Before his coma, Johnny had the perfect life. He had a beautiful fiancee, Sarah. He was a loving son to his widowed mother. He taught biology at Cleaves Mills High School, where all of his students adored him.
Everything changed one night for Johnny, though. He set off to rent movies for Sarah and him to watch "for a rainy afternoon," when his Cadillac was sent down an embankment in flames by the impact of a truck whose driver fell asleep at the wheel.
Johnny slipped into a coma and did not reawaken for six years. While in his coma, his doctors told his loved ones that he would never awaken, and that he would eventually just slip away.
Sarah had gotten married to Walt Bannerman, who would become the Sheriff of Penobscot County, after meeting him in the hospital where he was visiting his dying mother. Sarah also gave birth to Johnny's son, who she and Walt raised as their own child. They named him Johnny, AKA J.J., Little Johnny, but he does not know that Jonny is his biological father.
Johnny's mother, Vera Smith, committed suicide a year into Johnny's coma. She could no longer bear the loss of her child. Her boyfriend, Reverend Gene Purdy, covered up the suicide to make it seem as though she had a heart attack and passed in her sleep, and had her cremated to protect her and Johnny's legacy.
Johnny also awoke to learn that his brain has tapped into a section which humans do not normally use, to handle sensory perception, known as "the dead zone." Johnny's doctor informed him that his "dead zone" was "suddenly very much alive." Johnny could now see things, things most people could not see. With a single touch he can see the past, present, and future.
Johnny now finds himself faced with many problems. He must deal with the awkwardness of being "just friends" with Sarah, even though they both still love one another. He must deal with Walt, who he actually became friends with, but there is still tension there. Walt feels threatened by Johnny as a father and husband. Johnny finds it difficult to trust Reverend Gene Purdy, who craves money and power. He struggles with his visions, trying to find out what they mean, trying to cope with the fear many people have of him, and trying to deal with the reporters who follow him around.
Bruce Lewis is there to help Johnny with his problems. He was assigned to be Johnny's physical therapist. He is an optimist who is always there to give Johnny his advice, and always cracks a joke. Johnny and Bruce soon became best friends.
Johnny lost a lot in that accident, but he also gained extraordinary powers.
