No Straight Lines

In the last few decades comic books have become more popular as a medium of artistic expression than ever before. The stories once told exclusively within the pages of Marvel and DC comics now dominate the mainstream film industry, while creatives like Art Spiegelman and Alan Moore have earned their place among the canon of the literary legends of the twentieth century. The mainstream sensibilities of the medium are to inspire and empower, but for many growing up in a pre-Stonewall America there were few stories they could identify with. In the seventies this exclusivity in representation began to change, as queer artists and writers began to use their own experiences to produce material for queer audiences. 

Vivian Kleiman’s new documentary, No Straight Lines, explores how the queer comics movement began and where it succeeded. Interviews with the movement’s pioneers are used to structure and flesh out the film, often leaving it packed with personal anecdotes and intimate reflections. As well as that, rare archival artwork and photographs are used to great effect, perfectly illustrating the changing styles and aesthetics of the time. The film never once feels artificial or lifeless in its presentation, as Kleiman presents the story with a lot of necessary heart and reverence. The legacy of the movement is explored through interviews with a number of artists working in today’s comic book industries, who discuss how the movement affected them and their work.

The film works perfectly as an introduction to this world; I knew little about figures like Alison Bechdel, Howard Cruse, and Rupert Kinnard, and now feel a lot more confident to go back and explore their work. I am really hoping that the accessibility is advantageous for the film, and that it will reach (and then inspire) as wide an audience as possible.

Written by Ben Matthews