LEO RISING HC QUEER SPACES SEXUALITY AND FAME

Leo Rising HC follows Laura, an Alaska-based creator who blends online charm with a private, evolving sense of self. Known to followers as the Internet’s lesbian bestie, Laura also operates Leo, a secret trans identity, as she navigates queer spaces, sexuality, and fame. When an old friend returns and nightlife exposes new possibilities, Laura’s two selves collide, testing what she wants, what she fears, and who she can become. Archie Bongiovanni writes and draws with candor and humor, delivering a bold, introspective graphic novel about online personas, real relationships, and the costs of fame. Spanning 224 pages in a vivid hardcover, Leo Rising sits alongside landmark queer comics while expanding Bongiovanni’s own voice, drawing from influences like Dykes to Watch Out For, Genderqueer, and Mimosa. It’s a funny, wrenching, and deeply human exploration of identity, community, and belonging under the midnight sun.

Who might be interested in reading?

• Readers who enjoy deeply personal, humorous explorations of gender identity and sexuality in graphic novels.
• Fans of Archie Bongiovanni’s past works (Mimosa, A Quick and Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns) and classic queer comics.
• Readers drawn to stories about online fame, digital personas, and the pull between online life and real relationships.
• Those who appreciate stories set against intimate queer spaces, with warmth, candor, and a willingness to tackle difficult questions about selfhood.