Youth Group

Jordan Morris, Bowen McCurdy
Youth Group
(First Second, July 2024)

Named to the American Booksellers Association’s Young Adult Indie Bestseller List
Featured in USA Today’s Bestselling Booklist 
Listen to author Jordan Morris on NPR’s Bullseye
Featured in Publishers Weekly‘s Spring 2024 Preview 
One of Comic Book Couples Counseling‘s Most Anticipated Comics of 2024
See the Announcement for Youth Group on Bleeding Cool
Read the Kirkus Review here
Read the starred Booklist review here
One of CBR’s 10 Exciting New Graphic Novels From 2024
Preview interior pages in Games Radar
Take an exclusive look inside with IGN
Read the review in Capes and Tights
Listen to author Jordan Morris on the How Did This Get Made podcast
Take a look at interior pages from AIPT

Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina in this darkly funny YA graphic novel.

When cynical, gothy Kay lets her mom talk her into joining the youth group at their church, she’s prepared for the dorky sing-alongs and the cheesy slogans about dodging temptation. What she isn’t prepared for is walking in on the clean-cut youth group leaders, Meg and Cortland, in the middle of a real-deal exorcism.

Turns out these wholesome Christian teens are demon-hunting soldiers in a secret war that’s heating up fast, and even if Kay wanted to stay on the sidelines, she doesn’t have a choice – she’s a “Blight,” a human who demons can’t possess, and that makes her a target.

But Kay’s in good hands with her new friends – for them, fighting literal demons is all in a Sunday’s work!

Praise for Youth Group

“A distinctly 1990s backdrop with the era’s satanic panic, pager tech, and quirky slang lightens the mood of demon fighting and religious existentialism, as Kay comes to terms with the intersections of faith and her newfound abilities. Thoughtful coloration contrasts the gravity of different scenarios throughout the work, with purple hues signaling interactions with demons, greens and blues emphasizing dread-ridden battles, and pinks relaying emotionally loaded conversations. Though the work could use a bit more world building and is more progressive than one might anticipate for the story’s time period, Morris makes up for all with a nice contrast of humor and interfaith ponderings.” —Booklist, starred review

“Full of comedic beats, demon expulsions, and ’90s camp.” —Kirkus

“A new horror comedy that’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.” —Games Radar/Newsarama

“Wickedly winky [and] packed with jokes.” —Comic Book Couples Counseling 

“Quirky [and] fast-paced…The demons are visual delights, varied in size and style but consistent in their oozing malice and hatred of humanity. Shifting panel size highlights key action scenes, and garish color contrasts are jarring in satisfying ways, celebrating this horror clash of good and evil… Besides the murderous hell beings, however, Morris offers a cozy ’90s world where diversity is celebrated, queer kids have a ready home within a church youth group, and Wiccans and Christians can find easy common ground at a rager. It is little wonder that jaded Kay is drawn in despite her initial misgivings.”—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Morris has another hit here, following up his Eisner-nominated graphic novel, Bubble. The dialogue is witty and full of inside jokes for any who are ­familiar with the modern church and youth group. McCurdy brings both humanity and the supernatural to her illustrations, giving each character their own unique look. VERDICT: Fun and fast-paced, this graphic novel will ‘jump for joy’ right off shelves and is for anyone who can see the comedy in worship or identifies with the drive to save their corner of the world.” —School Library Journal

“A fast-paced, energetic graphic novel that wonderfully combines a coming-of-age story with demon-fighting action. The great storytelling by Jordan Morris and visually striking artwork from Bowen McCurdy creates a wonderful reading experience that leaves us wanting more from this crazy world they created.” —Capes & Tights

“An incredibly amusing take on teens fighting demons by night after praying by day, it’s a book that entertains from the first few pages to the last. Beautifully drawn, excellently told, with characters that are wholly relatable and inspiring, Youth Group is aimed at a younger audience but is easy reading for all ages.” —Pint O’ Comics

“Delightful… a charming tale of 1990s ennui, cringe Sunday School — and demon hunting….McCurdy’s artwork and Morris’s snappy dialog conjure up that bygone decade in a way that is simultaneously affectionate and critical… Youth Group deftly avoids nostalgia’s trap, managing to be a period piece without falling prey to the Happy Days pathology of ignoring the many flaws and problems of its era. And of course, it’s a hoot and a blast.” —Cory Doctorow

“Writer Jordan Morris and artist Bowen McCurdy dive back into the ’90s for a story about friendship, faith, and demon-slaying.” —Comics Beat

“Youth Group is a delight of a book, filled with smart, fun dialogue, fully-formed characters, and a novel look at the paranormal. Whether you’re a former member of a Bible study group, you’re fascinated by religious practices, or you just like a good ol’ fashioned yarn featuring fighting the hordes of hell, Youth Group is a book you should definitely make sure to delve into.” —Freak Sugar

“Genuinely funny… If you ever participated in church youth groups as a teenager, you owe it to yourself
to check out Youth Group.” —Smash Pages