From Wonderland To Neverland: An Interview With ‘The Last Boy’ Writer Dan Panosian

Peter Pan was famously against growing up, but that doesn’t mean time has stopped for everyone else. In writer Dan Panosian and artist Alessio Avallone‘s upcoming series, The Last Boy, change has come to Neverland and it’s up to Peter to decide whether he’ll sink or swim. With colors by Valentina Pinto and letters by Jeff Eckleberry, here’s what Panosian had to say about the series:

Rachel Bellwoar: Having already put your own spin on Alice in Wonderland, what made you decide to expand on Peter Pan next?

Dan Panosian: Peter Pan is a character that I’m sure many creators and fans can easily relate to!  He’s always been a favorite of mine and I’ve had this story brewing in my little head for some time now. When the Alice series took off, it gave me the confidence to move forward with this story and I’m so glad I did.  To be honest, none of it feels like work – which I’m sure would thrill Peter to no end!

Bellwoar: Neverland has so many memorable locations. Was there an area you knew you wanted to visit in this arc?

Panosian: Um… all of them! I’d love to move there!  Who wouldn’t? I wonder if there’s a Zillow listing for Mermaid Lagoon?

Bellwoar: Unlike Peter Pan, Wendy has grown up since we last saw her. She’s still living with her parents, though, and while there’s nothing inherently wrong with that, there’s a reason she chose to go to Neverland as a kid. How is she doing going into this story?

Panosian: Wendy is in a tough position. The story takes place in the 1920s and instead of getting married and having children, she wants to follow her dreams and become a published writer. Most women lived at home until they were married and most women were married quite young. Wendy, however, is not like most women.

Bellwoar: Wendy’s scenes are notably sepia in tone. What made you decide to go in that direction for London, and what was it like working with colorist, Valentina Pinto?

Panosian: I wanted there to be a clear distinction between the whimsical world of Neverland with Peter and the London storyline with Wendy and what better way to do that than with color. Sepia tones make sense for that era – but as the story moves forward, Peter’s world will also move to a more monotone color scheme as Neverland begins to … change…! Valentina was recommended by our amazing artist, Alessio Avalone. They also work very closely together. It’s been a treat to see the pages come in and brought to life by the two of them.  I couldn’t be happier!

Bellwoar: One juxtaposition that really stood out to me in the first issue was the lack of Lost Boys (hence the title, Last Boy) versus the loyalty of Captain Hook’s crew. Would you say your Captain Hook is misunderstood or redeemed or is it wrong to read too much into that loyalty and assume Captain Hook must have earned it?

Panosian: Oh Captain Hook! One of my favorite villains of all time! In this story, quite a bit of time has passed since Wendy left Neverland and Hook and Smee are significantly older. Both of them have changed a great deal and we’ll see a completely different side of the pirates we haven’t seen before. I wish I could give away some spoilers but by the time the first issue ends, Neverland will never be the same.

Bellwoar: Indigenous characters haven’t always been treated well in adaptations of Peter Pan. Did you always want to give Tiger Lily more to do in this version?

Panosian: In this version, Tiger Lily is a grown woman now, and she’s become the Chief. Her father is very old and we learn Tiger Lily has taken charge.  Unfortunately, Peter doesn’t accept change very well. He never has!  But luckily for him, Tiger Lily is more than capable of looking after her people and Peter!  The tables have reversed a bit!

Bellwoar: Thanks for agreeing to this interview, Dan!

The Last Boy #1 goes on sale March 19th from Boom! Studios.