This month, the first queer supernatural graphic novel hit the shelves since DC's Millennium comic book series showcased Extrano, an openly gay magician. Coven (by Jennifer Dugan and Kit Seaton) is a graphic novel featuring Emsy, a queer paranormal hero searching for her coven's killer. As a young teenage witch, Emsy would much rather surf with her friends or hang out with her girlfriend than practice witchcraft. Following a string of recent murders, however, Emsy must dust the cobwebs off her spell book and find the killer before they strike again. Several superheroes and villains have openly come out to comic book fans and readers, but Emsy is the first openly queer supernatural hero. Similar to the DC Pride comic book, the graphic novel Coven paves a new path for queer representation within the magical realm of supernaturals.

Over thirty years ago, DC comics introduced the first openly gay supernatural Extrano in 1988. Home to prime Earth, Gregorio De La Vega, a small-time magician, transforms into Extrano when the Universe Guardians share their Metahuman powers and immortality abilities with him. Described as festive and flamboyant, the colorful sorcerer fought AIDS-infected vampires and served as the supernatural ally of Midnighter, the leader and founder of the Justice League Queer superhero team. While Extrano did not come out to readers until years later, in 2016, author Steve Engleheart and illustrator Joe Staton always intended Extrano to embody every stereotype of a gay man. Since Extrano's creation, several heroes like Northstar, Jon Kent, and Tim Drake's Robin came out about their sexuality. However, this is the first time since Extrano that a queer supernatural hero entranced readers.

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Should Return From Limbo: Extraño

Supernatural heroes like Ghost Rider, the Scarlet Witch, and Moon Knight have always fascinated comic book fans. Heroes with these powersets bewilder readers with abilities such as time and space alteration. Furthermore, these superheroes boast superhuman strength and abilities like flying or regeneration. They defy laws of physics and nature, transcending metaphysical planes as they conjure spirits, walk through the gates of hell, and traverse spiritual realms. Sure, Spidey's senses and traveling at the speed of light break barriers of their own, but supernatural abilities embody mystical and otherworldly powers. The main character Emsy is no exception to this rule. Though she would rather hang out with friends or study for class, Emsy's supernatural powers require mastering and finess in order to successfully defeat the death witch.

Emsy, the teenage witch, is forced to grow up fast as she races to solve the murder of witches in her coven. Chased by a dark death witch, Emsy must hone her neglected skills before the death witch strikes again. Befriended by a surviving member of the coven and another queer supernatural, Emsy and her new friend Ash swap fire-bending stories and sip on milkshakes in her new small-town diner. Though she is homesick and misses her girlfriend back in California, Emsy starts to understand the importance of her supernatural abilities and her role in the coven of upstate New York. Now, with her coven's fate resting on her shoulders, Emsy's supernatural powers must be strong enough to defeat the death witch and save the remaining coven members from ultimate peril.

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Coven premieres the first queer supernatural hero in over thirty years, but the graphic novel is not the first comic book to feature a teenage witch. From 2015-2018 Dark Horse Comics published the comic book series Harrow County centering around an adolescent witch named Emmy. Set in the 1930s, Harrow County is a series of horror stories that follows Emmy as she slowly discovers the truth about the county's supernatural residents. In Harrow County #16, written by Cullen Bunn and illustrated by Tyler Crook, teenage witch Emmy is faced with the difficult decision to join a powerful coven claiming to be her family. Though she is not a modern-day queer supernatural, the similarities between Dugan's Emsy and Harrow County's Emmy are too similar to ignore.

Despite Coven's premise and the main character lacking originality, it boasts the first graphic novel with a queer supernatural hero since DC's Extrano. This unique character backstory, coupled with her California vibes and surfing hobbies, modernizes the already existing and outdated tales of witchcraft. Coven kicks off the first month of fall with a modern-day twist to a supernatural story perfect for Hallows Eve right around the corner. The graphic novel is an excellent blend of murder mystery and witchcraft, sure to entertain and fill supernatural fans' dark hearts full of gory cheer.