Robert Bleichner, Daniel Zolghadri, a high school student and aspiring cartoonist, sits across from his art teacher, Mr. Katano (Stephen Adly Guirgis). After Katano reviews Robert's portfolio—featuring bizarre, often provocative figures—he asks Robert to render a nude drawing of him, arguing that the teacher's own figure might push the boundaries more than Robert's work. Just as Robert is about to finish, his phone alarm interrupts, and he heads to work. Outside, Katano kerb crawls alongside Robert, attempting to talk to him, but Robert refuses to get in the car. On the road, the teacher, who is on the wrong side of the road, is struck and killed by a car.
Later, Robert returns to Katano's classroom to gather anything sentimental, and with his friend Miles Emanuel, the two break into Katano's apartment. As the police arrive, Miles escapes while Robert is apprehended. Robert enlists Cheryl, a public defender Marcia DeBonis, to help with his trial. He is not charged and is allowed to keep Katano's possessions. Shortly after being released, Robert meets his parents, Lewis, Josh Pais and Jennifer, Maria Dizzia, at a diner. He proclaims that he wants to pursue a career in art and will not be finishing the school year, much to his parents' disappointment.
Seeking independence, Robert moves to Trenton, New Jersey, where he shares a dingy apartment with two older men, Barry Michael Townsend Wright and Steven Cleveland Thomas Jr.. He takes a job as a notetaker for Cheryl while continuing to work at a local comic book store. He attends a meeting with Cheryl and her client, Wallace Shearer (Matthew Maher), who is seeking legal counsel after an attempted assault on a pharmacist. Wallace previously worked for Image Comics as an assistant colorist.
The next day, Robert tries to connect with Wallace, but his behavior remains erratic and volatile. On a ride home offered by Robert, Wallace coerces him into driving to the pharmacy where he was charged, urging Robert to provoke the pharmacist to get him fired. Robert reluctantly agrees to gain Wallace's approval and, in a misguided attempt to gather incriminating evidence, throws a rubber horse at the pharmacist and flees the scene.
Robert drops Wallace off, and as he seeks guidance, he offers to pay Wallace for a drawing lesson. Wallace agrees if they can meet at his parents' house in Princeton, New Jersey. That night, Robert returns home after walking in on Barry and Steven masturbating to Katano's adult comics in their apartment.
Wallace arrives the next morning, and Lewis and Jennifer grow suspicious of him. Wallace locks himself in the bathroom, smashes a window in frustration, and Robert takes him to his room, paying him with money stolen from his mother's purse. Miles arrives unannounced, hoping to show Wallace his own work. During the lesson, Wallace discovers that Robert has drawn a parody of him. In a fit of rage, Wallace lambasts the boys and tries to seize Miles' comics.
In the ensuing scuffle, Miles is accidentally stabbed in the head with a pen. Wallace tries to flee by stealing Robert's car, crashing it in the garage. Robert chases after him on foot, but Wallace overpowers him and tells him to leave him alone. A battered Robert staggers to the closed comic book store, sits at the counter, and contemplates the turmoil that just unfolded.
