Sina Shamsavari

Sina Shamsavari (born October 22, 1976) is a figure in the queer punk zine movement, publishing stories such as Boy Crazy Boy and Concerned Muthers.

Born in Manchester, Shamsavari grew up in an area where being queer was not accepted.

He started publishing queer zines and comics as an outlet, and has shown up in numerous anthologies.

Currently working as a lecturer at the London College of Fashion, Shamsavari continues to study queer zines and comics and teach about their importance.

Shamsavari was born in 1976 in Manchester, UK, to Iranian parents.

Growing up during a time where homophobia was prevalent, at 16 years old, Shamsavari was influenced by Trina Robbins, Robert Kirby (cartoonist), Jon Macy, and Larry-Bob Roberts to start publishing queer zines.

He joined the queer comics zine because he wanted an outlet where he could be himself, and his voice could be heard.

Shamsavari began publishing during the queer punk movement, which emerged in the 1980s and thrived in the 1990s.

This movement, not just a phenomenon but a subculture, aimed to challenge hetero-normative thinking and conventional punk behavior.

Contributions to this subculture not only included zines and comics, but also music, books, and more.

In an interview with Beige Magazine, Shamsavari stated that "it's important for people from different backgrounds to take an active role in creating their own culture, and not simply taking in what mainstream media promotes".

Queer comics are a lot more diverse than mainstream comics would like you to think, and Shamsavari wanted to "put more idiosyncratic and interesting" comics out there.

Beginning with Concerned Muthers, Shamsavari later published Atomic Love, Boy Crazy Boy, and appeared in anthologies such as Robert Kirby's Book of Boy Trouble.

A lot of Shamsavari's works, especially Boy Crazy Boy, centered around the theme of wanting to elaborate on the experience of growing up queer in a world that doesn't accept who you are.

His comics legitimized being queer in the 1990s and normalized having crushes on people of the same sex by showing the everyday circumstances of a normal, queer man.

In addition to his comics, Shamsavari has also done illustration work for companies such as Healthy Gay Living Centre, Glam, and the Terrence Higgins Trust.

An anthology comic marketed towards "queer teens and straight mates."

Ran for 7 issues and had supernatural stories with demons and fairies.

Laurence Roberts, the author of Holy Titclamps published 'Concerned Muthers' in one of his queer zine explosions.

An autobiographical comic regarded as his most popular work.

It took a humorous tone while addressing the real thoughts, troubles, and instances of a queer man in the 1990s.

A self-published series where Shamsavari recounts moments from his daily life with a heavy sense of humor.

It blends moments of romantic life with family life.