Hell Followed With Us

Content Warning: This section discusses anti-trans bias, gender dysphoria, religious trauma, escape from a cult, and death.

Identity lies at the foundation of Hell Followed With Us, as it is ultimately a story about a boy who refuses to be anything other than who he knows he is. Benji runs away from New Nazareth for a multitude of reasons, all of which have to do with a lack of acceptance. With the added layer of Seraph along with Benji’s dysphoria, he battles two internal demons and ends up strong and self-assured when the story concludes. White makes a case for the importance of staying true to one’s identity, suggesting that to be anything but one’s true self is a rejection of happiness and inner peace.

Benji’s identity as a boy is rejected by everyone but his father and, for a time, Theo. The cult attempted to force Benji to be a woman and also ignore or stifle many parts of his true identity, instead favoring his identity as Seraph and savior of their group. During his time in the cult, Benji never corrected people who misgendered him, and he was often referred to by his dead name. Benji’s trans identity is largely rejected by the Angels, and he doesn’t understand what it means to be fully accepted for who he is until he meets the teenagers of the ALC.