Ladies Make Comics Too  is my brand-new bi-weekly article highlighting women in the comics industry, because even though there are tonnes of women in comics, for some reason everyone is still surprised by it. I hope Ladies Make Comics Too  will help debunk the myth that women in the comic book industry are as rare as rainbow-tailed unicorns, and will introduce you lovely readers to some super-rad artists (who also happen to be ladies).

For my very first Ladies Make Comics Too,  meet Kate Leth ; she’s a great indie artist who wishes people would stop asking (anyone, ever), “What’s it like to be a woman in comics?” and would love to see more mainstream comics with empowered women who aren’t objectified – like Batwoman and Buffy .

Currently hailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Leth attended NSCAD for art, before realizing that collaborating and photography weren’t really her thing . The world should be grateful that Leth bailed on art school though, because she landed a sweet gig working at the internationally-renowned comic book store Strange Adventures . Once at the shop, Leth’s co-workers convinced her that she should use her powers of art for good and with that, Leth start drawing autobiographical comics about her life as a lady in a comic shop for the internet.

Since that first post, Leth’s career has taken off. In addition to writing, drawing, colouring, and promoting her online comics on Kate or Die! , she’s also self-published a selection of her comics in Ultimate Kate or Die! , and contributed to Locke & Key , Womanthology  and Marceline and the Scream Queens (the Adventure Time spin-off series).

I first stumbled across Leth’s comics online, when one of her “Tattoo Etiquette” comics made the rounds on Tumblr. Many of Leth’s comics follow a similar autobiographical theme, and provide a hilarious and irreverent (but often thought-provoking and poignant) look at her life. Kate or Die! has tackled Leth’s challenges with self-harm, her sexuality, working in the world of nerds, dating, loving cats, and even her favourite comic book characters. Also, Leth has a tattoo of Sailor Moon’s transformation pen: that right there should be enough to sell you on her awesomeness.

My favourite Kate or Die! comics are Leth’s series on bisexuality . Self-identifying as queer, Leth’s experience with her sexuality makes for open, honest, and informative autobiographical comics, which will have you smiling while you reconsider your pre-conceived notions about bisexuality. Not too shabby, for a comic. A close second, though, would have to be Leth’s series of comics where Spider-man and Deadpool are totally gay for each other. OTP .

In addition to being a fantastic artist, Leth also has a Twitter account with many tidbits of wonderful wisdom, a Facebook page and a Tumblr , filled with super-hot women in bondage, other indie comics, and cat GIFs. There, see? You’re basically already best friends.

So go ahead; check out Kate or Die! , and visit her Etsy and Topatoco shops. You can also find Leth this spring at TCAF , where I can also probably be found, fangirling over her work. See you there!