Tag Archives: music

SDCC 2025: All-American Rejects to Headline the Fandom Party

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The All-American Rejects

The All-American Rejects are headlining this year’s Fandom Party during San Diego Comic-Con 2025! And you know what that means: the countdown is on for Fandom’s return to San Diego! The world’s largest fan platform will once again host its highly anticipated event during the biggest fan convention of the year. The Fandom Party is sponsored by Universal Orlando Resort as well as Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. The eighth annual Fandom Party will take place at FLOAT at the Hard Rock Hotel on Thursday, July 24 from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m and is invite only.

With chart-topping singles like “Gives You Hell,” “Dirty Little Secret,” and “Move Along,” The All-American Rejects have solidified their place as one of the most iconic bands of the 21st century. Selling over 10 million albums worldwide and amassing billions of global streams, the band has built a lasting legacy in the music industry. Their headlining performance will kick off the convention weekend in a major way, bringing together hundreds of fans, industry insiders, celebrities, and influencers for a night to remember.

The Fandom Party is THE must-attend event during convention week in San Diego, bringing fans a high-energy celebration at the intersection of pop culture, gaming, fantasy, music, and community. This year, attendees will enjoy an unforgettable night of curated and immersive fan-first experiences including:

  • Getting a glimpse into Universal Epic Universe, where attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy custom interactions featuring the five extraordinary worlds within the all-new theme park: Celestial Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk – and Dark Universe.
  • Traverse across a post-apocalyptic world and transcend time to reshape the past in CODE VEIN II – step into this haunting universe with Bandai Namco’s photo op featuring a life-size replica of the in-game vehicle Motorcycle Forma.
  • The event will also have custom activations from partners, including a themed scavenger hunt hosted by the beloved Santaverse character The Elf on the Shelf and Z2 that can all be experienced while those over 21 enjoy a drink from the official beverage sponsor, Mike’s HARDER Lemonade.

The Blues Brothers: The Lost Recordings Include 13 Unreleased Live Performances, Limited Edition Blue Vinyl Exclusively Bundled With Deluxe Editions of Z2’s The Blues Brothers: The Escape Of Joliet Jake

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June 20, 1980. A day that changed comedy forever. With the release of The Blues Brothers, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd unleashed a film that would thrill and entertain generations with their Mission From God. As previously announce, exactly 45 years later, Z2 has partnered with the Aykroyd and Belushi families and estate to deliver the sequel to that film in the original graphic novel, The Blues Brothers: The Escape Of Joliet Jake.

Uncovered by the late Judy Belushi Pisano, this series of unreleased recordings is a rare musical glimpse at Joliet Jake and Elwood Blues at the height of their blues powers. Belushi and Aykroyd blast through a 13-song set with some of the greatest musicians who ever lived. The gang is all here, as Blues Brothers legends Matt “Guitar” Murphy, Steve “The Colonel” Cropper, Donald “Duck” Dunn, Paul “The Shiv” Shaffer, Lou “Blue Lou” Marini, Tom “Bones” Malone, Alan “Mr. Fabulous” Rubin, Steve “GETDWA” Jordan, and Tom “Triple Scale” Scott show why this band is timeless. The album features unheard versions of blues classics including “Hey Bartender,” “Rubber Biscuit,” and “Green Onions.” This album will be available exclusively as a Royal Blue-colored vinyl release, packaged with The Blues Brothers: The Escape Of Joliet Jake.

Here’s a peek at the 13 unreleased tracks featured on The Blues Brothers: The Escape Of Joliet Jake Royal Blue Vinyl LP:

SIDE A

1. “Welcome” 
2. “Flip, Flop & Fly”
3.”Hey Bartender”
4. “Messin’ With The Kid” 
5. “(I Got Everything I Need) Almost” 
6. “Rubber Biscuit” 
7. “Shot Gun Blues”

SIDE B

8. “I Don’t Know” 
9. “Groove Me” 
10. “Excusez Moi Mon Cherie” 
11. “Soul Man” 
12. “B Movie Box Car Blues” 
13. “Green Onions”

To honor the 45th anniversary of the Blues Brothers movie premier and the Lost Recordings being released, Z2 has created a series of high-quality Blues Brothers apparel. The first two designs from this capsule collection feature the art of Felipe Sobreiro and are available exclusively today on Z2comics.com.

Fans can now purchase the Deluxe Edition of The Blues Brothers: The Escape Of Joliet Jake as well as the Dan Akyroyd-signed, limited Platinum Editions, which include the oversized hardcover with slipcase, the exclusive vinyl, a Blues Brothers engraved harmonica, and Jake and Elwood Blues collector cards on Z2Comics.com. Both the Deluxe and Platinum Editions feature a new cover and slipcase with exclusive art by Felipe Sobreiro. All Hardcover, Deluxe and Platinum Editions will proudly ship to fans in advance of the October 7th in-store retail date.

Standard editions of The Blues Brothers: The Escape Of Joliet Jake are available for pre-order Z2Comics.com, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, UltimateClassicRock.com as well as independent book, comic, and record stores.

The Bees: The Women Who Rocked Lithuania is interesting history but the graphic novel doesn’t rock

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In 1965, inspired by The Beatles, Lithuanian musician Jurate Dineikaite founded a rock band called The Bees. This spirited ensemble of six women toured throughout the Soviet Union during the ’60s and ’70s — turning heads with their blue jeans, mop-tops, and modern rock sound. For these women, taking the stage was at once an electrifying expression of their artistry and an audacious political act.

Based on interviews with Jurate herself, this graphic novel vividly captures episodes of the group’s lived experiences — from thrilling performances to chilling encounters with the KGB. An authentic portrayal of a fascinating true history little known outside of Lithuania, The Bees is adapted with vibrant colors and a charmingly handcrafted style by cartoonist Akvile Magicdusté. This edition also features a photo gallery with period snapshots of the band in action, plus a playlist of their original songs!

Story: Akvile Magicdusté
Art: Akvile Magicdusté
Translation: Erika Lastovskytė

Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.

Bookshop
Amazon

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BABYBEARD has been Added to Guest Roster for Otakon 2025

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BABYBEARD

Otakon will feature pop-metal idol trio BABYBEARD at Otakon 2025.

BABYBEARD is Japan’s wildest pop-metal idol trio, blending kawaii charm with headbanging power. Led by cross-dressing Aussie pro-wrestler and metal vocalist Ladybeard, alongside Japanese pop idols, the group delivers high-energy performances that fuse cute vocals with brutal screams.

Formed to bring joy, energy, and hope to the world, BABYBEARD is a colorful collision of extremes—cute meets chaos, pop meets metal. Their debut tracks “NIPPON KARA KONNICHIWA” and “PIENNIZER,” created by the hitmakers behind “Nippon Manju,” are infectious anthems of positivity and power.

Otakon 2025 will be held from August 8-10, 2025 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

“The Witcher in Concert” U.S. Tour Stops at NJPAC on Friday, September 9

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The Witcher in Concert

GEA Live, CD PROJEKT RED, and RoadCo Entertainment has announced The Witcher in Concert will tour the U.S. for the first time ever, visiting more than 45 cities around the country including a stop in Newark at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)  on Friday, September 19 at 9:00 p.m. The Witcher in Concert is a live music experience featuring a timeless soundtrack from “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt” by CD PROJEKT RED. The concert series was created to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the critically acclaimed video game, which follows the story of Geralt of Rivia as he embarks on a quest to find his adopted daughter, Ciri. Each performance is brought to life by an ensemble of 14 musicians handpicked by the score’s co-composer, including select members of Polish folk metal band Percival Schuttenbach. Tickets are on-sale now.

Tickets for The Witcher in Concert are on-sale now and can be purchased by visiting NJPAC.org or calling 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722) or by visiting the NJPAC Box Office.
 
The Witcher in Concert is a one-of-a-kind live event that transforms the lasting legacy and emotional storytelling of “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt” into a gripping live performance on stage. The concert and celebration of the dark fantasy role-playing game’s incredible music and emotional narrative features an ensemble orchestra and cutting-edge visuals. Each concert merges stunning cinematics and gameplay with tracks specially arranged for the occasion under the supervision of Przybyłowicz. From the opening strains of “The Trail” to the heart-pounding “…Steel for Humans,” Geralt of Rivia’s journey across the war-torn Northern Kingdoms is a sonic marvel to hear, whether for the first or hundredth time.

K-POP group Billlie will Perform at Otakon 2025

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Billlie

K-POP seven-member girl group Billlie will be performing at Otakon 2025.

Debuting in November 2021, Billlie has established an unparalleled narrative in the K-POP scene. With songs such as “RING ma Bell (what a wonderful world)”, “GingaMingaYo (the strange world)”, “BYOB (bring your own best friend)” and “remembrance candy”, they have achieved great success in the global music industry.

Billlie has received accolades in US Billboard’s “The 25 Best K-pop Songs of 2022” and “The 25 Best K-Pop Albums of 2023”. Their fifth mini album, “Of All We Have Lost”, released in October 2024, ranked on the global chart and entered the TOP 10 on the iTunes K-POP album chart in nine countries, including the US, UK, and Japan. Additionally, the title track ‘remembrance candy’ and ‘trampoline’ ranked in the TOP 10 of the iTunes K-POP song chart in nine countries. Notably, ‘trampoline’ topped various Jazz charts in Korea and globally, showcasing Billlie’s diverse musical spectrum.

Billlie successfully held their first world tour, “Billlie World Tour ‘Our FLOWERLD (Belllie’ve You)'”, across Europe, Grand America, and Asia and Oceania, including Seoul, covering a total of 31 cities from July 2024 to March 2025. Billlie proved their explosive global popularity by rapidly expanding their world tour, eliciting excited cheers and singalongs from audiences with powerful performances throughout the tour.

Otakon 2025 will be held from August 8-10, 2025 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Kool Keith and Z2 takes us on a cosmic trip with The Krossover of the Flower Kosmic

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He is the hip-hop legend with a million monikers. Now Kool Keith rallies his myriad personas together for the first time in The Krossover of the Flower Kosmic, an original graphic novel. Strap in for a universe-hopping journey as Keith uses the Flower Kosmic to unite the legendary alternate incarnations of himself to defeat the sole incarnation that threatens the very fabric of reality, GERBIK!  Written by Seamus “Esoteric” Ryan of CZARFACE and illustrated by Sean Von Gorman of ​comics, this book includes Dr. Octagon, Dr. Dooom, Black Elvis and many more Keiths in an adventure that brings the surreal and eccentric nature of Kool Keith to psychedelic life on every page! “This book ain’t just stories” shares KOOL KEITH​ “it’s bars in motion. Flipped like a verse… sharks, gators, chaos — all facts.” 

The 100 page oversized 12”x12” book comes in a slipcased Deluxe Edition as well as a limited and signed Platinum Edition, which comes with art prints, a collector card, and an exclusive colorway of Kool Keith and Esoteric’s STRESS EATER vinyl. Deluxe and platinum editions are available exclusively at Z2’s website HERE, while a standard 9”x9” edition is available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, as well as other independent retailers and fine comic shops worldwide.

Discover the aftermath of Bowie’s groundbreaking tour of America in Low: Bowie’s Berlin Years

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Low: Bowie’s Berlin Years traces the aftermath of David Bowie’s groundbreaking tour of America, and the iconic “Berlin years” that followed. Hot on the platform heels of Starman: Bowie’s Stardust Years (SelfMadeHero, 2023), Reinhard Kleist masterfully concludes his two-part biography of David Bowie. In 1976, Bowie escaped the frantic madness and substance abuse of his life in Los Angeles for the Wall of the divided city of Berlin. With his friend Iggy Pop in tow, Bowie quit drugs and created LOW, the first album of his “Berlin Trilogy”. But even here, in some of the happiest days of his life, Ziggy Stardust would not let him go…

Low follows Bowie’s forays through West Berlin’s revolutionary music scene and wild club life, and takes us deep into his recording sessions at Hansa Studios. The friendship between Bowie and Iggy drives both artists to new creative heights, while Bowie’s relationship with the cabaret artist and drag icon Romy Haag illuminates his fascination with Berlin as a city on the brink. Kleist’s Low is both a retelling of Bowie’s Berlin years and a vibrant portrait of the city itself.

Reinhard Kleist is the award-winning author of Nick Cave: Mercy on Me and Johnny Cash: I See a Darkness, which was nominated for Eisner and Harvey Awards.

Low: Bowie’s Berlin Years is out July 8, 2025 in the UK and May 22, 2025 in the US. The 176 page graphic novel has a retail price of $19.99.

Low: Bowie's Berlin Years

Exclusive: Rock out with Andrew Wheeler and Rye Hickman’s Hey, Mary! with this playlist

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From author Andrew Wheeler and visual storyteller comes Hey, Mary!, a touching LGBTQ+ story for young adults learning to accept every aspect of themselves.

Mark is a good Catholic boy. He goes to church, he says his prayers, and he spends too much time worrying about hell. When Mark realizes he has a crush on another boy in his school, he struggles to reconcile his feelings with his faith as the weight of centuries of shame and judgment—and his fear of his parents’ response—presses on his shoulders. Mark seeks advice from his priest, as well as a local drag performer, but also receives unexpected input from key figures in Catholic history and lore, including Joan of Arc, Michelangelo, St. Sebastian, and Savonarola. Ultimately, only Mark can answer the question: Is it possible for him to be both Catholic and gay?

We’ve got an exclusive playlist from the creators that you can listen to above. Hey, Mary! is available now! Get it from Amazon, Bookshop, or your local comic shop or bookstore.

Hey, Mary!

Z2 and Cypress Hill team for Cypress Hill: Black Sunday

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As part of the ongoing celebration of Cypress Hill’s seminal and groundbreaking album, Black Sunday, Z2 has announced Cypress Hill: Black Sunday, a graphic novel that commemorates the era and impact of the album and the band. Developed with the band, writers Noah Callahan-Bever and Gabriel Alvarez take you on a narrative journey through the making of the album as the artwork of Ken Knudsten, Sebastian Piriz, Giorgio Pontrelli, Felix Ruiz, and Guillermo Sanno immerses you deep in the vibe and historic cultural events that surrounded Cypress Hill as they brought Black Sunday to life. With a new cover by the designer of the original album cover, Jay Papke, and a new interview with Cypress Hill as they look back on the album that made them superstars, this is a tribute that is truly Insane in the Brain!

Another aspect of the ongoing celebration is the exclusive vinyl included with the Platinum Editions. What began as a joke on a 1996 episode of The Simpsons has now become a true multi-cultural milestone. Cypress Hill and the London Symphony Orchestra: Black Sunday Live at the Royal Albert Hall, captured as a feature-length concert film, will be in cinemas for a special theatrical event March 30, 31 and April 2. Cypress Hill and the London Symphony Orchestra: Black Sunday Live at the Royal Albert Hall, the full length live album, will be released June 6 via Mercury. Only 500 copies of this historic concert will only be available in exclusive GREEN VINYL to preorder on Z2comics.com in the Platinum Singed Bundle.

Available for pre-order, with a retail release date of June 3rd, 2025, the Black Sunday follows Z2’s acclaimed and best-selling first Cypress Hill collaboration, Tres Equis, charting the path taken by the band, and the battles fought, as they rose to the challenge of delivering a sophomore album that would outshine their powerful debut release. The entire book is set against the backdrop of the L.A Riots, Lollapalooza and touring with their friends— the Beastie Boys. The Black Sunday graphic novel also includes an extensive interview with album designer Jay Papke, taking fans behind the scenes to show the elaborate process that went into the creation of one of the most recognizable album covers in music. The book also contains a brand new interview with B-Real​Sen Dog and Eric Bobo as they reflect back on the album, graphic novel and their lasting legacy.

The oversized Deluxe edition with slipcase and the limited, signed platinum edition that comes with a Hydro74 Holographic Collector’s Card will only be available directly from Z2 at Z2Comics.com, while a standard softcover edition without slipcase will be available via Z2’s global book distribution partner Simon & Schuster (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books a Million, and Indigo) as well as other independent comic and music shops worldwide via Diamond, Lunar, and Alliance Distribution.

Preorder your Deluxe and Signed Platinum edition copies today. Shipping for these tiers begins in September!

Cypress Hill: Black Sunday
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