Spirits Are Easier To Work With Than The Living In ‘The Science Of Ghosts’

Legendary Comics has announced The Science of Ghosts, a new original graphic novel written by Lilah Sturges and illustrated by Alitha E. Martinez due out next summer. The comic follows a transgender parapsychologist named Joy Ravenna as she finds that working with ghosts is way easier than dealing with the living.

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.
“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,” said Jann Jones, the graphic novel’s editor for Legendary Comics. “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 brings together so many things that fascinate me: psychology, dream logic, the symbolism of ghost narratives, and… queer love stories,” said Sturges. “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?”
“I’m very much enjoying the worldbuilding and getting to know the characters that Lilah created,” said Martinez. “Illustrating new books provide their own unique challenges, and I love a challenge.”
The Science of Ghosts is set for release in the Summer of 2021.