Tee Franklin

Tee Franklin is a comic book writer who has worked for Image, Marvel and DC Comics. Her work includes Bingo Love (published by Image Comics), Harley Quinn: The Animated Series: The Eat. Bang! Kill. Tour and Harley Quinn: The Animated Series: Legion of Bats! (published by DC Comics), and Edge of Spider-Verse #4 (published by Marvel Comics). Franklin is an advocate for increased representation of diversity in comics.{{Cite web |last=Malik |first=Aisha |date=2021-08-31 |title=A conversation with Tee Franklin, writer of the next Harley Quinn comic |url=https://thetempest.co/2021/08/31/entertainment/tee-franklin-harley-quinn-comic-interview/ |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=The Tempest |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902200903/https://thetempest.co/2021/08/31/entertainment/tee-franklin-harley-quinn-comic-interview/ |archive-date=2 September 2021 |url-status=dead}}

Personal life

Tee Franklin was born on February 11. She was introduced to comics by a family member who would regularly babysit her. She continued to read them until she got married and had kids. Franklin divorced in 2011 and returned to the comic book world, starting out with reviews of comics, and interviews. In 2014, she realized how hard it was to find a comic with someone who looked like her in it or on it, so she took it upon herself to start writing those stories. She regularly speaks out against the lack of representation in comics and has gained the respect of several well-known comic creators, who "peer pressured" her into creating comics.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pride.com/geek/2018/1/22/writer-tee-franklin-dishes-her-new-comic-bingo-love|title=Writer Tee Franklin Dishes on Her New Comic 'Bingo Love'|date=2018-01-22|website=www.pride.com|language=en|access-date=2019-03-02}} She is a domestic abuse survivor and has written her miniseries Jook Joint as a therapeutic release.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2018/02/21/franklin-nguyen-jook-joint-image-2018/|website=www.bleedingcool.com|access-date=2019-03-02 |title= Tee Franklin and Maria Nguyen Explore Domestic Violence in Jook Joint at Image in Fall 2018|date=21 February 2018}} Franklin has autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,{{cite web |last1=Hinds |first1=Carolyn |title=Disabled Creatives in Comics: Interview with Tee Franklin |url=https://disabilityvisibilityproject.com/2023/07/17/disabled-creatives-in-comics-interview-with-tee-franklin/ |website=Disability Visibility Project |access-date=27 February 2024 |date=17 July 2023}} and was in a car accident in 2014 that left her permanently physically disabled. She has been using a mobility aid since, and regularly speaks out about accommodating at conventions.{{Cite news|url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-disabled-comic-creator-tee-franklin-felt-worthless-after-a-bookcon-panel-failed-to-accommodate-her-scooter-2018-06-08-3883410|title=Why disabled comic creator Tee Franklin felt 'worthless' after a BookCon panel failed to accommodate her scooter|last=Jagannathan|first=Meera|website=MarketWatch|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-02}} She currently resides in New Jersey. Franklin is pansexual, but prefers the label queer.{{Cite tweet |last=Franklin |first=Tee |author-link= |user=MizTeeFranklin |number=1272925912208728065 |date=16 June 2020 |title=Welp. I guess this is as good as time as any. My name is Tee Franklin and I am pansexual. However, I prefer the label Queer. |script-title= |trans-title= |language= |retweet= |location= |access-date=27 April 2024 |link= |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |quote= |ref=}}

Career

Tee Franklin marked her debut as a writer with her graphic novel Bingo Love. It was kickstarted in 2016, raised $57,000, and was published by Image Comics, selling out before it even hit the shelves. The book has been nominated for a GLAAD Media Awards for Outstanding Comic Book{{Cite web|url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/2019-glaad-media-awards-nominees-comic-books/|title=Syndicated Comics|last=Puc|first=Samantha|date=2019-01-25|website=The Beat|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-02}} and has also won Prism Comics’s 2017 Queer Press Grant.{{Cite web|url=https://www.advocate.com/people/2018/3/08/2018s-icons-innovators-and-disruptors|title=2018's Icons, Innovators, and Disruptors|date=2018-03-08|website=www.advocate.com|language=en|access-date=2019-03-02}} Jook Joint was originally written in 2016 following a suicide attempt. Her therapist suggested doing something constructive, after which she began writing about her trauma.{{Cite web|url=http://www.adventuresinpoortaste.com/2018/11/02/writer-tee-franklin-talks-horror-comic-series-jook-joint-trigger-warnings-and-more/|title=Writer Tee Franklin talks horror comic series 'Jook Joint,' trigger warnings, and more|last=Brooke|first=David|website=AiPT!|date=2 November 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-02}}

= DC Comics =

Franklin is credited by DC Comics as the writer of 10 comics featuring Harley Quinn.{{Cite web |date=2021-07-27 |title=Tee Franklin |url=https://www.dc.com/talent/tee-franklin |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=DC |language=en}} These include six comics in the Harley Quinn: The Animated Series: The Eat. Bang! Kill. Tour series published between August 2021 and January 2022. Tis The Season To Be Freezin' was released in December 2021 and Harley Quinn: The Real Sidekicks of New Gotham Special #1 was released in August 2022. Two Harley Quinn: The Animated Series: Legion of Bats! comics were published in October and November 2022.

Franklin considers Harley Quinn to be an anti-hero and a symbol for domestic abuse survivors. She believes Quinn has ADHD. Franklin drew inspiration for Harley Quinn: The Animated Series: The Eat. Bang! Kill. Tour from the 1991 film Thelma and Louise.

Franklin has also stated that she wrote Poison Ivy as autistic, but "figured DC would be against" this being mentioned in the comics.{{Cite tweet |last=Franklin |first=Tee |author-link= |user=MizTeeFranklin |number=1685331483098013696 |date=29 July 2023 |title=Right!?! And I wrote Ivy as autistic, I was gonna try and write the dx it in the comic, but figured DC would be against it, so I just sprinkled it in both series. 🥰 Side note: HOELEE SHIT! I didn't know you followed me, huge fan! |script-title= |trans-title= |language= |retweet= |location= |access-date=27 February 2024 |link= |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |quote= |ref=}}

= Marvel Comics =

Tee Franklin is credited by Marvel Comics as a writer of Edge of Spider-Verse #4, which was published in September 2022.{{Cite web |title=Edge of Spider-Verse (2022) #4 {{!}} Comic Issues {{!}} Marvel |url=https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/101162/edge_of_spider-verse_2022_4 |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=Marvel Entertainment}} Edge of Spider-Verse #4 features Charlotte Webber, aka Sun-Spider, a disabled Spider with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome who uses crutches and a wheelchair as mobility aids.{{Cite web |last=Mooney |first=Colin |date=2022-09-27 |title=Spiderverse Tackles Ableism with its New Disabled Hero Sun-Spider |url=https://www.cbr.com/spiderverse-ableism-sun-spider-marvel/ |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=CBR |language=en-US}} Sun-Spider also briefly appears in the 2023 movie Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, where she is voiced by Danielle Perez.{{Cite web |last=Polo |first=Susana |date=2023-06-07 |title=Spider-Verse's wheelchair-using hero started out as fan art |url=https://www.polygon.com/23752856/across-spider-verse-spidersona-creator-sun-spider-wheelchair |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}