Tessera

Lucky Srikumar

@luckyscomix.bsky.social

(they/them) I live in LA and make comics and write, I'm disabled and queer and love my cat. I post comics I wrote a book with Maia Kobabe called Opting Out linktr.ee/luckyswats

46 Posts113 Follower 85 Folgt

Maia Kobabe @redgoldsparks.bsky.social · 4w ago

Love to see OPTING OUT on this list in such great company! Go read all of these books! bookriot.com/best-graphic...

The Best Graphic Novels of 2026 (So Far)

The director of Frozen teams up for a YA graphic novel—plus cool fight scenes, nuanced horror mystery, nonbinary puberty, and more.

bookriot.com

Maia Kobabe @redgoldsparks.bsky.social · last mo.

Lovely NPR review for OPTING OUT, my latest book co-created with @luckyscomix.bsky.social :D

NPR@npr.org · last mo.

Saachi, 12, is a head-strong, confident 6th grader when the book opens, but soon she finds herself increasingly frustrated as the social dynamics of elementary school seem to unravel before her eyes. n.pr/4vL9imh

Maia Kobabe @redgoldsparks.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Saturday June 20 from 11am to 6pm @luckyscomix.bsky.social and I will be at QCON (Fiesta Hall in Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA). We'll be tabling together and speaking on a panel from 1-1:30. qconprism.org Hope to see you there!

Saturday June 20 from 11am to 6pm Lucky Srikumar and Maia Kobabe, co-authors of the middle grade graphic novel OPTING OUT, will be at QCON (Fiesta Hall in Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA). They will be tabling together and speaking on a panel from 1-1:30. https://qconprism.org/ Hope to see you there!

Saturday June 20 from 11am to 6pm Maia Kobabe, author of GENDER QUEER A MEMOIR, and co-author BREATHE: JOURNEYS TO HEALTHY BINDING and OPTING OUT, will be at QCON (Fiesta Hall in Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA). E will be tabling with co-author Lucky Srikumar and speaking on a panel from 1-1:30. https://qconprism.org/ Hope to see you there!

Lucky Srikumar @luckyscomix.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Book tours aren't really made for spoonies and autistics but never fear, I have an emotional support coauthor.

Maia Kobabe @redgoldsparks.bsky.social · 3mo ago

I drew these pages in my sketchbook a year ago to explain my thought process on thumbnailing while working on Opting Out. I co-wrote this book with Lucky Srikumar @luckyscomix.bsky.social and it's out from Scholastic Graphix on May 5! bookshop.org/p/books/opti...

PAGE ONE:
For most projects I pick a "base" panel grid for normal pages that don't need extra emphasis. For Saachi, that was a 6 panel grid. I made a digital template to drop in every page. There are easy variations that include an establishing shot (single tier on top, middle, or bottom). Shifting the gutters to give some panels more space. Occasional 3 panel tier. Dropping panel borders.
Other page types:
4 tiers-used for a specific character or when Saachi is uncomfortable.
9 panels- used for phone calls and hard, wordy conversations. I like to alternate characters in 9 panel grids to create a checker pattern.
In grids I also like to alternate close-ups with medium or long shots on diagonals or patter speaking characters on diagonals.
Fantasy pages! Some pages contain stories, daydreams, or poems and these break out of the grid entirely and often have no borders!

PAGE TWO:
I use a large panel on top with just two below, or two on top and one below, when introducing a new setting- big establishing shot
The fight scene gets diagonal gutters- rare.
A fairy tale gets rounded panel borders.
Sometimes I "shrink" the last panel on a page at the end of a scene to transition to a new setting. Two times I used 4 tightly packed panels in combo with border-less panels in storytelling-mode.
There are only 5 full page images in the book. First & last are in the "real world" and the middle 3 are in Saachi's "poem world"
Most used Saachi page layouts- 181 of the 253 pages fall into these 8 categories:
85- 6 panel grid but with adjusted size
52- even 6 panel grid
20- even 3 tiers
5- full page
5- even 4 tiers
5- square 4 grid
5- establishing shot either above or below an even 6 tier grid
4- 9 panel grid

Lucky Srikumar @luckyscomix.bsky.social · 3mo ago

The story of the origin of our book 😊 Opting Out by me and @redgoldsparks.bsky.social out May 5th! Pre order it now ✨

Lucky Srikumar @luckyscomix.bsky.social · 3mo ago

OUR BOOK DROPS IN 8 DAYS LET'S GOOOOOOOO

Maia Kobabe@redgoldsparks.bsky.social · 3mo ago

A thread for OPTING OUT book tour events in May! @luckyscomix.bsky.social and I are doing events in New York, Ohio, Massachusetts, Missouri, Utah, and California next month :D 🧵

The cover of OPTING OUT, a middle grade graphic novel by Maia Kobabe and Swati "Lucky" Srikumar. The cover shows the main character, a 12 year old Desi teen named Saachi who has short black hair and brown skin, wearing a tshirt and shorts and gleefully dumping out a backpack full of eclectic items: a soccer ball, a sword, candy, pens, paper, a magazine, a book, a sunflower, a pumpkin vine, tape, a ruler, earrings and a nazar amulet.

Lucky Srikumar @luckyscomix.bsky.social · 4mo ago

YO. First book event ever for me and @redgoldsparks. This Saturday in San Francisco! www.eventbrite.com/e/plcaf-smal... RSVP here! 👆🏾

PLCAF: Small Press Comics Expo 2026

Hey! Join us at the Peninsula Libraries Comic Arts Fest Small Press Comics Expo for a day of awesome indie comics and talented creators!

eventbrite.com

Maia Kobabe @redgoldsparks.bsky.social · 4mo ago

@luckyscomix.bsky.social and I will be at PLCAF in South San Francisco this Saturday April 4! smcl.org/comicartsfest/ Tabling from 10am-4pm, speaking on a panel together from 1-2pm. RSVP here: www.eventbrite.com/e/plcaf-smal...

headshots of authors Lucky Srikumar and Maia Kobabe with the cover of their new book, OPTING OUT!

Maia Kobabe @redgoldsparks.bsky.social · 6mo ago

My forthcoming book, OPTING OUT, with @luckyscomix.bsky.social just got its first starred review from @publisherswkly.bsky.social! Review is here www.publishersweekly.com/9781546110125 and you can pre-order here bookshop.org/p/books/opti... The book is out on May 5 2026!

Opting Out
Maia Kobabe and Swati “Lucky” Srikumar, illus. by Swati “Lucky” Srikumar. Graphix, $25.99 hardcover (256p) ISBN 978-1-5461-1012-5; $14.99 paper ISBN 978-1-339-01224-7
A tween reconciles puberty’s effects on her body with shifting feelings about her gender identity in an empathic graphic novel from Kobabe (Breathe: Journeys to Healthy Binding) and debut creator Srikumar. Navigating seventh grade proves challenging for Saachi, especially since her best friend, Lyla, seems more interested in talking about boys than the fictional worlds the pair used to bond over. Saachi’s confusion surrounding recent dreams in which she is a boy, pressure from her parents to take on a more active role in managing the household, and mental and bodily discomfort from her first period manifest in emotional outbursts, which she channels into physical altercations with a classmate. Concerned about Saachi’s changing demeanor, her mother gives Saachi a book about puberty, and sections about nonbinary and transgender kids prompt personal reflection (“How would I know if I’m not a girl?... I think I prefer things that fall in the middle”). Saachi’s internal monologue, journal entries, and poetry provide multiple avenues across which the creators reflect on themes of identity and adolescence. Character expressions and body language rendered in rich jewel tones take center stage in this tender and intimate portrait. The protagonists are depicted with various skin tones. Ages 10–12. Agent: (for Kobabe) Emily Mitchell, Wernick & Pratt. (May)

Maia Kobabe @redgoldsparks.bsky.social · 7mo ago

@luckyscomix.bsky.social and I received the ARCs of our new book! OPTING OUT, on sale May 5 2026, from Scholastic Graphix. I'm very excited for all of you to read it :D Preorder here: bookshop.org/p/books/opti...

The cover of middle grade graphic novel OPTING OUT by Maia Kobabe and Swati "Lucky" Srikumar, on sale May 6 2026. The cover shows a smiling Desi kid wearing a yellow t-shirt and green shorts, dumping a collection of eclectic items out of a blue backback including a soccer ball, a sword, a tiny pumpkin, sheets of paper, pens, candy, a ruler, a magazine, a book, tape, eraser, earrings, a sunflower and a nazar amulet.

An interior spread from OPTING OUT by Maia Kobabe and Swati "Lucky" Srikumar

the front and back cover of OPTING OUT by Maia Kobabe and Swati "Lucky" Srikumar plus one interior spread

Kori Michele @korimichele.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Gouache on paper, June 2025

A painting of a boot crushing ice cubes in a grassy field; behind the boot is a pansy, a sunflower, and a poppy, as well as a sun and a moon. The word "Crush" is at the top in desert chrome lettering, and the word "Ice" is at the bottom in an ice-cube style of letter. The boot is laced with a string that represents the colors of the contemporary pride flag.

Lucky Srikumar @luckyscomix.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Everyday I get one step closer to holding my first book in my hands in real life and I can't wait for kids to read it like my nephew and and all the little baby queers and everyone 😭 ❤️ I hope it makes you feel seen little babies!!! I hope it makes you feel strong and less alone!

ÆON FAMOUS @gaygaygay.gay · 9mo ago

HEY SEATTLE i'm booking tattoos 🌈 I'd like to fill slots for this Thursday 10/30 to raise urgent rent support for a beloved friend. other available designs below! i'm very flexible with rates + can work with your budget because i know times are very 🌀😵‍💫🙀 DM for appts + RPs appreciated 💗

sketch of 3 gay bishōnen antihero furry characters with piercings. one is a unicorn wearing a heavy spiked collar and long feathered hair, another is an emo pup with a chain around its neck and the third is a silly alien cat with a studded collar and its tongue sticking out

same pic but blue background and purple lines instead of yellow background with rainbow lineart

Lucky Srikumar @luckyscomix.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Omfg I love being in my thirties! Finally a real adult (me) is taking care of me.

Lucky Srikumar @luckyscomix.bsky.social · 10mo ago

@redgoldsparks.bsky.social and I can't wait for y'all to read our book! ❤️

Comicsbeat@comicsbeat.bsky.social · 10mo ago

Cover Reveal: OPTING OUT by Maia Kobabe and Lucky Srikumar Comics Beat is proud to present the cover reveal for Opting Out by Maia Kobabe and Lucky Srikumar, arriving in spring 2026.

Lucky Srikumar @luckyscomix.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Me: what if I sent an artist's statement with my birthday invite? Also me: can't even write this email rn...

Lucky Srikumar @luckyscomix.bsky.social · 11mo ago

The answer to life is talk to bestie.

Filibuster / Plurn@FFXI:Bahamut @mazesuite.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Afraid of death #girlboss

silas denver 🍎@sweatermuppet.bsky.social · 2y ago

hi gay artists in my phone

Lucky Srikumar @luckyscomix.bsky.social · last yr.

The character design 😭 the short Marco haircut that everyone teased him about! THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL. My animorphs book club is gonna LOVE this

coleman@coleman-engle.bsky.social · last yr.

🐅🐘🦅🛸🐎🦍

Kirsty Collins @kirstysamantha.bsky.social · last yr.

A mural of the Statue of Liberty covering her eyes in shame was created by Dutch artist Judith de Leeuw. It is in a high population area of immigrants in France…!!! She said ‘The values that the statue once stood for - freedom hope, the right to be yourself - have been lost for many’…!!!

Lucky Srikumar @luckyscomix.bsky.social · last yr.

Me trying to explain the word "desi": it's like... Indian... Or heritage. Indian heritage. Like...Indian... subcontinent. Like brown, but *my* kind of brown, brown like me and other people from the Indian subcontinent. Does that make sense? The person: *has been nodding for 5 minutes*

Lucky Srikumar @luckyscomix.bsky.social · last yr.

Awoooo

Lucky Srikumar @luckyscomix.bsky.social · last yr.

Hey! My pride postcards are now available for sale ✨ $3 for a mystery color $3.50 for a specific one

Lucky Srikumar @luckyscomix.bsky.social · last yr.

Do it. Their tits will be cold but they'll look fine af.

Alec S // Renegade Sector Games@renegadesector.bsky.social · last yr.

Draw your OC in Shadow Jorts and the Santa Barbara Artisanal Chainmail Bikini.

Lucky Srikumar @luckyscomix.bsky.social · last yr.

My friend Alec said "draw your OC in a chainmail bikini top and Shadow the hedgehog jorts" and I was like, bet. You can pull anything off with the right accessories ✨ Shadow the hedgehog is a nonbinary icon ❤️

Lucky Srikumar @luckyscomix.bsky.social · last yr.

After threatening to for like 3 years, this year I sent out holi-gay cards for pride! I was struggling to think of a design so I picked something I'll never get sick of drawing. Dogs. ❤️

Lucky Srikumar @luckyscomix.bsky.social · last yr.

Aw ❤️ thanks 😄✨

Andreana is on summer break@catcherinthepi.bsky.social · last yr.

In every newsletter I share current art, writing, etc. I'm enjoying, so I want to shout out some #queerartists whose work deserves your attention! Run, don't walk, to follow them 😎🌈 @rejka.bsky.social @luckyscomix.bsky.social @alienbycomics.bsky.social

Alec S // Renegade Sector Games @renegadesector.bsky.social · last yr.

Journey of the Garden Rose is coming later this year! Wishlist on Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/3692110/...