2025 has already brought some outstanding comics, and Oni Press may have added another must-read to your stack. Hey, Mary! is a touching coming-of-age graphic novel about a teenage boy grappling with his Catholic faith as he comes to terms with his sexuality, turning to pivotal figures from religious history for guidance.
IGN is exclusively unveiling a new preview of Hey, Mary! Take a look in the slideshow gallery below:
Hey, Mary! - Exclusive Graphic Novel Preview
6 Images
Hey, Mary! is written by Andrew Wheeler (Cat Fight, Another Castle) and illustrated by Rye Hickman (The Harrowing, Bad Dream). Here’s Oni’s official synopsis of the new book:
Mark is a devoted Catholic boy. He attends church, recites his prayers, and endlessly worries about hell. When he realizes he’s attracted to a classmate, Mark wrestles with conflicting emotions—torn between his faith and his identity, weighed down by centuries of guilt and judgment, and terrified of how his parents might react. He turns to his priest and a local drag performer for advice, but also receives surprising guidance from iconic figures in Catholic history: Joan of Arc, Michelangelo, St. Sebastian, and Savonarola. In the end, only Mark can answer the question: Can he be both Catholic and gay?
"Hey, Mary! is a story about the clash between queerness and Catholicism, seen through the eyes of a teenage boy named Mark," Wheeler tells IGN. "If you’re queer and Catholic, you know how deeply those tensions echo through centuries of art and expression—so channeling that through one teenager’s experience makes it more relatable. This excerpt shows Mark getting an unexpected art history lesson from his artsy friend (and crush) Luka—and a surreal visit from a true queer Catholic saint. It’s playful, insightful, and boldly opinionated!"
"Big thanks to Hank Jones, our incredible colorist, for those turtles on the first page of this preview!" Hickman says. "There are art history references hidden throughout Hey, Mary! like a glorious sequential treasure hunt. I’m not just saying that because I’m obsessed with it—religious iconography has been one of the Catholic Church’s most powerful tools. Whether it’s The Pietà or an anonymous wooden crucifix, Catholic imagery is deeply evocative, figurative, emotionally raw—and sometimes sexually charged in ways that are hard to reconcile."
Wheeler adds, "Incorporating Catholic art references into the story was a joy, and I love how Rye brought them to life. The nods are there if you know where to look, but even if you don’t, they deepen the visual storytelling."
Hey, Mary! is available now in bookstores and comic shops. You can order the book on Amazon.In other comic book news, Mike Mignola is returning to the Hellboy universe this summer, and we chatted with the creative team behind Spider-Man & Wolverine.
