When Hazel Johnson and Mari McCray met at church bingo in 1963, it was love at first sight. Through the years, the two became inseaparable, but they are forced apart by their parents when their true love for one another is revealed. Hazel and Mari both reluctantly move on with their lives, each marrying young men and having families.

Decades later, now in their mid-’60s, Hazel and Mari reunite at the church bingo hall they first met at. Realizing their love for each other is still alive, what these grandmothers do next takes absolute strength and courage.

Created by writer Tee Franklin (NAILBITER’s THE OUTFIT, Love is Love) with art by Jen St. Onge (Jem & The Misfits), Bingo Love explores the divide between black and queer culture while also representing women in a diverse and real setting. While the story is a work of fiction, Franklin is no stranger to the issues of rejection faced by queer individuals. In an interview with Huffington Post, Franklin opened up about her experiences as a queer black woman and how they helped shape and inform how she wrote Bingo Love.

“I know that there are black women and men who have had to hide their sexuality due to the time era and I know that there are some that are still hiding it,” she said. “As someone who’s been married, sometimes you stay for the kids ― even though you know that the love is gone. Hiding your sexual orientation for decades and not truly being happy inside is what I wanted to touch on with this story.”

Bingo Love was originally funded by a Kickstarter and was fully funded after 5 days. Now, the young adult, romance graphic novella will be published by Image Comics with a set release date of February 20, 2018. For a preview of the graphic novel, click the link below.