Think back to your childhood. Do you remember those distinct coming-of-age moments?
Opening the pages to a stolen nudie magazine. Seeing your grandmother pass away. Your first kiss. An after-school fight in the playground. Discovering the mangled body of the world’s greatest superhero?
Well, maybe not that last one – but that particular finding is still a metaphor that we can all understand: coming of age and the loss of innocence. It’s the underlying narrative and theme of the new, highly anticipated five-issue miniseries, Plutona.
Follow me after the jump for the scoop!
Plutona #1
Written by: Jeff Lemire
Illustrated by: Emi Lenox
Published by: Image Comics
Written by the acclaimed Jeff Lemire (Essex County, Sweet Tooth, Descender) and illustrated by indie fan-favourite Emi Lenox (Emitown), Plutona tells the story of five kids from the suburbs who make a shocking discovery deep in the woods by their homes: the body of the world’s foremost superhero, Plutona. In a world full of beings of various powers, capes and cowls, what does it mean for innocent kids, their friendship, and their view on life, when their most famous hero is found dead?
The story of Plutona has its origins in Lemire’s earlier, revered indie graphic novel, Essex County: a family-centric tale about a rural boy’s coming of age. Over the last few years, Lemire has successfully moved into the mainstream of comic book storytelling with work at publishers DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Valiant Entertainment and now Image Comics.
Image, as has been often noted here and elsewhere, is the publishing home for some of the leading comic book writer and artist talents today: individuals who release their creator-owned stories without the interference or encumbrance of the sometimes heavier-handed editorial staff of the larger publishers. Image Comics takes chances on stories and their creators, often with great success – something that DC and Marvel unfortunately tend to shy away from these days in lieu of publishing their own stable of beloved, bur corporate-tempered, superheroes.
With Plutona, Lemire has merged his knowledge and love of rural and suburban childhood experiences with his newer understanding of writing superhero stories. It’s the perfect development of Lemire as a writer, working with all of his strengths and interests. Alongside him in the Plutona endeavor is artist Emi Lenox, herself crossing over from indie acclaim into a modern superhero storytelling. It makes for an impeccable and highly anticipated paring!
You can find a four-page sneak preview of the first issue of Plutona right here.
Make the run to your local comic book shop today and pick up Plutona #1, a comic book that stands at the intersection of superheroes, your childhood, and your early awareness of growing up in an increasingly dark, adult world.
