A.B.O. Comix
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 | |
| Founded | 2017 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Casper Cendre |
| Type | Non-profit |
| Focus | Publishing, advocacy, community building |
| Location | |
| Method | Annual anthologies, newsletters, direct support |
| Revenue | Over $150,000 donated to LGBTQ prisoners' commissaries |
| Website | Official website |
A.B.O. Comix is a fiscally‐sponsored non‐profit organization based in Oakland, California, that supports LGBTQ prisoners by publishing their creative works, advocating on their behalf, and providing a platform for global recognition of incarcerated artists.[1][2] Founded in 2017, the organization produces an annual anthology of queer prisoner comics - with proceeds directly benefitting contributors through commissary donations - as well as individual graphic novels, memoirs, and nonfiction literature. It also disseminates a free quarterly newsletter containing resources, submission opportunities, updates, and artwork for prisoners.[3][4][5][6]
A.B.O. Comix was founded in 2017 in Oakland by a small collective of queer activists and comic artists, including co-founder Casper Cendre. The project originated when the founders - drawing on years of experience in prison advocacy - began corresponding with incarcerated LGBTQ individuals through penpal programs.[7][8] An initial call for submissions, placed in outlets such as the Black and Pink newspaper, resulted in a flood of letters and creative works from prisoners nationwide. This unexpected response encouraged the group to compile their first anthology, a project that evolved from a one‐off experiment into an annual publishing venture that not only showcases prisoner art but also channels funds back into the lives of its contributors.[9][10][11]