CBR can exclusively preview Vault Comics' new original graphic novel, Bonding, from Matthew Erman (Witchblood, Good Luck) and Emily Pearson (The Wilds, White Shadows).
Bonding is a new coming-of-age story that mixes elements of romance with science-fiction written by Erman, with art by Pearson, colors by Kaylee Pinecone and letters by Andworld Design. Releasing this fall, the synopsis for Bonding reads, "'Wear your heart on your sleeve.' That’s the saying. But in BONDING, people wear their anxiety on their chests – in the form of a parasite that shows everyone just what you’re feeling on the inside … THE HOST meets Lorde's MOOD RING in this sci-fi story heaping with humor and romance. WEAR YOUR LOVE ON YOUR CHEST. A man, a woman—and their parasites. Marcus has been alone since the loss of his closest friend and has just recently entered into the dating scene, while Laura has drifted in and out of relationships since high school. They meet, they have a great first date, and Marcus almost dies—because the slug-like parasite that everybody carries in this world nearly rejects him, its host. Bonding is a funny, quirky, and honest look at love, in a world where everyone wears their anxiety, not on their sleeves, but on their chest like big ol' leeches."
"BONDING wouldn’t exist without Vault and Adrian Wassel believing in this concept, and my desire to tell this story," Erman said. "What is Bonding? It's a sci-fi romance horror about alien parasites that drink human plasma from fistulations in their host's chests. It’s about two people living in this world, and falling in love with each other and the family they start. It’s about having and losing, and knowing it. I guess it’s not exactly Star Wars, but what I hope is that people find value in these kinds of high-concept stories that are fringe and weird, and that don’t follow traditional story structures or play to the expectations of the reader."
Pearson said that Bonding contains some of her favorite art that she's made yet to this day. "The book takes place in a SciFi future, mixed with an off-street suburban setting," she continued. "It’s a multi-generational character-driven story, and of course, a romance! (Which is my personal favorite.) Matthew’s writing style feels full, emotional, and familiar. The story is incredible, Kaylee’s colors are incredible, Adrian and Damian Wassel, Tim Daniel and everyone else at Vault that helped us create this super weird book and put so much love and dedication into the story. We put our hearts into this book, and I’m excited for people to experience the same joy reading it that we had making it."
Bonding goes on sale in October from Vault Comics.
Source: Vault Comics