Mary Wings

Mary Wings (born Mary Lee Geller; April 14, 1949 – July 3, 2024) was an American cartoonist, writer, and artist. She was known for highlighting lesbian themes in her work. In 1973, she made history by releasing Come Out Comix, the first lesbian comic book. She also wrote a series of detective novels featuring lesbian heroine Emma Victor. Divine Victim, Wings' only Gothic novel, won the Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Mystery in 1994.

Early life and education Mary Wings was born on April 14, 1949, in Chicago, Illinois She later changed her last name to Wings, "inspired by the adage that 'friendship is love with wings'", according to The New York Times.

Wings was raised in the Baháʼí Faith in Chicago. then located in the town of Mount Carroll, Illinois. She also studied theater set design at San Francisco State University.

Comics Wings was not originally a cartoonist or part of the 1970s underground comix movement when she created her first comic book, Come Out Comix. This comic book was created in response to Trina Robbins' comic in Wimmen's Comix #1, "Sandy Comes Out" — the first comic about lesbians. Wings was angered by "Sandy Comes Out," believing that the complex process of coming out was misrepresented by Robbins, a straight woman. She wrote Come Out Comix in seven days. Come Out Comix is influenced by the author's own experience of coming out. She also contributed to Howard Cruse's publication, Gay Comix. She wrote comic strips for issue numbers one and two.

Her comics became very popular in the lesbian community. artificial insemination, discovering your parents' homosexuality,

Later projects Wings worked on a new comics project entitled Old. She created this comic in response to the lack of content appealing to people her age. She also hoped to fight stigmas related to ageism. Her comic may include paper doll cut-outs reminiscent of early comics for women.

Wings also played the banjo in a band called Robin, Woody and Wings with Robin Flower and Woody Simmons. After her mother's death, Wings moved with her band to San Francisco. She later left the band.

Wings died from lung cancer at her home in San Francisco, on July 3, 2024, at the age of 75. Are Your Highs Getting You Down? (1980)

Other comics contributions

"A Visit From Mom" published in Gay Comix #1: Lesbians and Gay Men Put It On Paper! (1980)