Gaysians – Mike Curato

Five years ago, I read my first graphic novel, Mike Curato’s “Flamer” — a raw, vulnerable coming-of-age story that’s remained one of my most recommended (and most frequently banned) YA books. 

With “Gaysians,” Curato makes the leap to adult fiction, and the shift is clear: this one comes packed with sex, swearing, nudity and unapologetic gay slang. But while the tone is older, the emotional core remains just as sharp.

Set in early 2000s Seattle, the story follows AJ, a newly out twentysomething from upstate New York trying to start fresh in a city where he knows no one. One night at a gay bar, a spilled drink introduces him to a group of queer Asian American friends — K, a glamorous drag queen and activist; Steven, a hot nurse with a rice queen fixation; John, his bearish gaymer roommate; and Tai and Eddie, the seemingly perfect couple. 

Together, they form the “Boy Luck Club,” a chosen family that helps one another navigate heartbreak and identity.

It would be easy to call this a gay Asian “Sex and the City,” — and it would make for a compelling film or sitcom — but that comparison undersells it. Curato does what so many queer creators strive to do: capture both the joy and pain of queer life without reducing it to trauma. 

The characters arrive fully formed, even as they carry their own baggage, including family estrangement, racism, microaggressions and internalized shame. What’s refreshing is that none of them exist just to deliver a message. They’re messy, funny, loving and human.

In “Flamer,” Curato’s art leaned minimalist, but here it bursts with color. The disco-meets-art-deco palette gives the story energy and theatricality, but some of the most powerful moments are quiet, like K recounting the night her father picked her up from jail in full drag and gave her an ultimatum.

While entertaining, funny and often moving, “Gaysians” isn’t perfect. The middle third drags at times, weighed down by repetitive drama — AJ’s pursuit of love, Steven’s dating patterns and K’s trauma. 

I found AJ a bit overdramatic and K perhaps too saintly (especially after her assault and subsequent isolation), but characters like Steven (Duc) and John felt textured and real. Honestly, K could’ve anchored a novel of her own and freed up space for others — especially Tai and Eddie — to get more development.

The book tackles heavy topics, like racism, rejection and abuse, but never wallows in them. It’s a story about queer joy, community and resilience. There’s even a sweet moment where the group watches “The Joy Luck Club” and recreates the family portrait. It’s both parody and homage, and it works.

Set in a time when the gay community was gaining mainstream visibility but still grappling with internalized racism and exclusion, “Gaysians” captures a place, a moment and a truth that still resonates. Curato’s author’s note reminds us that Asian Americans are not a monolith, and the story reflects that with nuance and care.

Curato is in a class of his own when it comes to the graphic novel format. He blends art, emotion and structure in a way that feels deeply personal yet widely resonant. Whatever he does next, I’ll be first in line.

Rating (story): 4/5 stars

Rating (narration): N/A

Format: eBook (library loan)

Dates read: July 8 – July 12, 2025

Multi-tasking: N/A