9 Awesome Transgender Characters in Comic Books

Eve Andrews
Mar 30, 2022
5 min read

Updated: Apr 29, 2022

Good representation in comics, particularly in the mainstream, is an ongoing uphill battle, particularly for the LGBTQ+ community. With so many depictions of LGBTQ+ people being made to mock, stereotype, or demonise, it can be difficult to weed out queer characters who actually have effective, well-written story arcs. This is especially true for transgender individuals. And so, in celebration of International Transgender Day of Visibility, we decided to go hunting for some of the good ones. And guess what? We found some!

1) Shvaughn Erin - Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes (1978)

First appearing in Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #241 back in 1978, Shvaughn was one of the first explicit depictions of trans people in comics. Shvaughn was introduced as a supporting character in the Legion of Superheroes. A fiery member of the Interplanetary Science Police, she was also in a relationship with her comrade, Element Lad. In 1992 it is revealed that Shvaughn is a transwoman, having been born as a male named Sean. While some aspects of her storyline as a transwoman are potentially questionable, she is nevertheless a significant historical steppingstone in the ongoing journey towards better representation.

2) Lord Fanny - The Invisibles (1994)

Appearing in a series titled The Invisibles, published by DC’S Vertigo imprint in 1994, Lord Fanny represents a much darker view of life as a transwoman that is seldom explored in comics. Born in Brazil as the only child of a powerful witch, Fanny’s mother raised her as a girl to continue the lineage of witches, as men were unable to inherit. While her beginnings as a transgender woman represent a potential misunderstanding of the identity, the character does go on to explore some of the very real dangers faced by transwomen, particular for those in underprivileged areas. Another important historical landmark in the world of queer comics, The Invisibles is definitely worth a look. But proceed with caution; it contains explorations of suicide and physical, mental and sexual abuse.

3) Echo - The Dreaming (1997)

Echo was introduced into Niel Gaiman’s Sandman Universe via the spinoff comic series, The Dreaming. Written by Caitlín R. Kiernan, a writer and fellow transgender woman, Echo became one of the best-loved antiheroes of The Dreaming series, with her intricate character arc and diverse range of intriguing powers. While her character and development within the narrative is far from perfect, she nevertheless deserves a mention. She is an early example of a popular, mainstream transgender character and one who isn’t defined by the fact that she is trans. Instead, her appeal relies solely on her compelling character and intriguing personality.

4) Alysia Yeoh - Batgirl (2011)

Created for DC’s ongoing Batgirl comic series, Alysia Yeoh made her first appearance in Batgirl #4 as Barbara Gordon’s best friend. She remains one of the most widely publicised trans characters in the comic book world. She is loved by fans for her well-written character, caring personality and memorable emotional moments with her Batgirl bestie! While she remains, for the most part, a side character in Batgirl, Alysia is given more time in the limelight in 2018’s DC Bombshells, in which she was recruited by the Batgirls, a group of young female crimefighters inspired by Batwoman. Here's to hoping we’ll see more of Alysia in future Batgirl related media!

5) Rosemaster - Cucumber Quest (2011)

A webcomic by Gigi D.G., Cucumber Quest is a cute, colourful and all-around queer-positive tale, following the adventures of a pair of rabbit siblings and the cast of friends they accrue along the way. However, one of the most intriguing beings they encounter is undoubtedly Rosemaster. Rosemaster is a refreshingly open-minded take on the concept of a transgender villain. Rather than being flat-out demonised, she is given a deeply compelling story arc that is as thought-provoking as it is nuanced, leading readers to question the concept of amorality. Clever, compassionate and an all-around classy lady, Rosemaster represents what is unquestionably the best kind of villain - one that we can unironically love and even relate to.

6) Cassandra - The Wicked + The Divine (2014)

The Wicked + The Divine is a contemporary fantasy comic that has frequently been praised for its representation of LGBTQ+ characters. Among these characters is Cassandra Igarashi, a transwoman with a Master's degree in Comparative Mythology, aspiring to become a journalist. She ascends to Godhood as the embodiment of the Norse God of past and fate and becomes one of the three Norns, a group of divine female vigilantes who determine the fates of gods and humans alike. With her fiery wit and fun personality, Cassandra’s character arc follows a complex narrative that dives deep into power struggles, personal identity and imposter syndrome. Plus, she’s constantly at loggerheads with Lucifer, which is always fun to see!

7) Jo - Lumberjanes (2014)

A fun, wacky, LGBTQ+ adventure, Lumberjanes follows the mad misadventures of a group of monster-fighting ladies! One of these fantastic, butt-kicking gals is Jo, the calm, level-headed lady of the group, invaluable for her unprecedented problem solving and analytical skills. In issue #17 of Lumberjanes, it is revealed that Jo is transgender via a heartfelt coming out scene in which she discusses her experience as a transgender woman with her friend, Barney (who later comes out as non-binary after being inspired by Jo’s courage). Jo is perhaps one of the most normalised depictions of the transgender experience in comic books to date. With Lumberjanes’ sweet, slice-of-life undertone, the fact that Jo is transgender doesn’t take over her character arc, allowing her to remain defined by her unique, lovable and ever-evolving nature. She is intricate, resilient and inspiring, and not to mention heartwarmingly humorous! However, she is by no means without flaws, making for an extremely candid and humanising depiction of a trans individual.

8) Sera - Angela: Asgard’s Assassin (2015)

Following the story of Angela, AKA: Thor’s long lost sister, Angela: Asgard’s Assassin offers a uniquely engaging story about reclaiming one’s identity. In her journey through the narrative, Angela travels around with her companion, Sera, a transwoman of colour who can ward off enemies right, left and centre with her multitude of amazing powers! She is an expert weaponry master and has the power of healing, flight, super strength, and teleportation. Witty, clever and just a generally lovable person, many comic fans view Sera as one of the better representations of trans people in mainstream comics. Not only is she an awesome character in her own right, but the fact that she is a transwoman is rarely drawn attention to, hence being one of the few to normalise transgender presence in fun, lighthearted superhero comics.

9) Omar, Ty and Jack - Man Time! (2018)

Now, you’ve probably noticed while reading this list that there is a distinct lack of transmen. The representation of transmen in mainstream comics is still shockingly poor! But to be honest, we couldn’t stand signing off without also giving the gents some love, so I want to draw your attention to Man Time! A semi-autobiographical set of comics, created by writer and artist simply known as Sam, Man Time follows three guys in their day-to-day life as transgender gentlemen. These adorable little comic strips are about as genuine as you can get when it comes to representing the trans experience; from tiring struggles to unexpected perks, there are no details spared. 100% should be read by everyone! And please Lord, logic, or whatever you believe in - let's hope that showing our support for independent creators like this will inspire the mainstream to follow suit.

Who's your favourite character on our list? Or maybe there’s one we missed that you think deserves a mention? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!