Once upon a time, in a high school in Queens, eight kids with nothing in common but a fear of their own identities unite against all odds and become friends. Winner of the 2004 Xeric Award, the classic series returns bigger and better than ever. Join Mary, Kyle, Shorty, Ben, Scotland, Tony, Jenny and Ramona as they brace together against a world that doesn't understand. Poignant, funny, melodramatic, gritty, sad, and most of all, addictive, you'll fall in love.
SCOTT MCCLOUD: "Tales Of The Closet was a ground-breaking series in its time-and still is now. There should be more comics like this."
KURT BUSIEK: "TOTC is absolutely compelling – heartfelt, engaging and important. Once you pick it up, you won't want to put it down. And once you finish it, you'll join the rest of us and wish there was more."
ALISON BECHDEL: "Ivan Velez Jr. is a master of the comics form. That's all there is to it."
THE ADVOCATE: "Ivan Velez's darkly authentic comic books, with their urban locales and themes of loneliness, violence and depression address teenagers on their own level... infused with all the angst, drama, and confusion of a teen coming to terms with his or her own homosexuality."
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: "It is a testament to his ability to create interesting characters..."
THE GAY COMICS LIST: "Ivan Velez manages to build very warm and believable characters, full of energy and hopes."
Ivan Velez has "cartooned" since he was young and had been published next to fab folk like Jen Camper, Howard Cruse and Alison Bechdel. For years he's worked for the major publishers; Marvel (Ghost Rider, Abominations) and DC Comics (Eradicator, Adventure) as well as one of the first writers for Milestone Media (Static, Blood Syndicate). His first and true love is writing and drawing his own stuff, which he has done for several magazines (including Details), and especially Tales Of The Closet, which has been reviewed favorably in the Village Voice, the New York Times (in an artist's spotlight), and the Advocate. He's even been spotlighted in the Sunday Times, Bill Moyer's Journal and National Public Radio.
Check out the author's website - www.planetbronx.com
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reviews Avg. rating
(8.7)
Wow
BambooWhale
04/28/09 17:01
The Introduction was right- this IS addictive. I feel it's so much more down to earth that what i've been reading lately, and the art style is great.
Such an amazing crew. Everyone of them is endearing in their own way. I like how every member of the group has their own fears and struggle, yet still manage to find common-ground between them. I like Shorty and Jenny because they make me laugh the most. I'm also pulling for the Jenny/Ramona relationship.
I admit I wasn't so interested in the drawing style but this book is really good. It sucks that people are so cruel to those who are different. I'm lucky that it's not like that at my school. We actually have several people (myself included) who will beat you up if you're nasty to gays.
Wow. Pretty different material from things that I have been seeing here. But different isn't a bad thing. At first, I was totally turned off by the drawing, but my thinking changed when I got into the story--actually as soon as I picked up this series. The mosts interesting part of this series is that it's interesting from the very beginning. It doesn't take half the book to get into the meat of the situation/drama. I really appreciated that. Plus, the way the characters are introduced are done seemlessly--it totally flows. Major props to standing against the status quo.
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