Lilah Sturges has created some great comics like Lumberjanes, and worked on popular series like Power Girl and Zatanna. Now, she’s teamed up with Legendary Comics for a brand new paranormal graphic novel called The Science of Ghosts that follows the transgender parapsychologist Joy Ravenna. The art for the story will be provided by Alitha E. Martinez (Black Panther: World of Wakanda).
While on the verge of losing a research grant that would jeopardize her academic life work, Joy Ravenna is approached by a wealthy young heiress who claims to have encountered malevolent paranormal activity at the family’s estate. As Joy, who is accustom to navigating the mysteries of the afterlife, dives deeper and deeper into the investigation, she comes face-to-face with the very real challenges of her own past and present—her first post-transition relationship with new girlfriend Cat, a hostile ex-wife, and clues to a murder long forgotten—that will test her at every twist and turn. For Joy, working with ghosts is way easier than dealing with the living.
In a statement, Sturges said:
The Science of Ghosts brings together so many things that fascinate me: psychology, dream logic, the symbolism of ghost narratives, and… queer love stories. It is certainly a horror story: it’s chock-a-block with dark basements, abandoned hotels and ghosts a plenty. And it’s also a murder mystery: twists and turns and clues and secrets abound. But to my mind, it’s the romance that makes it special, and it’s of a kind that we rarely get to see in mainstream comics: two queer women who adore each other and whose existences are not a jumping-off point for tragedy. Getting to write a trans woman protagonist who loves and is loved, who is defined by what she strives for and how she loves rather than the fact of her transness, has been one of the great joys of my career. She is informed by being trans but she isn’t defined by it. And did I mention the ghosts? And the murder? And the romance?
Martinez added:
I’m very much enjoying the worldbuilding and getting to know the characters that Lilah created. Illustrating new books provide their own unique challenges, and I love a challenge.
Jann Jones of Legendary Comics said:
Having been a fan of Lilah and Alitha for so long, I am honored to be able to work with them on The Science of Ghosts. Watching this come to life has been amazing, and I am very proud of this book. Authentic representation is important, and the world needs more characters like Joy and Cat.
The Science of Ghosts will be available to read in Summer 2021.