Northranger

In this eerie, Northanger Abbey–inspired graphic novel by collaborators Terciero and Indigo (Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy), a queer Latinx teen contends with haunting happenings surrounding his crush’s shrouded past. To closeted Cade Muñoz, real life has always been scarier than his beloved horror movies, which he views as an escape from his insular rural Texas town. But when his bike gets stolen and his mother reveals that the family is struggling financially, Cade joins his Black-cued stepfather Dale in working on a local ranch run by Dale’s former Army general. Though Cade detests the work, things begin looking up when he meets white-cued Henry, the general’s sweet but mysterious son. Even as the boys grow closer, however, Henry’s reluctance to reveal more about his past and strange occurrences on the ranch turn what Cade thought was a blossoming rom-com into his very own horror flick. Indigo’s limited color palette and expressive character design imbue the narrative with a warmth and sincerity that skillfully complement the themes addressed. Terciero handles instances of homophobia and prejudice, contextualized by an opening content warning, with forthright realism, imbuing this lightly speculative read with intense emotionality. Ages 13–up. (June)