Exclusive Preview: Heartfelt Coming-of-Age Graphic Novel Unveiled

2025 has brought us an array of fantastic comics, and Oni Press is poised to add another gem to the collection with their latest release, *Hey, Mary!* This poignant coming-of-age graphic novel delves into the life of a troubled teenager named Mark, who grapples with his Catholic faith while exploring his burgeoning sexuality. As he navigates these complex feelings, Mark turns to iconic figures from religious history for guidance and support.

IGN is excited to offer an exclusive sneak peek of *Hey, Mary!* You can view the preview in the slideshow gallery below:

Hey, Mary! - Exclusive Graphic Novel Preview

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*Hey, Mary!* is crafted by the talented duo of writer Andrew Wheeler, known for works like *Cat Fight* and *Another Castle*, and illustrator Rye Hickman, acclaimed for *The Harrowing* and *Bad Dream*. Here's the official synopsis from Oni Press:

*Mark is a good Catholic boy. He goes to church, he says his prayers, and he spends too much time worrying about hell. When Mark realizes he has a crush on another boy in his school, he struggles to reconcile his feelings with his faith as the weight of centuries of shame and judgment—and his fear of his parents' response—presses on his shoulders. Mark seeks advice from his priest, as well as a local drag performer, but also receives unexpected input from key figures in Catholic history and lore, including Joan of Arc, Michelangelo, St. Sebastian, and Savonarola. Ultimately, only Mark can answer the question: Is it possible for him to be both Catholic and gay?*

"Hey, Mary! is a story about the tensions between queerness and Catholicism explored through the teen angst of one boy, Mark," Wheeler shared with IGN. "If you are queer and Catholic, you might already know that those tensions reverberate through centuries of art and expression, so channeling that through the experiences of one teenager hopefully makes it a lot more accessible! This excerpt sees Mark getting a very secular art history lesson from his artsy friend (and crush) Luka -- and a fantastical intervention from a bona fide queer Catholic icon. It's fun and educational and opinionated!"

"Shoutout to Hank Jones, our amazing colorist, for the colors on those turtles on the first page of this preview!" Hickman added. "There's art history nods scattered around Hey, Mary! like some kind of glorious sequential easter egg hunt. Not just saying that because I'm a nerd about it, but because religious iconography through the ages is one of the Catholic Church's areas of biggest impact. Whether it be The Pietà or an uncredited wood carving of Jesus on the cross, Catholic imagery is evocative, figural, and emotionally intense-- and sometimes, sexually charged in a way that can be hard to reconcile."

Wheeler further noted, "Putting the Catholic art references into the work was great fun and I really love Rye's execution! The references are there if you know what to look for, but if you don't, they just enrich the visual storytelling."

*Hey, Mary!* is now available in bookstores and comic shops. You can also order the book on Amazon.

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