The Science Of Ghosts
Lilah Sturges
El Garing and Alitha Martinez
$23.99
Legendary Comics
Are you looking for stories featuring compelling queer characters in loving relationships? Maybe you want stories celebrating queer joy? Do you like dramas with some police detective aspect added? Mysteries? Are you intrigued to learn about eccentric and racist historical people who considered themselves to be occultists? And requisite ghosts too! If any of the afore mentioned pique your curiosity then The Science of Ghosts is a graphic novel you should check out! Lilah Sturges took these disparate elements and wrote an amazing script for the art team of El Garing and Alitha Martinez who expertly brought these characters and elements to life.
Let’s start with the characters on the list of things to love in this story. Sturges was quite fastidious in creating main characters Joy Ravenna and wife Cat as individuals and especially as a couple. The love, playfulness, and intimacy between the two women as visualized by artist El Garing feels refreshing. Joy’s passion is her work as a forensic parapsychologist and her goal is to prove to other people that ghosts are real and play an integral part in solving crime. Cat is a grade school teacher devoted to the kids in her classroom as they come and go every year. She loves sushi and is very protective of Joy, her friends, and especially herself. One cute detail of their relationship is the nickname Cat gave to Joy. Cute enough that I don’t want to spoil it for you. As everyone who is or has been in a relationship knows there are times when we’re reminded neither our loved ones or us are perfect. Such is the case with Joy who has flaws despite her many positive traits and strengths and by having Cat initiate a discussion on a concerning issue in their relationship is another example of Sturges making the character shine.
Now if you’re a fan of Sturges’ prior work then you’re probably thinking that Ravenna may be trans in which case you are correct and that in turn makes Cat queer. Sturges created an additional two queer characters to bring the total to four out of seven in the cast.
Next up in the cast is close friend Amanda Weatherholt, one of the bartenders at the Broke Betty bar. Amanda’s outgoing personality hides a secret from her past that she fears will have a major impact her life in the present moment. Siblings Liz and Ben Haskell are heirs to the Haskell Firearms empire and its vast wealth. They have opposing views on what to do with the family business and they both plan to turn their ideas into reality. The last of the central characters is police detective Rani Ojeda who also happens to be Joy’s previous wife and the two are clearly holding on to some issues.
Set in Austin, the capital of Texas, Sturges explores real 21st century issues of corporate greed and white supremacy through a string of mysteries that trace back generations to the 19th century. A profound fear that her home is haunted prompts Liz Haskell, the aforementioned heir, to contact Ravenna at her university office to ask for her help. Ravenna’s career is at a critical juncture after just learning her grant will likely be pulled because her research isn’t meeting its goals. Serendipitous moment or not, she’s eager for the opportunity to save not only her grant but also the part of her ego she’s invested in her work after a painful divorce with Rani. Momentum builds as Ravenna discovers just how unsavory the Haskell empire and its legacy are. It’s hardly a wonder why Liz is determined to break from the company’s past but at what cost to her as the haunting that panicked her proves to be both real and more harrowing than she could’ve imagined?
This is my first encounter with El Garing’s art and coming to his work with fresh eyes made for a wonderful surprise. His is a dynamic style that includes a range of line work from delicate to thick brushstrokes, varying angles and points of view, emotive faces and realistic body types. While Garing’s panel layouts usually follow a grid there are a number of instances when Garing employs a tiny flourish that breaks the layout to slow down the eye. The most noticeable distinction to Garing’s art is it being entirely rendered in black and white with shades of gray. To my thinking black and white art, especially when it’s as lush as it is here, is about substance while color in art is about the play of light and how color affects mood and emotions. The decision to forego color seems appropriate here in that it subtly lends a sense of concreteness to the paranormal elements in the story. Alitha Martinez (Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur, various Marvel projects, and Nubia) is credited with additional art and her contribution to Garing’s work appears to be absolutely seamless to my eye.
Here’s a short preview of The Science Of Ghosts for you to watch and you’ll see just how amazing El Garing’s art is!
With all the boxes this graphic novel checks off for me in terms of storytelling I wish it had come to my attention sooner. Better late than never as the saying goes. Sturges and Garing took great care to write and visualize messages of bright and real queer joy, affirmations to live our lives on our terms, emotional honesty, and taking personal responsibility for our mistakes into the narrative. These elements are what gives this story a soul. To paraphrase drastically cultural anthropologist Clifford Gertz: “Stories that we tell ourselves are how we understand our world.” As relevant as these messages in The Science Of Ghosts and similar stories are now, they will only gain in importance in the face of whatever hell will be directed at us, specifically the trans community, starting in 2025 and beyond.
Trans readers will certainly find many reasons to appreciate Joy in particular and the story in general. I believe that The Science Of Ghosts will appeal to cis readers as well simply on the basis of strong characterization, great dialog, and a masterfully executed plot.
Now I’ve only just mentioned Paschal Beverly Randolph as being an influence on Sturge’s plot. If you’re at all curious about the man’s twisted life and beliefs I suggest you watch this video.
The Science Of Ghosts grabbed my attention from the beginning through to the end. Perfectly satisfying as a stand alone story while simultaneously leaving me wanting more adventures with Joy, Cat, and Amanda. I hope you will appreciate reading it at least as much as I did if you decide to buy a copy!
Speaking of which, check your local comic shop to see it has a copy. If you don’t find one there, copies can be ordered through Bookshop. Bookshop can also help you find a local indy bookstore. Give either of these ISBN numbers to your local bookstore to make ordering a copy easier: 1681160862 or 978-1681160863. If all else fails or you prefer, copies can be purchased from Amazon. This is a Gay League affiliate link from which Gay League will earn a small commission. Here is a non affiliate link.