Diane DiMassa / Hothead Paisan

Hothead Paisan: Button featuring Hothead Paisan drawn by Diane DiMassa
Hothead Paisan

Button featuring Hothead Paisan drawn by Diane DiMassa

Name/Title

Diane DiMassa / Hothead Paisan

Entry/Object ID

EAP-6

Scope and Content

Diane DiMassa drew the comics, Hothead Paisan: Homicidal Lesbian Terrorist, beginning in 1991. They were published under the imprint Giant Ass Publishing, run by Diane’s partner. The comic book series ran for 21 issues, ending in 1998. In response to questions posed by interviewer, Diane offers her reflections about why she created Hothead, why she stopped drawing the comic, and what she’s working on now. Written responses to questions: Received via email February 20, 2025

Context

Mev Miller (Wanderground founder) worked with Diane for several years in the late 1980s/early 1990s at a book wholesaler located in East Haven, CT. Diane was then (and still is) a fierce Lesbian and feminist raging against the patriarchy. Mev collected as many items as she could from the Hothead years. Diane’s artwork - especially the Hothead and Chicken - have been featured in several anthologies of Lesbian cartoons.

Category

Interviews and Stories - Collection

Archive Details

Creator

Mev Miller, Wanderground Lesbian Archive Library

Parts

Summary PDF, _7__ mixed media archival items in the Wanderground archives

Relationships

Related Entries

Notes

Related Items in Wanderground Collection • Complete set of the comic book series (1-21) and also Chicken Rules • T-Shirt: Giant Ass Publishing / Crack a Smile • Hothead Paisan Secret Stuff Box – the boxes initially held candy bars. Diane sold a variety of candy bars with Hothead images on the wrappers and boxes • Buttons o Cleis Press – No Guilt o Hothead Paisan Homicidal Lesbian Terrorist • Card: Hothead Paisan Holiday Bomb • Photos: o Flyer advertising reading at Golden Thread Booksellers o Caricature of staff of Inland Book Co., circa 1990 • The Revenge of Hothead Paisan, Cleis Press, 1995 • Books that include Diane’s work o Pussycat Fever, A K Press Distribution, 1995 o Dyke Strippers: Lesbian Cartoonists A to Z, Cleis Press, 1995

Web Links and URLs

Diane on Wikipedia

Create Date

June 21, 2025

Update Date

July 29, 2025