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The Blues Brothers return with The Escape of Joliet Jake

Posted on May 6, 2025 by Graphic Policy Team

The beloved Blues Brothers universe will come roaring back to life over the next few years with forays into television, film, live events, music, and much more with the first IP offering being a brand new original Graphic Novel: The Blues Brothers: Escape of Joliet Jake. Written by Stella Aykroyd, Luke Pisano, and James Werner with artist Felipe Sobriero, The Blues Brothers: Escape of Joliet Jake is both a love letter and sequel to the original Blues Brothers film. With editorial oversight by Dan Aykroyd, the utmost care has been taken to ensure this new chapter is true to the classic skits, legendary film, and iconic albums. The result is a wild and entertaining ride for both the longtime fans, and those new to the world of Jake and Elwood Blues. This project was originally conceived with the architect of The Blues Brothers, Judy Belushi Pisano, who sadly passed away during this book’s production.

The Blues Brothers: Escape of Joliet Jake will be available for pre-order via Amazon, Barnes and Noble, as well as many other fine independent book, comic, and record stores.

Comics

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

Posted on May 2, 2025 by Graphic Policy Team

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.

Comics

Z2 and Cypress Hill team for Cypress Hill: Black Sunday

Posted on April 8, 2025 by Graphic Policy Team

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-RealSen 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!

Comics

NCT 127 Reveals the NINE Variant Covers for Limitless

Posted on March 29, 2024 by Graphic Policy Team

Z2 Comics, SM Entertainment, and Universal Music Group present Limitless, the new graphic novel from K-Pop megastars NCT 127, and the very first officially licensed K-Pop print graphic novel. The comic introduces a brand new fictional chapter into the lives of all nine members of the global phenomenon. Limitless is available in standard hardcover and deluxe hardcover editions, set to release in summer 2024. The graphic novel is co-written by Reiko Scott with art by Ziyan Qiu and Ana Jimenez. Kayla Felty and colorist Megan Huang are the cover artists. The standard hardcover will come with nine variant covers, each featuring members of NCT 127. The deluxe hardcover will come with nine art prints illustrated by Kayla Felty and a certificate of authenticity.

Presented in the manhwa (South Korean comic) format, Limitless follows NCT 127 in the midst of their world tour, as the group rehearses for its biggest performance in America to date: a sold-out stadium show in New York City. The night before the concert, however, the group encounters mysterious dreams, putting Mar, Johnny, Taeyong, Jungwoo, and Doyoung in otherworldly scenarios. This ultimately creates a reality-crossing mystery that the five—alongside Taeil, Yuta, Jaehyun, and Haechan—will unite to solve. As NCT 127 grapples with this enigma, they must overcome their fear in both the real world and this new, surreal dreamscape.

Z2 Celebrate Motörhead’s 50th Anniversary with NO REMORSE: The Illustrated True Stories of Lemmy Kilmister and Motörhead

Posted on March 24, 2024 by Graphic Policy Team

In celebration of the upcoming 50th anniversary of the legendary Motörhead, Z2 has gathered a staggering line-up of icons to narrate their personal encounters with the man that came to define the sex, drugs, and Rock & Roll lifestyle, Lemmy Kilmister. NO REMORSE: The Illustrated True Stories of Lemmy Kilmister and Motörhead kicks off this 176-page tribute with a deeply personal foreword by his dear friend Dave Grohl and a truly touching afterword by his longtime friend and collaborator Ozzy Osbourne.

The book pairs 25 rockstar contributors with 25 acclaimed illustrators to tell the stories of their true and unbelievable personal encounters with the heralded founding father of Motörhead. Recounting their history with Lemmy over the span of his life and career are some of the greatest living musicians – Ozzy Osbourne, Lars Ulrich, Slash, Chrissie Hynde, Dee Snider, Dave Navarro, plus world-class writers Neil Gaiman, Michael Moorcock, pro-wrestling giants Triple H, Corey Graves, TV & Film luminaries including Matt Pinfield, Penelope Spheeris, Riki Rachtman, as well as his bandmates Phil Campbell, Mikkey Dee, and Slim Jim Phantom.

With a gorgeous variety of visual approaches the artists of NO REMORSE: The Illustrated True Stories of Lemmy Kilmister and Motörhead; including Dave Chisholm, Bob Fingerman, Jay Jay Jackson, and Jim Mahfood capture the many facets of these incredible TRUE TALES of Lemmy Kilmister. The cover art is illustrated and designed by comic book legend Tim Bradstreet and features the gleam of a holographic coating on Lemmy’s classic aviator specs!

Like all Z2 collaborations, this book comes in a variety of highly-collectible editions, including the 1:5 “All-Access” Edition which features a framed AAA Artist Pass from Lemmy’s 70th birthday party at the Whisky A Go-Go; and the 1:25 “Backstage” Edition that comes with a framed original 2012-2013 Motörhead tour laminate. All of these artifacts are from the personal collection of Lemmy Kilmister. The “No Remorse” editions of the book will come with an exclusive white vinyl variant of the legendary Motörhead double LP, No Remorse, a poster triptych set by renowned designer Hydro74, and a three-card collectors set presented in a custom frame featuring the art of the iconic thrash-metal painter Ed Repka.

All collector editions will include the oversized deluxe volume of the NO REMORSE: The Illustrated True Stories of Lemmy Kilmister and Motörhead book contained in a metallic foil embossed slipcase, with die cuts that reveal the holographic coating on Lemmy’s classic aviator specs on the cover of the book. All editions available for preorder.

Comics

Z2 at WonderCon: Legendary Bruce Dickinson Panel Discussion!

Posted on March 22, 2024 by Graphic Policy Team

Legendary Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson is set for his first appearance at a US Comic Convention next week at WonderCon for a panel discussion on his debut comic book series, Bruce Dickinson’s The Mandrake Project!

Be sure to visit the Z2 Comics booth (#1500) and get your hands on a few graphic novels!

In Conversation with Bruce Dickinson: The Mandrake Project

Saturday, March 30, 2024
5:00pm – 6:00pm PDT – Room 300E

For the last decade, Bruce Dickinson, the iconic frontman of Iron Maiden, has been developing the story of The Mandrake Project, his saga about the century-long battle for the human control of immortality. Coinciding with the release of the second issue in the series and his solo album of the same name, Bruce is joined by Bill Sienkiewicz (Eisner Award–winning comic artist), Rantz Hoseley (Eisner Award–winning editor), Josh Bernstein (Ringo Award–winning editor), and moderator Ryan J. Downey (MTV News) to talk about the creation of this exciting quarterly series.

Conventions

Preview: Bruce Dickinson’s The Mandrake Project #2 (of 10)

Posted on March 22, 2024 by Graphic Policy Team

Bruce Dickinson’s The Mandrake Project #2 (of 10)

(W) Bruce Dickinson, Tony Lee (A) Staz Johnson, Piotr Kowalski (CA) Bill Sienkiewicz
In Shops: Mar 20, 2024
SRP: $10.00

Why would an organization determined to control of immortality utilize someone as reckless and dangerous as Necropolis? Some of the answers are brought to light as the past and present collide, revealing the shocking secrets of Necropolis’ childhood, and how those moments led to him becoming a part of the Mandrake Project.

Bruce Dickinson's The Mandrake Project #2

Preview: Bruce Dickinson’s The Mandrake Project #1

Posted on January 18, 2024 by Graphic Policy Team

Bruce Dickinson’s The Mandrake Project #1

(W) Bruce Dickinson, Tony Lee (A) Staz Johnson (CA) Bill Sienkiewicz
In Shops: Jan 17, 2024
SRP: $10.00

Over the last decade, Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson has crafted the story behind THE MANDRAKE PROJECT, the 12-issue quarterly comic series accompanying his upcoming solo album of the same name. Now, accompanied by the creative team of writer Tony Lee and artist Staz Johnson, Bruce is releasing century-spanning generational war between the forces of science and mysticism for control of immortality through Z2 Comics. With covers by Bill Sienkiewicz, this is an epic tale that you won’t want to miss.

Bruce Dickinson's The Mandrake Project #1

Preview: Bruce Dickinson’s The Mandrake Project #1

Posted on January 16, 2024 by Graphic Policy Team

Bruce Dickinson’s The Mandrake Project #1

(W) Bruce Dickinson, Tony Lee (A) Staz Johnson (CA) Bill Sienkiewicz
In Shops: Jan 17, 2024
SRP: $10.00

Z2 and Bruce Dickinson Collaborate on a 12-Issue Limited Comic Series: The Mandrake Project

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Graphic Policy Team

Z2 is collaborating with legendary rock and roll frontman Bruce Dickinson for an original comic series tied to his upcoming solo album The Mandrake Project, being released by BMG on March 1, 2024. Bruce Dickinson’s The Mandrake Project #1, arrives in comic shops and at Z2comics.com on January 17, 2024! The 12-issue limited series is an epic saga of opposing forces battling to use the powers of science and magic to gain control of immortality. It’s a story developed by Bruce over the last decade, and The Mandrake Project is brought to life through his creative partnership with iconic team of creators – including script by Tony Lee, art by Staz Johnson, lettering by Troy Peteri, coloring by Gabo, covers by multiple Eisner-winner Bill Sienkiewicz. Edited by Eisner and Harvey-winner Rantz A. Hoseley, Bruce Dickinson’s The Mandrake Project 12-issue comic series is a vital component of Bruce’s narrative and music experience. The excitement kicked off with the release of the single “Afterglow of Ragnarok” on December 1, which contained an eight-page comic prologue, followed by the release of the first issue of the comic to retail shops on January 17th.

Z2 is making 666 editions of Bruce Dickinson’s The Mandrake Project Signed Bundles available to fans. This uniquely curated collection comes with one (1) The Mandrake Project Foil Collector’s Card, signed by Bruce Dickinson; One (1) Felt Trading Card Pouch; One (1) Bruce Dickinson’s The Mandrake Project, Issue No. 1; One (1) The Mandrake Project 1st Printing Certificate of Authenticity; One (1) Bill Sienkiewicz illustrated The Mandrake Project Art Print and will be sold as a set for $100 USD, only at Z2comics.com.

The Mandrake Project events continue with a comic preview inserted in the special deluxe CD version of the album with promotional appearances for the comic series as well as extensive worldwide touring through 2025.

The battle for immortality begins with Bruce Dickinson’s The Mandrake Project #1 available at comic retailers and direct from Z2Comics.com on January 17, 2024. The large-sized 9.35” x 9:35” 36-page single issue with cardstock cover is priced at $10 and arrives in a sealed bag with a first-printing certificate of authenticity – the first of a 12-issue run arriving quarterly over the course of the next three years, including annual trade paperbacks every fall. Release dates for 2024 and 2025 as follows: