PRIDE MONTH 2026! Over the years we have covered a lot of work in the areas of graphic medicine and social commentary from the direction of Jessica Kingsley Publishers and its imprints. Comics have played a notable role in their output so it will probably come as very little surprise that today’s Pride Month subject – Jacob’s Transition Goals – may ostensibly be a children’s picture book but it undeniably also uses the tools of sequential storytelling to communicate its message.
Written by Arthur Webber and illustrated by Ang Hui Qing, Jacob’s Transition Goals introduces us to the title’s young transgender lead who just wants to follow his dream of being a footballer. But when Jacob joins boys side Northtown Athletic he finds himself frozen out by his fellow players who refuse to accept him as part of the team. How can he realise his sporting aims when even his own side are determined to exclude him?
Webber’s story is unsurprisingly celebratory, using his own experiences as a narrative foundation and touching not just on the trans experience for youngsters but also on the importance of inclusivity for trans kids in sport. It’s an inspiring and heartening tale that balances the joy of transgender lives with the challenges that accompany them. At the back of the book are text features for parents which provides a glossary and talking points to think on.
Ang Hui Qing’s visuals are engaging throughout with the sporting sequences (which I would argue are unquestionably comics in construction) having a dynamic energy as the game moves from panel to panel. Colour is also used intuitively to convey emotional states, at its most effective in the oppressive bullying scenes. Leaning into that idea that there’s a strong argument for Jacob’s Transition Goals being, at the very least, comics-adjacent is the constant use of speech balloons.
Regardless of how you classify it Jacob’s Transition Goals is a positive and exuberant story with a vital message for younger and older readers alike.
Arthur Webber (W), Ang Hui Qing (A) • Jessica Kingsley Publishers, £12.99
Review by Andy Oliver
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