hothead paisan

In addition to holding our patriarchal society accountable on this blog, we also wanted to create a space to talk about people or groups who are doing feminist/anti-oppression/radical/overall generally awesome work. I can't think of anyone better to start with than Diane DiMassa, the creator of "Hothead Paisan: Homicidal Lesbian Terrorist."

Created during the first Bush administration, it is frightening how relevant this comic still is. Hothead Paisan is a queer, radical, riotgrrl feminist who has had it with society and all of its ills. She takes it upon herself, along with her yogi kitty Chicken, to correct the wrongs of our racist, homophobic, sexist, capitalistic world. As the title of the comic implies, Hothead has no problem using violence to exact her revenge, much to the chagrin of her friends such as Roz, often referred to as the "Zen Bhudda dyke", who would rather see Hothead gain some insight into her actions and find some inner peace. Hothead sees her response to the world as honest, real, and much needed. Hothead gets to act out a revenge fantasy against rapists, sexist pigs, white supremacists, and the like that most of us only entertain in our minds when it all seems to be too much. Reading "Hothead Paisan" is one of the most carthartic and entertaining releases I have at the end of a bad day, and it never fails to leave me with the sense that I am not alone in my anger at this world.

My favorite parts of "Hothead" aren't the acts of revenge, but the times when Hothead feels that 'fighting the good fight' is too hard. Hothead has moments of raw honesty in which she describes the despair that comes with awareness and the feeling that things will never change, no matter how many of 'em you dispose of. And that's the genius of "Hothead Paisan." Hothead truly only finds relief in her friends, family, and adorable sidekick Chicken. It's not the violence that liberates her, it's the connections with like-minded souls. Watching rapists perish? Well, that's just the icing on the cake.

So thanks, Diane. Thank you for helping this queer, radical, riotgrrl feminist find another connection in this world and feel a little less alone in the fight. As you put it best, "straight from the aorta."