Lucky Srikumar

The cover of OPTING OUT, a middle grade graphic novel by Maia Kobabe and Swati "Lucky" Srikumar. The cover shows the main character, a 12 year old Desi teen named Saachi who has short black hair and brown skin, wearing a tshirt and shorts and gleefully dumping out a backpack full of eclectic items: a soccer ball, a sword, candy, pens, paper, a magazine, a book, a sunflower, a pumpkin vine, tape, a ruler, earrings and a nazar amulet

Opting Out Maia Kobabe and Swati “Lucky” Srikumar, illus. by Swati “Lucky” Srikumar. Graphix, $25.99 hardcover (256p) ISBN 978-1-5461-1012-5; $14.99 paper ISBN 978-1-339-01224-7 A tween reconciles puberty’s effects on her body with shifting feelings about her gender identity in an empathic graphic novel from Kobabe (Breathe: Journeys to Healthy Binding) and debut creator Srikumar. Navigating seventh grade proves challenging for Saachi, especially since her best friend, Lyla, seems more interested in talking about boys than the fictional worlds the pair used to bond over. Saachi’s confusion surrounding recent dreams in which she is a boy, pressure from her parents to take on a more active role in managing the household, and mental and bodily discomfort from her first period manifest in emotional outbursts, which she channels into physical altercations with a classmate. Concerned about Saachi’s changing demeanor, her mother gives Saachi a book about puberty, and sections about nonbinary and transgender kids prompt personal reflection (“How would I know if I’m not a girl?... I think I prefer things that fall in the middle”). Saachi’s internal monologue, journal entries, and poetry provide multiple avenues across which the creators reflect on themes of identity and adolescence. Character expressions and body language rendered in rich jewel tones take center stage in this tender and intimate portrait. The protagonists are depicted with various skin tones. Ages 10–12. Agent: (for Kobabe) Emily Mitchell, Wernick & Pratt. (May)

My forthcoming book, OPTING OUT, with @luckyscomix.bsky.social just got its first starred review from @publisherswkly.bsky.social! Review is here www.publishersweekly.com/9781546110125 and you can pre-order here bookshop.org/p/books/opti... The book is out on May 5 2026!

The cover of middle grade graphic novel OPTING OUT by Maia Kobabe and Swati "Lucky" Srikumar, on sale May 6 2026. The cover shows a smiling Desi kid wearing a yellow t-shirt and green shorts, dumping a collection of eclectic items out of a blue backback including a soccer ball, a sword, a tiny pumpkin, sheets of paper, pens, candy, a ruler, a magazine, a book, tape, eraser, earrings, a sunflower and a nazar amulet.

The cover of middle grade graphic novel OPTING OUT by Maia Kobabe and Swati "Lucky" Srikumar, on sale May 6 2026. The cover shows a smiling Desi kid wearing a yellow t-shirt and green shorts, dumping a collection of eclectic items out of a blue backback including a soccer ball, a sword, a tiny pumpkin, sheets of paper, pens, candy, a ruler, a magazine, a book, tape, eraser, earrings, a sunflower and a nazar amulet. The back cover of the book is mostly orange with a small drawing at the top of a circle of kids sitting in chairs. Below the drawing is the line "Bodies are the worst. I wish I didn't have a body."

An interior spread from OPTING OUT by Maia Kobabe and Swati "Lucky" Srikumar

the front and back cover of OPTING OUT by Maia Kobabe and Swati "Lucky" Srikumar plus one interior spread

@luckyscomix.bsky.social and I received the ARCs of our new book! OPTING OUT, on sale May 5 2026, from Scholastic Graphix. I'm very excited for all of you to read it :D Preorder here: bookshop.org/p/books/opti...

Gouache???? Stunning 😭 ❤️

A painting of a boot crushing ice cubes in a grassy field; behind the boot is a pansy, a sunflower, and a poppy, as well as a sun and a moon. The word "Crush" is at the top in desert chrome lettering, and the word "Ice" is at the bottom in an ice-cube style of letter. The boot is laced with a string that represents the colors of the contemporary pride flag.

Gouache on paper, June 2025

Everyday I get one step closer to holding my first book in my hands in real life and I can't wait for kids to read it like my nephew and and all the little baby queers and everyone 😭 ❤️
I hope it makes you feel seen little babies!!! I hope it makes you feel strong and less alone!

sketch of 3 gay bishōnen antihero furry characters with piercings. one is a unicorn wearing a heavy spiked collar and long feathered hair, another is an emo pup with a chain around its neck and the third is a silly alien cat with a studded collar and its tongue sticking out

same pic but blue background and purple lines instead of yellow background with rainbow lineart

HEY SEATTLE i'm booking tattoos 🌈
I'd like to fill slots for this Thursday 10/30 to raise urgent rent support for a beloved friend.
other available designs below! i'm very flexible with rates + can work with your budget because i know times are very 🌀😵‍💫🙀
DM for appts + RPs appreciated 💗

Omfg I love being in my thirties! Finally a real adult (me) is taking care of me.

@redgoldsparks.bsky.social and I can't wait for y'all to read our book! ❤️

Me: what if I sent an artist's statement with my birthday invite?
Also me: can't even write this email rn...

The answer to life is talk to bestie.

Afraid of death
#girlboss

hi gay artists in my phone

The character design 😭 the short Marco haircut that everyone teased him about! THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL. My animorphs book club is gonna LOVE this

A mural of the Statue of Liberty covering her eyes in shame was created by Dutch artist Judith de Leeuw. It is in a high population area of immigrants in France…!!!
She said ‘The values that the statue once stood for - freedom hope, the right to be yourself - have been lost for many’…!!!

Me trying to explain the word "desi": it's like... Indian... Or heritage. Indian heritage. Like...Indian... subcontinent. Like brown, but *my* kind of brown, brown like me and other people from the Indian subcontinent. Does that make sense?
The person: *has been nodding for 5 minutes*

Awoooo

Hey! My pride postcards are now available for sale ✨
$3 for a mystery color
$3.50 for a specific one

Do it. Their tits will be cold but they'll look fine af.

My friend Alec said "draw your OC in a chainmail bikini top and Shadow the hedgehog jorts" and I was like, bet.
You can pull anything off with the right accessories ✨
Shadow the hedgehog is a nonbinary icon ❤️

After threatening to for like 3 years, this year I sent out holi-gay cards for pride! I was struggling to think of a design so I picked something I'll never get sick of drawing. Dogs. ❤️

Aw ❤️ thanks 😄✨

Journey of the Garden Rose is coming later this year!

Wishlist on Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/3692110/...

Happy Pride to Matthew Gray Gubler one of the original manic pixie dream girls for millenial queers

Vent art sometimes comes out really cool

New pope just dropped.

Bro like it really does get better!!!??

I just met the most amazing guy

sketch of ax the andalite from animorphs

sketch of ax the andalite from animorphs

sketches of ax the andalite from animorphs

sketch of ax the andalite from animorphs

axposting through it today

someone commissioned me for a doggirl tf and i had to pull out this chart like i was asking how well done they wanted the steak