Leo Rising: Queer Spaces, Sexuality, and Fame, Archie Bongiovanni

Description

Leo Rising: Queer Spaces, Sexuality, and Fame
Hardcover (Graphic Novel) – January 20, 2026
by Archie Bongiovanni

Leo Rising is a bold, funny, and emotionally incisive graphic novel that explores queer identity, online fame, and the complicated work of becoming yourself in a world that’s always watching.

Laura is a proud lesbian influencer, lifelong Alaskan, and accidental queer role model to thousands of followers. By day, she balances internet notoriety with a quiet job at the Alaska Bird Observatory, presenting herself as confident, settled, and certain of who she is. But when an old friend reenters her life and introduces her to queer parties, hookup apps, and new communities, Laura begins to realize how much of her experience has been shaped by expectations—both others’ and her own.

Searching for answers, Laura creates Leo, a secret trans identity that allows her to explore desire, gender, and freedom without the pressure of being the internet’s “lesbian bestie.” As Leo’s world expands and becomes increasingly intimate and risky, the boundaries between Laura’s public persona and private self begin to blur, with consequences that ripple through her relationships and sense of self.

Blending sharp humor with raw vulnerability, Leo Rising captures the exhilaration and fear of self-discovery in queer spaces both online and off. With expressive black-and-white artwork and moments of startling honesty, the book examines how fame, community, and sexuality can both liberate and confine.

Perfect for readers who loved Gender Queer, Dykes to Watch Out For, and Bongiovanni’s Mimosa, Leo Rising is a fearless, deeply relatable graphic novel about identity in flux, desire without labels, and the courage it takes to rewrite your own story under the midnight sun.