Teenage Mark’s entire identity is how Catholic he is. He works as an altar boy at church and spends a great deal of his time volunteering at the church with his family. Mark and his best friend have grown apart, as Luka came out as gay. Now, Mark is dealing with some big feelings about his own sexuality, his feelings for Luka, and what all of it means for his belief system. Along the way, he meets multiple queer icons both in a personal and spiritual sense. As readers move throughout the story, the queer history of Catholic saints comes forward, as well as how the Bible has been translated.
Hey, Mary! is written by Andrew Wheeler and illustrated by Rye Hickman. The blend of gorgeous cartoon work and hilarious storytelling make Hey, Mary! more accessible to audiences that may not be up on their Catholic history or conversely their Queer history. The graphic novel is deeply respectful of both Catholic belief and the Queer community, but some of the book may still rub the deeply Conservative the wrong way. I found the whole thing charming and hilarious. The entire section on gay Catholic artists made me snort laugh with how funny (and accurate) it is. Hey, Mary! does a great job of showing queer Saints and Catholic icons, giving a brief background in the graphic novel itself, but also including more details about the individuals referenced in a detailed “Lives of the Saints” portion in the back of the book.
Hey, Mary! is available from Oni Press April 15, 2025.
