Each Friday, we'll be letting a different DC.com writer share what they'll be reading over the weekend and why you might want to check it out. Here's this week's suggestion for a perfect Weekend Escape!
 

It’s nearing the end of Pride Month, so let’s take this opportunity to highlight an excellently crafted tale of queer love and self-acceptance—Galaxy: The Prettiest Star. First released in 2022, Galaxy is part of DC’s Young Adult graphic novel line, which also includes queer-friendly titles like Bad Dream and Poison Ivy: Thorns. Galaxy: The Prettiest Star, at its core, is a coming of age story—and part of coming into oneself is accepting and embracing who you truly are. The story is an allegory for being transgender and explores different identities under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella. It contextualizes the experiences of the community in a way that so many people, regardless of identity or orientation, can relate to. It's also a uniquely stylized story that thrusts you into a cozy corner of the DC Universe.
 

The Premise:

Taylor Barzelay may seem like an ordinary “human boy” living in a small town, just focused on basketball, David Bowie and blending in—but Taylor is hiding a dangerous secret. She is secretly the Galaxy Crowned, an alien princess from the planet Cyandii. An intergalactic war has displaced her from her home, forcing her to hide on earth and live out her days as somebody she’s not. But everything changes when a new girl comes to town. Katherine “Kat” Silverberg’s confidence and openness might change the course of Taylor’s world. For the first time in six years, she might find the confidence to freely express herself and explore the parts of her that make her happy. But things are never so simple, of course.
 

Let’s Talk Talent:

Jadzia Axelrod, award-winning author, illustrator and circus performer is an activist and DC Pride alumna. Axelrod delivers an inspiring story full of heart that exemplifies the importance of representation in media. Readers struggling with self-acceptance can pick this title up and see that they are not alone and hopefully find comfort in Taylor’s journey. And for those with open hearts and minds who may not understand the experiences of those different from them, this graphic novel has the ability to inspire empathy. Axelrod takes these very real experiences and contextualizes them in an accessible YA format that can appeal to so many different types of readers. 

The artist and colorist of Galaxy: The Prettiest Star is Jess Taylor, an LGBTQIA+ activist and teacher. With a story about self-expression centered around a space princess, you wouldn’t want the art to be boring and Taylor’s lush panels really bring these themes to life in such a visually stunning way. The colors in this story are the definition of whimsical and cosmic. They add to the world-building and deliver the emotional and climatic points of the story excellently. Taylor’s art elicits a cozy and magical vibe that really transports the reader to a corner of the DC Universe that you’ll find yourself wanting to come back to time and time again. Also, for you fashion lovers, there are a ton of really great fits to appreciate.
 

A Few Reasons to Read:

• This story is an allegory for being transgender. Taylor’s experiences are that of a trans girl—this is a coming out story for Taylor as she goes from Taylor the human boy to Taylor the alien princess, all the while exploring young love and embracing self-love. The importance of representation is invaluable in the media—it lets people see themselves in the stories that they love.
   
• A coming-of-age story that speaks to so many people. At the same time, this story is about a teenager coming into herself, finding her confidence and learning how to stand up for herself. So many people, queer or not, can relate to different aspects of Taylor’s story because her story is an incredibly human one, despite it starring a purple alien! There are so many different types of identities represented in this story as well. Positive and casual disability representation and people of color are very much part of the LGBTQIA+ community and should be celebrated during Pride Month.

• Did I mention the talking corgi? Argus is an organically grown robot dog that will pull at your heart strings. He is funny, cute and adds so much to the story in such a subtle way. While it’s important to see yourself and experiences represented in media—stories are also about escapism! And Argus makes me want to jump right into this comic and live in this colorful world that Jess Taylor has visually created.
   
• Galaxy is also part of DC’s first YA crossover. Another incredible DC YA graphic novel with trans representation is Bad Dream: A Dreamer Story by Nicole Maines and Rye Hickman. Both books follow teenage alien transgender girls figuring out their way in the world and also mark the first crossover in the DC YA universe. Taylor, Kay and Argus also appear in Bad Dream and not just as cameos, but full-on characters. The two titles make for a perfect Pride double feature.
   

Why It’s Worth Your Time:

The power that YA books hold is the ability to appeal to so many different types of readers in an accessible way. Galaxy: The Prettiest Star is a comforting story that transports you to a colorful world with talking robot dogs, aliens and stylish outfits while exploring the important story of Taylor Barzelay. In today’s climate, it’s integral to have representation in media so that people—trans and queer people—can be seen, heard, accepted and celebrated! This fun and whimsical story hopefully makes people feel less alone and inspires them to love and accept themselves while taking joy in their queerness.
 

Galaxy: The Prettiest Star by Jadzia Axelrod and Jess Taylor is available as a softcover graphic novel in bookstores, comic shops, libraries and digital retailers. It can also be read in full on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE.

Sami DeMonster writes about superheroes, horror and sci-fi for DC.com and reviews comics every week on social media. Follow her at @samidemonster on Instagram and Substack.

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Sami DeMonster and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.