‘Survival is Aspirational’: An Interview with Katie Skelly

Features Hagai Palevsky | August 3, 2026 Unless otherwise specified, all images are from Heaven by Katie Skelly. The promotional copy for Katie Skelly’s graphic novel, Heaven, informs us that the new book is Skelly’s first outing in six years. In other words, it tells us: Katie Skelly is back. Of course, to those following, Skelly has never, strictly speaking, gone away — in the last six years she has launched her own small press, Strega Sporca; edited two volumes of her horror anthology Viscere, as well as a book of wrestling drawings by Jaime Hernandez; and released several self-published mini-comics of her own. Nonetheless, a new project from Skelly is always, to me, a cause for celebration, and Heaven sees her at her sharpest and most introspective yet. I spoke with Skelly over email about the new book and the long journey to its completion. This conversation has been edited for flow and concision, and contains spoilers for Heaven, in stores now. — Hagai Palevsky HAGAI PALEVSKY: So, a major part of the promotion for Heaven is the fact that it’s your first long-form release in six years. Does it feel like a major event to you, within your body of work? Does it feel like I was aw...