September 26, 2026

Attention McSweeney’s fans: A 16-page, science-fiction, coming-of-age, water-color comic by Kevin Reilly ’18 is featured in the 83rd volume of its literary journal, Timothy McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern. 

BIRTHPLACE OF THE SAINTS follows teenager Nestor Ben as he tends to the pilgrims who come to the Temple hoping to become saints by interacting with the sacred psychotropic plant Divinora, which requires lots of roller-skating.

BIRTHPLACE OF THE SAINTS first made its debut at CCS.

“I attempted a book-length version of BIRTHPLACE OF THE SAINTS while at CCS but eventually buckled under the weight of it,” said Kevin. “Dear Future Students… please don’t try making a several-hundred-page graphic novel right out the gate. Many a noble pilgrim has ventured down that darkening path and few have returned! Stick to short stuff, like 20 pages or fewer, for at least for a couple years. You’ll have so many more opportunities. The great and wise Luke Howard once looked me dead in the eyes and gave me this advice and I paid it no mind, foolish fool that I was! Now you, too, have been warned—Godspeed! 

Kevin Reilly’s MOTHBALL 88 was nominated for Ignatz’s Outstanding Minicomic Award. He lives outside of Nashville, TN, with his wife and (hopefully by the time you read this) newborn daughter. You can view more of his comic work on Instagram at @kevinb_reilly. 

You can pick up a copy of McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern at your favorite bookshop or order one online: https://store.mcsweeneys.net/products/mcsweeney-s-83 Our copies are from Norwich Bookstore, Still North Books and Bar, and Yankee Bookshop.