YOUTH GROUP

After attending an evangelical Christian church, a girl becomes involved with a group of young exorcists.

This graphic novel set in the 1990s follows Kay, a teen who agrees to attend church with her newly divorced mother. Kay’s father makes her feel like she’s his “fourth priority behind work, golf, and hitting on the hostess at Chili’s.” While her mom joins the adults for sermons by the bearded, ponytailed pastor, Kay attends the youth group, where the young leaders talk about avoiding temptation and perform an Ace of Base cover (“I saw the Christ / and it opened up my eyes”). Later, Kay is caught spying on the pastor and youth group leaders, who are attempting to exorcise a demon from a local man in a cabin in the woods. It emerges that Kay’s a blight (someone impervious to demonic possession), making her blood highly desirable to demons, who take her father as bait. Needing allies if they hope to prevail, the evangelicals join forces with young Catholic, Jewish, and Wiccan exorcists. The expressive, delightfully over-the-top illustrations capture the era and enhance the strong pacing. Kay feels some reluctance toward her mother’s church, but all the religions are treated with respect during the communal fight against evil. This work reads as a stand-alone work but would make for a great series opener. Main characters read white; the supporting cast is racially diverse.

Full of comedic beats, demon expulsions, and ’90s camp.