Toms Story Page 31
August 2025 Author note: This comic is misinformed about bottom surgery results and not how I’d handle the topic if I were to write it now.
If anyone was put off bottom surgery from reading this comic I apologise, and hope you went on to do your own research and figure out what worked best for you. Even 15 years ago when this comic was made the regret rates for these surgeries were very low, and the technology only improved with a multitude of options developing such as metoidioplasty as well as phalloplasty.
I don’t want to edit the comic as that would put comments on this page out of context, and the page is part of a plot point so it can’t just be removed.
I think it’s important for trans people to talk about surgery worries, particularly young adults like these characters. If I were to change it I would update the clunky language (particularly ‘real dick’ and the implications there), and try to clarify what Tom is feeling: fear of how much work he has to go through to get where he wants to be, and fear that no matter what he does he might not be perfect when he gets there.
O
Tab! Stop making me feel all genderquestiony with your excellent story telling (that I decided to read after Gay Buttlers ended)
I’m… Going to go cry?in a corner now…
Everytime i reread this comic this is the page thats always such a gut punch.. :,(
Speaking as an FTM who was just looking at phalloplasty pics… It’s not pretty, even now.
god i fucking hate this plot point as a post-phallo trans guy. tom buddy come here. it’s gonna be okay. please don’t look at pictures taken in the middle of the recovery phase or listen to idiots who’ve never even seen a phallo dick in person speculate about whether or not you can have sex and let dipshits who do not know what they’re talking about talk you out of a completely normal surgery that people get and are happy with every year. there are so many trans guys who could be happily post-op right now who have instead been brainwashed by transphobic rhetoric about gcs being mutilation into thinking that they’re stuck with their natal genitals, it’s completely infected especially trans-made media, and now it’s 2024 and ftm characters are still repeating this shit even when it’s more incorrect than it’s ever been.
This comic came out in 2007. Both trans care AND the information about it have come a ways since then. Don’t be hating on history, it helps us see how far we’ve come.
This shit was false in 2007 too. The misinformation was just worse.
Forgot to mention, I had metoidioplasty. Phalloplasty is not the only option.
I’ve added an updated author note to this page that mentions metoidioplasty so anyone reading first time gets that info to help them research, thanks for taking the time to comment and let people know you had a good experience with it.
Hiya I’ve added an updated author note to this page just to make clear my stance on it!
Hiya, apologies for the delayed response as I don’t get notifications for comments. I’ve added an author’s note to to clarify the incorrect information in the page. I’m really glad phallo worked out for you, and appreciate you sharing your positive experience when there is so much misinformation out there.
So glad to see this amendment!
I was absolutely one of the ones put off from bottom surgery from this comic, but have done enough rethinking and research in the years since to change my mind
There’s always hope!