Superman: Space Age and Second Coming writer Mark Russell will team with Italian artist Roberto Meli for a new “witty” science fiction series, Traveling to Mars, which kicks off this fall from Ablaze.
The story stars Roy, a former pet store manager who is terminally ill. Because of this, he’s chosen to become the first man on Mars, with no expectation of ever returning to Earth.
“Traveling to Mars is an intimate story about the end of days,” says Mark Russell. “Both Roy’s and ours. But Mars is as good a place as any to bow out of existence, I suppose.”
Here’s the description from Ablaze:
TRAVELING TO MARS tells the story of former pet store manager Roy Livingston, the first human to ever set foot on Mars. Roy was chosen for the unlikely mission for one simple reason: he is terminally ill and has no expectation of returning. Roy is joined on his mission by Leopold and Albert, two Mars rovers equipped with artificial intelligence, who look upon the dying pet store manager as a sort of God. Against the backdrop of not only his waning days but those of human civilization as well, Roy has ample time to think about where things went wrong for both and what it means to be a dying god. A riveting story of planetary exploration and of finding meaning in your final days.
The first issue will feature variant covers by Meli (above), Mirka Andolfo, Zulema Scotto Lavina and Brent McKee:
And here’s a look at some preview pages:
The first issue arrives in stores Nov. 9.