Next month Oni Press will release Lights, the final graphic novel in the Sheets series from cartoonist Brenna Thummler. The book follows Marjorie, Wendell, and Eliza as they try to get to learn more about Wendell’s life before he was a ghost. Today The Beat is pleased to present an exclusive preview of the graphic novel.
Here’s how Oni Press describes Lights:
Marjorie Glatt’s life was forever changed the day she discovered a group of ghosts hiding in her family’s laundromat. One of those ghosts was Wendell: a lonely phantom turned Marjorie’s best friend. When he and Marjorie are joined by ghost enthusiast Eliza Duncan, the three friends band together in friendship, bravery, and all things paranormal.
Wendell died far too young and now must wander the Land of Humans with nothing more than a sheet for a body. He knows how he died—a tragic drowning accident—but lately he’s grown curious about his past life. He wants to know more about why he died, not just how he died. It’s not easy, though, since Wendell’s memory of his human life has grown increasingly blurry. With Marjorie and Eliza’s help, they set out on a journey to find out more. When they hear a rumor about Wendell’s death, they wonder if it might not have been an accident after all. Meanwhile, Marjorie and Eliza’s friendship is tested when Marjorie starts to befriend the very people who used to bully Eliza.
Lights concludes the trilogy of books from Brenna Thummler that began with Sheets in 2018. The second book in the series, Delicates, was released in 2021. In a statement about the new book, Thummler described what sets Lights apart from its predecessors:
“Lights takes a small step outside of where the first two books have been, into a space that’s more snowy, sad, and suspenseful. With Wendell at the forefront, this book examines the complexities of relationships as all three protagonists grow more self-aware. These characters have lived in my headspace for the past six years, and in Lights especially, have made me record some of their most hard-hitting experiences. While there is always a sense of relief that comes from saying farewell to long-term house guests, there is also a heavy sort of emptiness, and it was important that I send them off the right way. Marjorie, Eliza, and Wendell have shaped me just as I have shaped them, and I hope readers will find a new kind of comfort in their final story.”
Check out the exclusive four-page excerpt from Lights below. The graphic novel will be due out in stores and digitally on Wednesday, September 6th.
