Andrew Wheeler, illustrated by Rye Hickman
Hey, Mary!
(Oni Press, April 2025)
From writer Andrew Wheeler (Another Castle, Cat Fight) and artist Rye Hickman (The Harrowing) comes a touching story of religion, desire, and what it means to be yourself no matter how lonely or scared you feel..
Mark is a good Catholic boy. He goes to church, says his prayers, and 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 judgmentâand his fear of his parents’ responseâpresses 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?
Praise for Hey, Mary!
“Hey, Mary! somehow manages to be funny, imaginative, and moving in equal measures. A queer coming-of-age story against the backdrop of Catholic guilt, Hey, Mary! is a tender reminder of the life-and-death struggle it is to become ourselves.” â Mark Russell, creator of God Is Disappointed in You
“Hey, Mary! is a beautifully bold book in both its art and storytelling. For every church kid struggling with their queerness, this book will resonate long after the final page is turned.” â Laura Gao, creator of Kirby’s Lessons for Falling (In Love) and Messy Roots
“Hey, Mary! will be meaningful for any kid wrestling with questions of Catholic faith, LGBTQ identity, community, and love; and especially those needing deeper explorations of the history and scripture. While it doesn’t shy away from the challenges of holding space for both faith and queerness, it reassures us that there is room for both, and without reservation. What exactly that looks like is for each to explore for themselves, but this book is clear: the thing that connects them, resoundingly, is love.” â Keezy Young, creator of Taproot
“At the risk of being too on-the-nose, Hey Mary! is a miracle. Wheeler’s script tackles some huge ideas, but never forgets to be fun and funny. Hickman’s art is gorgeous, both in the sprawling, ornate fantasy sequences and the small, intimate moments between characters. Buy this book forever and ever, amen.” â Jordan Morris, creator of Youth Group
“I loved Hey, Mary! Here’s a book that gives you the butterflies and angst of Heartstopper with a thoughtful, provocative lens on faith, institutions, and pride. Like the best books, it tackles real issues–coming out, internalized homophobia, guilt, paranoia–but it does so with a lightness, a vibrancy and energy that draws you through the lives of its leads as you gasp at their pitfalls and cheer their victories. The best fiction thrills you, enlightens you, and cradles your heartâHey, Mary! does all three!”â Steve Orlando, Midnighter, Wonder Woman, and Astonishing Iceman
“Hey, Mary! celebrates the rich overlap of queer faith and history we so rarely hear about. Hey, Mary! sings praises to queer history and explores what faith means to one lonely boy finding his place in the world.”â Niki Smith, creator of The Golden Hour
“A necessary read for believers and non-believers, Hey, Mary! shines a light on how the Bible both helps and hurts the queer community in a way that doesn’t feel preachy. Come for the queer biblical icons, but stay for Hickman’s drawings of sexy Jesus. I wish this comic onto every small town.”â Meggie Ramm, creator of Batcat
“Saints and stories come to vivid life in this compassionate story of a young man learning to balance his sexuality and his faith. For any readers out there trying to find space in their Catholicism for their queerness, I hope this book can light the way.” â Maia Kobabe, creator of Gender Queer: A Memoir
Andrew Wheeler is a Torontoâbased author born and raised in the south of England. His work includes the globetrotting heist comic Cat Fight, the occult noir Sins of the Black Flamingo, feminist fantasy comic Another Castle, and queer sports comedy Love and War. He is the author of the official Dungeons & Dragons cocktail book Puncheons & Flagons, co-author of the Dungeons & Dragons Young Adventurers Guides, and a contributor to the groundbreaking DC Pride and Marvel Voices: Pride anthologies.
Rye Hickman is a visual storyteller and a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design’s Sequential Art program. Past work includes The Harrowing, Bad Dream, Buzzing, and more. They get really excited about dystopian fiction, good coffee, and drawing hands.