THE MIRROR REVEALS MORE THAN BEAUTY IN STAR BRIGHT

New storybook from Jonathan Luna in November

STAR BRIGHT AND THE LOOKING GLASS is Jonathan Luna‘s first solo creator-owned work after wrapping up THE SWORD (with brother Joshua Luna). In STAR BRIGHT, to be published in November by Image Comics, Luna departs from his superhero and science fiction comics, and works in the dreamy, fantasy-tinged aesthetic of his fine artwork to create a tale of beauty, vanity, and friendship.

“After the conclusion of The Sword, I took a two-year sabbatical, but I was always creating,” said Luna of his break from comics. “I played with photography and film, and I learned how to paint with oil, acrylic, and watercolor. I finally decided I wanted to do a fairy-tale picture book.”

The end result was STAR BRIGHT AND THE LOOKING GLASS, which tells the story of a wild young woman who discovers her own beauty when she finds a mirror in her forest home. The awakening of Star Bright’s consciousness of her own loveliness also opens her heart to vanity. But when a wicked sorceress steals Star Bright’s beauty Star Bright will learn from her woodland animal friends what the true virtues in life are.

“Everything I’m doing with Star Bright and the Looking Glass is so different from what I’m used to. It’s my first time writing alone, and prose for that matter,” said Luna. “I can’t really pinpoint what led me to do a fairy-tale picture book. There’s definitely been a certain kind of imagery in my head that I’ve been dying to put on paper. I’ve been into pop surrealism for many years, so I wanted to incorporate that kind of art into my new work. I wanted it to be ethereal and a little dark.”

Image Comics Publisher Eric Stephenson lauded Luna’s dedication to growing as an artist.

“Jonathan Luna, along with his brother Joshua, have been doing amazing work at Image Comics for almost a decade now, but I’m still always amazed by their commitment to moving forward as artists and trying new things as storytellers,” said Stephenson. “Jonathan’s first solo project is wonderfully unique, and one of the most interesting projects he’s brought to us yet.”

Luna talked to Comic Book Resources about his new storybook on July 30.

STAR BRIGHT is a 72-page 9 x 12” hardcover storybook with full-color artwork for all ages. It will be in stores in November and available for pre-order in the September issue of Previews.