Blackwater

In this tense, character-driven supernatural drama, originally a webcomic, high schoolers Tony Price and Eli Hirsch forge a tender romance while a creature terrorizes their town’s woods. Puerto Rican–cued track star Tony, who hides his asthma from his peers, frequently butts heads with his inattentive father; meanwhile, trans, Jewish Eli, who has an undisclosed autoimmune disorder, struggles to make friends as his dismissive mother chips away at his self-esteem. When Eli catches Tony’s eye, Tony starts defending him from bullies including Tony’s childhood friend, and the two embark on an endearing courtship. Joined by cued-Black supernatural enthusiast Marcia, they investigate reports of something lurking in Blackwater’s woods, and Eli reveals he can see and interact with ghosts—specifically, a fisherman who seems to know the forest’s secrets. Arroyo and Graham alternate illustrating each chapter, rendered in grayscale with a small-town atmosphere. Arroyo portrays Tony’s narrative with kinetic art and layered paneling, while Graham offers thicker brushwork that elegantly depicts Blackwater’s landscapes through Eli’s eyes. Together, the creators weave a compelling high school drama, begetting adolescent growth through a captivating occult lens. Ages 14–up. (July)

Correction: An earlier version of this review misspelled Arroyo's first name. ■