Mary Sue

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 25 MAY 2026

This spirited graphic novel from Fitzmartin (A Case of Chaos) and Sterle (Dying Inside) offers a playful, self-aware tribute to fandom and wish-fulfillment. Teen Cassie is deeply invested in her favorite TV show and the tight-knit digital community that surrounds it, much to the concern of her religious mother, who worries that Cassie's screen time is crowding out real-world relationships. Even after being grounded from her devices, Cassie continues secretly drafting a new installment of her fanfic, centered on Jessica, an original character designed to "fix" the show's narrative missteps. Complications arise when Bennett, a former friend turned fanfic critic, discovers the story and derides Jessica as a seemingly perfect character, colloquially known as a Mary Sue. Soon after, Jessica materializes in the real world to defend Cassie. When Bennett's own swashbuckling Mary Sue appears, the comic spirals into a metafictional worlds-jumping adventure. Densely packed panels, brimming with text messages and online chatter, vividly capture the immediacy and emotional resonance of fandom spaces. Shifting palettes heighten the contrast between the visually diverse characters' IRL and fictional realms: oversaturated hues signal fanfic sequences, muted tones ground the real world, and sepia washes mark flashbacks. Beneath the outlandish premise lies a heartfelt examination of friendship, identity, and creative expression. Ages 13–17.