Introducing Queerly Nerdy, a column exploring all things queer and nerdy - Page 4 of 6 - INTO
Queerly Nerdy

Introducing Queerly Nerdy, a column exploring all things queer and nerdy

Latonya Pennington

Hi y’all. My name is Penn, and this is my new column Queerly Nerdy.

This freelance column was years in the making, because my Black-Asian genderqueer nerdy ass has been writing online about LGBTQ+ comic books, anime and manga, video games, and more for a good ass decade now. I’ve done this for about 4 years here at INTO as a freelancer. Before that, I also freelanced at other digital media news sites, especially LGBTQ+ ones including Black Girl Dangerous, Pride.com, Gayming Magazine, and Autostraddle.

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At Queerly Nerdy, I will continue writing about these things and then some. My goal for this column is to not only show off my personal tastes on a bi-weekly basis, but also to boost other LGBTQ+ creators and share helpful resources. At the very least, I hope to introduce other LGBTQ+ folks—especially queer trans people of color—to something that helps them survive and thrive. Without further ado, I want to start this column by sharing some of my favorite queer nerd comforts. 

Cassette Beasts

Where my monster-catching queers at? Ya like Pokemon? Digimon? Maybe you just like turn-based role playing video games that take you on an adventure. If you like any of these things and want to also create your own character (including pronouns) and romance your battle partner, this is the game for you.

Made by Bytten Studios and featuring music from composer Joel Bayliss and vocalist Shelby Harvey, Cassette Beasts takes place on the fictional isle of New Wirral. Your character washes up there and meets a cute Scottish girl named Kayleigh and a funky-looking monster known as a Trafficrab. Upon handing you a cassette tape with a monster on it and a pair of headphones, she tells you to hit play, and you transform into the monster! From there, your adventure begins, as you search for a way off the island by seeking out sinister beings known as Archangels while meeting the island’s quirky inhabitants.

This game took my childhood love of Pokemon and gave it its own creative spin with colorful pixels, a diverse cast of characters, fun monster battles, and a soundtrack that literally rocks. I dare you to listen to  “Like Chimeras” and tell me you don’t want to try this game. I’ve played this game a few times because I love exploring New Wirral with monster abilities such as the Bulletino Dash. 

Cassette Beasts is available to play Nintendo Switch, Steam, Xbox, and Gamepass.

24/7 Magical Maiden Mimi by Mira Ong Chua

I’ve enjoyed Mira Ong Chua’s graphic novels since 2019, but this 2024 one struck a particular chord with me. It tells the story of Milo, a shy middle school boy who is secretly Magical Maiden Mimi, the dazzling heroine protecting the city from cuddly and vicious aliens. When Milo’s secret is accidentally exposed, he decides to stay as Mimi all the time in order to be popular. However, he soon finds that the newfound fame comes at the cost of losing his ideal self.

This premise allows Milo to come to terms with how he is perceived by the people who sincerely care about him. This results in a character arc that has some of the most honest exploration of gender expression and the need to belong I’ve seen in a comic. I also love the fun, creative takes on magical girl anime tropes, such as the aliens being giant hamsters and the magical girl transformation sequence. 

Buy 24/7 Magical Maiden Mimi at Mira Ong Chua’s shop

Sailor Moon (90’s Anime)

Created by Naoko Takeuchi in 1992, the manga Sailor Moon tells the story of a 14-year-old girl named Usagi Tsukino who transforms into the magical superhero Sailor Moon. The series has been adapted into a plethora of media, including an iconic 90s anime adaptation and Sailor Moon Crystal, a 2014 anime reboot that follows the storyline of the manga. The most recent iteration is the two-part film Sailor Moon Cosmos, which serves as the finale to Sailor Moon Crystal and was made available to stream on Netflix in August 2024.

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I’ve written many essays on Sailor Moon, including this essay on why the 90’s anime version of the titular character is a queer icon. While it has flaws such as fatphobia, the 90s anime series and anime movies are great for a comfort watch due to the fun mix of slice-of-life moments and superheroic antics, the gorgeous animated aesthetics, LGBTQ+ characters, and overall feel-good vibes. 

The 90s Sailor Moon anime series and movies are available to stream on Tubi.

The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn’t A Guy At All by Sumiko Arai

Published by Yen Press, this yuri manga tells the story of Aya Oosawa, an outgoing girl who likes flashy things and rock music. When she starts to visit an old record store for new music, she meets the mysterious clerk Koga and develops a crush on him after the two bond over rock music. Unbeknownst to Aya, Koga is actually Aya’s female classmate. Now, Koga must decide whether or not to tell Aya the truth while navigating her budding feelings and trying to become friends with her.

With a unique green background that heightens emotional character beats, a poignant cast of characters, and a fantastic rock soundtrack, this manga spoke to my queer suppressed, alt rock-loving teen self. It’s an emotionally moving story of embracing your passion while finding that one person who unconditionally gets it. In February 2025, the creator announced on social media that the book will be adapted into an anime. With two volumes available to read in English, now is the perfect time to read the green yuri manga. 

Empathogen by Willow

Released in May 2024, Willow’s sixth studio album was an unexpected but welcome delight.  It featured Willow moving away from the rock sound cultivated on their previous albums towards a softer, introspective album that utilizes an eclectic mix of jazz, funk, and indie rock. I knew that I wanted to listen to it from the moment I heard the singles “Symptom of Life” and “Big Feelings” but I didn’t know the personal impact it would have on me.

I first heard the album after my very first telehealth therapy session in May 2024. At that time,  I was burnt out from caregiver stress and also deeply hurt from trauma that had decimated my self-worth. Empathogen made me believe in the possibility of healing, but also showed me it takes a lot of work. From then on, I would listen to Empathogen while I journaled, or when I needed the push to do my therapy homework. I was (and still am) a work in progress, but I know the work is worth doing. ♦

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