Growing up is difficult, attempting to find your place in the world. This is especially true when you’re still unpacking what you believe about the wider nature of the universe. Young teen Kay knows this well, whether she’d readily admit it or not, as seen in the upcoming graphic novel Youth Group by writer Jordan Morris and artist Bowen McCrudy, out next Tuesday, July 16, 2024, from First Second. In Youth Group, Kay reluctantly joins a youth study group and, to her surprise, finds that it’s not dorky sing-alongs or rife with God-talk, but rather a demon-hunting organization. Kay may not want to join in a war against the forces of evil, but her unique power may make her participation compulsory.
I spoke with Mr. Morris recently about the conceit of Youth Group, the team of young exorcists we’ll meet in the comic, how his time in a teen Bible study group informed this story, and why we’re drawn to the transgressive nature of horror.
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.
YOUTH GROUP cover
FreakSugar: Before we get into the book itself, do you personally have any experience with youth groups? If so, how did it influence your approach to the comic?
Jordan Morris: Yes! I was in a goofy teen Bible study group, very much like the one in the book. I’m more than a little embarrassed to admit the cringiest stuff in the book is inspired by things that we actually did in my youth group. Yes, that includes changing the lyrics of pop songs to make them about Jesus.
FS: For folks considering picking up the book, what is the idea behind Youth Group?
JM: Youth Group is a YA horror-comedy about teenage exorcists who praise the Lord by day and slay demons by night. It’s got scares, romance, crush-drama and some seriously badass holy weaponry brought to life by super-genius artist Bowen McCurdy.
YOUTH GROUP p. 106
FS: What can you tell us about some of the characters we’ll meet in Youth Group?
JM: Kay is our main character and a total non-believer. Every Bible study I ever went to had a Kay (it was me in some cases). They rolled their eyes through the sermons, smelled like clove cigarettes and were probably there because their parents caught them doing something. Kay actually has a super power that makes her an ideal demon fighter so she endures the dorky overly enthusiastic Christians to save humanity. Those overly enthusiastic dorks are Meg and Cortland. She’s got Elle Woods-levels of enthusiasm and he’s a very recently reformed stoner who only wears cargo shorts and just bought his first day planner. They have to learn to tolerate each other and maybe even become friends all while saving the world.
FS: While the book is fiction, do you see any of yourself in your characters in the comic, either in personality or in personal experience? (Minus the demon-fighting, though I won’t make assumptions.)
JM: Ha! Your assumptions are correct. I’ve never performed an exorcism but I have performed a cover of a Spice Girls song with the lyrics “If you want to be my lover, you gotta get with my Lord.”
I actually see myself in all of these characters (the demons included). Like Kay I often felt like I was enduring Church because I had to and had to bite my tongue through all the stuff I didn’t agree with. Like Meg I know the feeling of being so passionate about something I wanted to shout about it 24/7. Like Cortland I really love playing Nintendo 64.
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FS: Kay’s attributes in the book are those I’ve never seen in fiction before. What was the genesis of that idea?
JM: If you’re talking about her specific power set, I wanted to have some surprises you haven’t seen in religious horror before. One of said powers is that she can’t be possessed. Demons call her a “Blight” and her cohorts call her a “Miracle” (She prefers Blight). She’ll manifest other powers later in the book. I don’t want to spoil anything but it’s something you’d never see in any other religious horror story.
FS: The art and words marry so perfectly in Youth Group. What has the collaboration process been like with Bowen McCurdy?
JM: I’m so lucky Bowen said yes to this project. Their characters are so lively and immediately likable. The characters in the book are having big teen feelings so Bowen’s super expressive style was so perfect for the material. Bowen also does a great demon! I love that we have a variety of monsters from every level of Hell.
FS: You mention that you love the juxtaposition of horror and comedy in fiction. Why do you think that is and why do you think consumers of pop culture respond to that combination?
JM: I think part of the appeal of horror is that it feels transgressive, a little naughty. There’s an element of “Should I be reading/watching this?” I think the experienced horror consumer is game to add some laughs to that experience. “Should I be laughing while all this is happening?”
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FS: Following up on that, what are some of your favorite horror/comedy mash-ups?
JM: I love it when horror comedies take the horror parts seriously and get the laughs from the characters. Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Shaun of the Dead were big inspirations when we were figuring out the tone of Youth Group. We definitely resisted the temptation to parody horror tropes and keep the comedy focused on the characters and their relationships.
FS: What are you reading right now?
JM: I’m loving I Heart Skullcrusher from Josie Campbell and Alessio Zonno. It’s a post-apocalyptic sports comedy that’s easily the funniest comic I’ve read in some time. [Editor’s note: Jordan is dead-on correct! Read our interview with Josie Campbell here!] I also just finished Lunar New Year Love Story from Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham. It’s a gorgeous rom-com with some surprising supernatural elements. Both of them weave in comedy with genre-conventions in a way I hope we did with Youth Group.
FS: Do you have any other projects coming down the pike you’d like to plug or discuss?
JM: I’m hitting the road stumping for Youth Group! I’m new-ish to comics so I’ve never done the con circuit before and I’m so excited to get out there with my banner and little folding table and pitch this book to readers IRL. Please come find me at a con and get a signed book!
FS: If you had a final pitch for the book, what would it be?
JM: If you like demons and jokes and friendship and romance and embarrassing parody songs, this is the book for you! I fell in love with Bowen’s characters the second I saw them and I’m confident you will too. It’s for former youth group kids, current youth group kids and kids who wouldn’t be caught dead anywhere near that scene in a million years. It’s a story about feeling out of place and finding where you belong, while kicking as many demons’ asses as you can along the way.
Youth Group goes on sale Tuesday, July 16, 2024, from First Second.
From the official press release for the book:
Eisner-nominated writer Jordan Morris and YALSA award-winning artist Bowen (Bones) McCurdy are collaborating on YOUTH GROUP, an all-new, original graphic novel about an Orange County teen church group that prays by day and slays demons by night. First Second will publish this hellishly funny story in July, ahead of San Diego Comic-Con International.
Los Angeles-based writer Jordan Morris is the creator and co-writer of Bubble, the hit all-star scripted podcast turned two-time Eisner-nominated graphic novel, which Seth Rogan is producing as an animated feature. He’s also written for the Archie Comics Chilling Adventures comics line and is the co-host of the long running podcast Jordan Jesse Go! with Jesse Thorn (of NPR’s Bullseye with Jesse Thorn).
“I’ve always loved stories that mix horror and comedy,” said writer Jordan Morris. “I appreciate it when creators can play with the push-pull tension between laughs and screams.”
When Kay reluctantly agreed to join the youth group at Stone Mission Church in Orange County California, she expected the Jesus talk and the dorky singalongs and the colorful posters about dodging temptation. What she didn’t expect was to stumble on her youth group leaders, Meg and Cortland, in the middle of a read-deal exorcism. Turns out they’re both soldiers in a secret organization of demon hunters in a war that’s heating up, 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 apparently that’s made her a target. Will Kay find her place in a world that’s so much more God-fearing and monster-fighting than what she’s used to? Will the Stone Mission youth group find common cause with their badass peers of other faiths? Or will a pack of small-time demons use Blights like Kay as the key to starting some real big trouble? YOUTH GROUP mixes humor, horror and heart to tell a story about putting aside your differences to give evil the beatdown it deserves.
Bowen (Bones) McCurdy has worked with Marvel, Boom!Box, IDW, and First Second. Her first graphic novel, Specter Inspectors, co-created with Kaitlyn Musto, won the YALSA award for Great Graphic Novels for Teens.
“This was any artist’s dream collaboration, with such a kind and talented writer to boot,” said artist Bowen (Bones) McCurdy. “Jordan’s characters are immediately lovable and relatable, regardless of their faiths and/or demon-butt-kicking abilities. I’m so grateful to have been able to bring to life his goofy, affectionate, wild ride of a story.”
“One of our goals with YOUTH GROUP was to make the humor character-based rather than spoofing horror conventions,” added Morris. “Our characters are extreme goofballs but hopefully they’re not pure punchlines. Bowen has given them such humanity and likability that you’ll be genuinely concerned that they’re going to die. We want all sorts of folks to be able to enjoy this book, regardless of where they’re at with faith and religion. Our characters are all kinds of believers (non-believers included) who have to find a way to work together to achieve the common goal of not getting killed by demons.”
YOUTH GROUP will be available in bookstores and comic shops from First Second on July 16, 2024. For more information, follow Jordan Morris on Twitter, Bluesky and Instagram.