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Baopu #120: How to Remember What’s Hard To Forget

Yao, an illustration of an Asian person in a black sweatshirt and hat, slides down a flower, with various word bubbles all around them that read: "sometimes you're caught off guard. Pulled into the most unusual experience. There, you have a long and beautiful dream. Long as it was, you still leave when it's time. What's left are just memories."

Reine #56: Baby

A three panel character in which one character (a black queer person with glasses) comes running into a room to tell their two friends (both queer, one white with blue hair, one black) about their bad day. The blue haired friend says "Aw baby, come sit and tell us all bout it." They're immediately is surprised and apologies for using "baby," but it turns out that the friend liked it.

Baopu #119: Be Brave But Not Alone

First cartoon panel: person in purple in a bubble with the caption "Sometimes, I find myself in a bubble." Panel Two: Person pawing at the bubble walls while people walk outside "How did it happen?" Panel Three: Person speaking to a room, saying "see me as a human, respect my community." Narration caption - "I focused a lot of energy on people I unconsciously centered." Panel Four: "But I also want to create, build and explore...." Last panel: group of people sitting around a room, looking happy to be in community. "... aa future where we can all be free. Being brave isn't doing it alone."

Reine #55: Vacation Injection

cw: needles! 💉

The words Vacation Injection are over a 10 panel comic illustration of a bunch of queer people in a hotel room hanging out. One person asks the other to help with their testosterone. At first people think their asking for the gel rub, but it's an injection needle. Everyone thinks they will be able to help but gets too nervous. In the end, person who has practice "vaccinating my livestock all the time" is the one who can get the job done!

Baopu #118: What Brings You Joy? An Interactive Game of Bingo

An hand drawn, brightly colored, bingo board. The title reads "What Brings you Joy? A Bingo!" and the spaces include: fanfiction, nature, coffee, noise cancelling headphones, cats, introspection, sharing, making art, and learning, among others. There is also a free space in the center. In a note at the end of the illustration the author encourages using the free space to add your own magic.

Reine #54: Cat Parenthood

Baopu #117: You Are Overthinking This

An illustration of Baopu, an Asian person with red hair, looking at vegetables in a grocery store, looking at Tarot cards, lost in their own thoughts. Around the illustration is the following text: "It's hard to make choices, worried I might be doing this wrong. Tarot suggests I cut the bullshit... and that I overthink. How much are we supposed to think? Who's supposed to think? I don't feel like I'm thinking anything, I'm just floating in my consciousness. (You are overthinking this)

Reine #53: Save Points

An illustration of the artist, Rea, as a video game character. The on screen text reads: A SAVE POINT IS A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN REST AND HEAL, WHERE ALL YOUR PROGRESS IS RECORDED.THESE ARE MY SAVE POINTS. That is followed by an illustrated list that includes: Cat, Sudoku, Couch, and an Open Window; Costal Highway 101; A small pink bathroom; a bench press; at the top of a waterfall with friends.

Baopu #116: An Essay With No Thesis

Baopu, a red-haired Asian person, is drawn sitting at a desk in a two panel comic. They are working on a piece of writing and thinking to themself, "So annoyed!" They go on to think more, "When people see I'm an immigrant they assume two things: that I must LoVE living here and that must STRUGGLE with it... It's not that I don't STRUGGLE. But I also live life according to my other emotions like curiosity, which propells me more than anything, which is so over looked, like being queer, which goes so hand in hand with the fluidity, of space, place and time, so in truth why does it always have to —" And then the thoughts run out. An essay with no thesis.

Reine #52: New Girlfriend

a comic: a lesbian runs into a dungeon shouting "GUYS! GUYS! I JUST GOT A NEW GIRLFRIEND!" three hooded figures perched under a sign that says DYKE COUNCIL say "SHOW HER TO US." in the next panel, the lesbian says "SHE'S REALLY SWEET AND PRETTY AND SHE HAS A GOOD JOB AND I'M IN LOVE!" in the next panel, the council looks closer at a photo on the lesbian's phone and say HMMM. in the next panel, the council asks the lesbian "how big?" and the lesbian says "what?" in the next panel, the council says "her cup size. what is it?" and the lesbian says "I-". In the final panel, the lesbian says "they're massive" while bowing before the council, who responds "good job. huge win for you. well done, kid."

Dyke council result: approved

Reine #51: How to Decide What to Wear to a Queer House Party

A six panel comic in colors of peach, purple, turquoise, and shades of yellow. The title is How to Decide What to Wear to a Queer House Party!! The options are: Maxi dress, patterned button up shirt, platform boots, tattoos, club fit, or the ultimate outfit (bare chested with pasties!)

Baopu #115: Creating, Towards Utopia

A six-panel comic that shows Baopu, an queer Asian person, as a teenager with a long Black bob in China and later as an adult with short red hair. The cartoon depicts their immigration to America. Throughout the image, there is poem: When I was a teenager, I dreamed of leaving. Not anywhere in particular... Just somewhere far, far away. a Utopia. I don't regret leaving. Even though the place I went to was no utopia. I remembered. I didn't run away. I'm not just looking for the perfect place. I'm making it into being. Creating, towards utopia.

Reine #50: We’re Rich!

In black bold text it reads We're Rich above a comic of a Black woman slamming open a door and saying "We're rich!" to her friend. She goes on to explain that they are receiving a check for a data breach class action lawsuit from the pandemic. It turns out that "rich" was only $35 dollars, but the friends decide its at least enough for a breakfast treat! But when they arrive at the cafe, they find out that breakfast costs $32. Once they leave a tip on top of the order, they are out of money completely.

Inflation is so nuts, my data isn’t even worth avocado toast.

Baopu #114: Like Colorful Bubbles

A collage of images showing a hot day (people sweating, sun reflecting off of city buildings, etc) and then two friends find solace over some flavored seltzer water. Over these images, is the following poem: When we meet again. We'll always be free like colorful bubbles."

Reine #49: The Dyke Network and Exchange

First panel: Someone in the PNW messaging someone from the Midwest and saying: U R SO COOL and the person from the Midwest saying THX I'M MOVING TO UR STATE and the person in the PNW saying OMG! Next panel: The two people meeting and saying YAY!! FRIENDSHIP! Next panel: The person from the Midwest saying NOW I HAVE TO MOVE TO NYC TO BE WITH MY GF and the gf saying HI SORRY XOXO <3 and the person from the PNW saying I UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT THIS WITH GRACE AND MATURITY. Then the person from the PNW crying about it. Next panel: The person from the PNW saying HEY WE'RE COMING TO MONTREAL TO SEE OUR FRIENDS. DRIVE UP? and the person from the Midwest saying YEAH FOR SURE. Next panel: A large group of queers saying YAY!! FRIENDSHIP! Next panel: The person from the PNW saying NICE TO MEET YOU to new friends. And then someone saying AND THAT'S HOW I KNOW YOUR DAUGHTER and THANKS FOR THE EGGS to an older woman.

Baopu #113: Visiting Home

A six panel comic of Baopu, an Asian queer person with red hair. In the first two panels, Baopu recognizes that it's June 1st officially kicking off Pride, which is marked with rainbow merchandise in stores. In the third panel Baopu is buying a plane ticket home and asking, "I wonder who I am when I am 'back home.'" In the fourth, they are on the plane and still wondering, "Will I maintain a sense of self or regress really hard?" In the fifth panel, there is a close up of Baopu sitting in the plane in black and white as they wonder "Is 'home' still my reality? Is 'home' a dream?" And in the final panel, a plane flies in the clouds as we see their last thought bubble, "It's always going to be part of my life." Underneath the plan is a small pride flag and three pink hearts, along with the words "doing it!"

Reine #48: New Tattoo

A four panel comic of a queer person with blue hair who says “Finally! My credit card is paid off and I can can get a new tattoo as a treat! I have been wanting work from this artist for years! It’s time get sexier!

Baopu #112: Grieving Is Hard

The text of the comic (which features Baopu, an Asian queer person with red hair, walking around in an invisible blue cage, reads as follows: Why must I mourn and grieve... Why can't it be just happiness, all the time? happiness, all the time? Meanwhile, having a Structure works better than I think It kind of keeps me afloat while I just want to do nothing. But still, It's hard. Why why, why? Oh no. Spiraling again. GRiEVING IS HARD

Reine #47: $16 Salmon Dip

Yellow and pink nine panel comic, in which a queer person has spent too much time inside and screams I CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE!!! So their friend suggests "Lets Go Out." They found a new lesbian bar with an outdoor patio that hasn't been ruined by TikTok yet. They get excited to go and even say "You know, this is kinda nice! I love people. I love going out. Why don't we do this more often?" Then they get the bill, and it's so expensive that both friends promptly turn into skeletons surrounded by fire.

Baopu 111: Life In Third Person

A nine panel comic in shades of pink and blue show Baopu, an Asian person with red hair, wondering about "seeing oneself in third person...perpetual depth and mystery... automatic alienation??" Before slowly deciding to let people in and speak directly tot he reader about the importance of going outside, giving self-affirmations, and also self-awareness and compassion.

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