Joy Ravenna's life work is parapsychology. Using the study of crime victims, she longs to gather adequate proof of the afterlife to ensure her funding and keep her research going. When given the opportunity to investigate a legendary murder location arises, even with questions and danger, she jumps on it.  The struggles of her life aren't just with funding and threats of ghosts. Joy is transgender and navigating her first relationship since the breakup of her marriage. Having transitioned in her marriage, Joy finds herself at odds with her ex-wife as well. 

The Science of Ghosts by Lilah Sturges gives us an intelligent transgender heroine and a fantastic murder mystery.   Sturges is no stranger to the comic world, having written for Lumberjanes.  The Science of Ghosts is well-written, and just the right blend of interpersonal drama and thriller. The work is accompanied by the excellent art of El Garing. 

The Science of Ghosts is now available from Legendary Comics.

I went into The Science of Ghosts expecting something quirky and not too serious. That idea was based solely on the title. What I actually got was a deeply emotional journey, filled with rich characters, secret rituals, and murderous ghosts. I sat down to “check it out” and was halfway through the book before I even knew it. And I'd already cried at least once by that point.
The story of Dr. Joy Ravenna feels like a deeply personal one. I was struck by the honesty of the emotions in this story, which is as much about Joy's struggle to come to terms with her identity and the rejection of her wife as it is about ghosts and the search for proof of their existence. And that's a good thing, in my opinion. The world needs more realistic representations of diverse experiences. It was refreshing and enlightening to be able to “take a walk in someone else's shoes” so to speak. These kinds of experiences are the main reason why I love reading so much.
The ghost story portion of The Science of Ghosts was entertaining enough to make the book worth checking out, but the social commentary and emotional gut-punches make it worth re-reading and sharing with everyone you know.

The Science of Ghosts is one of the handful of graphic novels I read, and I greatly enjoyed it. I love Doctor Joy Ravenna and how true to herself she is, and the cast of characters that surround her. The mystery is as masterfully crafted as the artwork.

I'll be interviewing Lilah for my podcast, Novel Finds, in a few weeks and plan to release the episode in June for Pride month.

Reminded me a bit of The Sandman in a good way. Great suspenseful plot and characters, appreciated the queer rep.

The Science of Ghosts is a fantastic premise for a comic. Primary character, Joy Ravenna, is a forensic parapsychologist who uses victimology to investigate cases. That specific focus on forensic psychology offered a new spin on parapsychologist that I found exciting as someone who is already a soft touch for supernatural investigation stories. The art is also beautiful with strong pencils and ink, capturing both human expressions and locations equally well.

Part of the comic I enjoyed was how it highlighted both struggles and joys within the queer community. Within Joy's personal story of transitioning during her marriage, her strained relationship with her ex-wife, a cop, defending her best friend from a murder charge, and navigating her current relationship, readers see snippets of struggles with law enforcement, the need for safe spaces and to find joy, and clear, honest communication.