Hothead Paisan: Homicidal Lesbian Terrorist

By Diane DiMassa

"Hothead is the backlash to the backlash." --Alison Bechdel

Hothead Paisan, a murderous icon of the '90s lesbian comics scene, comes roaring back into print in this fresh edition (including a new interview and supplemental materials) of one of the funniest, sharpest, and most unexpectedly warm comics of the late twentieth century, still as shocking today as it was more than two decades ago.

Hothead Paisan is an icon of the '90s lesbian DIY scene, a patron saint of those who wonder if going off the deep end is the only sane response to life in modern America.

Diane DiMassa's Hothead starts out in a murderous frenzy--taking out a variety of chauvinists and creeps--but soon deepens into a reflection on oppression, self-destruction, and living it up outside the conservative norms of the '90s. Hothead's rage is sometimes tempered with the help of Personality #2, her defensive inner demon; Roz, her friend who offers Zen wisdom and tough love; and Chicken, her cat and constant companion.

At long last, the most thoughtful homicidal maniac is back in print.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1681378612
• ISBN13: 9781681378619
• Release Date: August 2025
• Publisher: New York Review Comics
• Length: 456 Pages
• Weight: 0.81 lbs.

Customer Reviews

She blows them all away

Hothead Paisan is not your two dimensional superhero, but superheroine she is. She boils all that is wrong with the world down to white guys who oppress everyone else. In a rage that has no equal she takes on the white male establishment with guns, grenades, chainsaws, baseball bats, and any other lethal weapon she can find. Spurred on by enormous doses of caffeine, this urban terrorist roams the city as the body count goes ever higher. Her holy rage is beautifully counterpointed by her cat Chicken, her blind friend Roz, and a deity in a table lamp that calls herself Donna Summer. These three try to bring love and peace to Hothead's tortured soul. The illustrations perfectly portray the highly emotive Hothead and her range of feelings. This first volume of her comix contains #s 1-9. But why settle for part when you can have the Complete Hothead Paisan (#s 1-21) published by Cleis Press in 1999?

This book is the bible-I swear!

Hothead Paison is a classic! She gives the word fe-muh-nist a new meaning! Definitely someone for all of us strapping young dykes to look up to!! Everyone should read the books of Her Royal Hotheadedness, they will give you insight to life itself!!!

One of the greatest escapes from stupidity around.

Stupid men beware! Hothead Paisan, Homicidal Lesbian Terrorist, is coming! This is one of the best books I've ever read, a pointed look at the problems of todays world and an amazing escape from those problems as Hothead kills her way through them, destroying men left and right. She's not the heroine for politically-correct types, but for those who would like a bit of action and positive change in their lives, there's no one better than Hothead Paisan to cheer you up.