rantasmo “needs” is to make his videos longer for us to enjoy.
Bonus
Beyond the Trailer/ Think About the Ink
(https://www.youtube.com/user/BeyondTheTrailer)
Perhaps the most famous YouTube Channel on the list, Beyond the Trailer is a must see for anyone looking to get a true inside look at all the trailers, news, analysis, and recommendations for all up-coming comic book movies and movies in general. All of this is due to its charming and knowledgeable host Grace Randolph, whose all-inclusive access makes her a beloved ally to the LGBTQ community. Not only is she certified smart with her wit and critical attention to every detail of today’s comic book properties, but she is also an accomplished comic book writer. She even has separate channels catering directly to the comic book reader with Between the Pages and Think about the Ink.
Some of her best videos have taken place in the top floor ofNew York City’s own Midtown Comics where she has had various on-site news clips and countdowns that call for more gay voices in the comic book industry.Randolphalso calls for questions as she encourages fan participation, even fielding questions from her subscribers for her trademark inclusivity. Aside from finding yourself thoroughly entertained, you’ll also be scratching your head thinking, “that’s a great point” after most of her videos.
