I just finished all five issues of Plutona, and it was way more emotional and intense than I expected. Let’s talk about it!

Plutona
Publisher: Image Comics
Creators: Jeff Lemire, Emi Lenox
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Steve Wands
Release date: September 2015 – June 2016

This comic book is by Jeff Lemire and Emi Lenox. We’re already big fans of Lemire, both his writing and his art. He’s one of those creators who always brings something unique, whether it’s Trillium, or now Minor Arcana and Absolute Flash. Emi Lenox’s art fits this story perfectly too, giving the kids and the darker moments a very grounded but striking look.

The story follows a group of kids who, after school one day, wander into the woods and stumble across the body of Plutona, the greatest superhero in the world. Instead of calling for help, they decide to keep it a secret. Each issue mixes their everyday teenage life with this dark discovery, and things spiral quickly. In between, at the end of each issue, we also get short glimpses of Plutona’s story, which helps piece together how she ended up there. It’s part superhero comic, part coming-of-age drama, and it gets more tense with each issue.

What I really liked about Plutona is how it mixes the ordinary world of teenagers with the extraordinary. One moment the kids are wrapped up in school and sibling drama, and the next they’re standing over the body of a superhero in the woods. From there, the story becomes less about superpowers and more about how kids deal with something way beyond them. Some want fame, some want to keep it secret, and others are just desperate to feel special or respected. Those choices felt both frustrating and believable, which made the ending hit even harder.

It’s a story about friendship, pressure, and the lengths kids will go to in order to stand out. And that made it both shocking and touching at the same time, as it often happens with Jeff Lemire’s stories. I also loved the art, especially the way it contrasts the normal suburban setting with the darker, creepier side of the woods. The short Plutona stories added nice depth to her character, giving weight to what happened in the main narrative. And I have to mention the covers: each issue has a different character front and center, but all done in the same style, and it looks so good together. That’s why we had to pick them up when we saw the complete set at our LCS a few weeks ago!

Plutona is a story about teenagers, friendship, and the dangerous need to feel special. It’s heartfelt, unsettling, and totally worth the read. Definitely a series that stuck with me after I finished it. You can pick it up in trade paperback or hardcover, and you really should.