Exploring the Scientific Side of Ghosts in The Indie Comix Dispatch

3.56/5.0 Stars Rating if the Book Were a Movie: R

Creative Team

Writer: Lilah Sturges Art: El Garing Letters: Hassan Othman’s-Elhaou & Comcrafts Jimmy Betancourt Cover: El Garring Editor: Nikita Kannekanti Publisher: Legendary Comics

Ratings

Story: 3.9 Stars Interior Artwork: 3.8 Stars Cover Artwork: 3.8 Stars Dialogue: 3.5 Stars Mechanics: 3.2 Stars Editing: 3.2 Stars

About the Book:

Joy Ravenna is a transgender parapsychologist who seeks to prove that ghosts are real. As Joy deals with her new life as a female she is approached by someone who wants to help her prove ghosts are real only to get caught up in a murder mystery that has her at the very center, all while trying to adjust and deal with a hostile ex-wife and a new girlfriend who wants her to stop hunting ghosts.

Reviewer’s Notes:

This story is a remarkable one. It deals with the very sensitive subject of someone trying to continue living their life after they transition from one gender to the other. While the transition is certainly not the focal point of the story, the reactions from the ex-wife are very much part of the story.

While Joy is out to prove her scientific theory of ghosts being real it turns into a murder mystery that feels a bit like a teenage murder mystery story. We have the main character trying to get to the bottom of things, the quirky sidekick who is skeptical of what’s going on and doesn’t want our main character to get hurt, the police officer type person telling the main character to stay out of it and let them do their job.

The only thing that doesn’t fit the above mentioned story type is the fact that very adult themes and actions were thrown in there to establish the relationships that our main character Joy has with those around her. While tasteful I am not sure it is needed to move the story along to be honest. But nonetheless it is done in a classy way that does not take away from the story at all.

As the story comes to an end, it proves Joy’s thesis and thus the point of the story, but the thing that I like the most is that in order to keep her girlfriend happy Joy gives up on what I feel is later defined as her childhood, as during the conference that Joy gives, a little girl who is only seen by a few is also named Joy and bares a striking resemblance to the adult now giving the conference. As the reader we discover that the little girl is lost and will never be found, indicating to the reader that the adult Joy’s childhood is gone forever.

I think that this proves a valuable point that as adults we are taught that as soon as we are considered an adult, we are to do adult things. With those things comes responsibility and we tend to lose sight of the things that brought us joy in the first place. Which I think is a valuable lesson that as adults we should all keep in mind.

The Science of Ghosts is a wonderful tale that borders on the edge of suspense and keeps the reader entranced until the very end. If you believe in the paranormal then this is a good story that you will enjoy as well as remind you to not lose track of what matters most. Overall the character development and the actual facts given throughout the story make it a bit more believable than other books I have read. Which I think adds to the enjoyment of this book in the first place.

The cover is very well done, showing the only real color the book has to offer. Showing the main character in color among a black and white background. I think that it highlights the main character nicely. Showing as well what the main character might be up against.

The interior artwork is entirely black and white. With crisp clean lines and a detail that makes the reader understand exactly what is going on with the characters. The way the book is illustrated I think that adding color may have actually distracted from the story. Which in the end I think makes the story more enjoyable upfront.

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May the historical documents of the imagination always inspire! Thanks for reading!