Tag Archives: ryan j. downey

SDCC 2025: Twiztid and Z2 unveil Mayhem Manor, an Original Graphic Novel with Companion Audiobook and Soundtrack

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Mayhem Manor

Twiztid have leveled-up their Haunted High-Ons saga, teaming with Z2 to produce a brand new story and jumping off point with the Mayhem Manor graphic novel and companion soundtrack. Mayhem Manor takes the hip-hop, horror, and heavy metal fiends higher than ever before, in a lush, deluxe format.

With a jaw-dropping cover illustration by legendary album artist Ed Repka, story by Ryan J. Downey, and art by Marianna Penacosta, and Stan Yak, Mayhem Manor sees the Demented Duo of Jamie Madrox and Monoxide hoping to survive the night in a haunted amusement park to claim a mysterious inheritance.

The Deluxe versions of the Mayhem Manor graphic novel includes an exclusive vinyl soundtrack; Featuring an audio-rendition of Mayhem Manor on one side, (Narrated and performed by Madrox and Monoxide of Twiztid.) while the album’s B-side features two new exclusive Twiztid songs in honor of Mayhem Manor!

Twiztid will also be appearing at the Z2 Booth (#1529) at the San Diego Comic Con International. Madrox and Monoxide will be there signing SDCC exclusive art prints. Signing days and times to be announced next week.

The 56-page oversized 12”x12” hardcover also comes in a slipcased Platinum Edition, which comes signed by Twiztid members Madrox and Monoxide; plus three (3) Stan Yak art prints, and a Twiztid two-piece Ed Repka-painted card set in collector’s frames. Deluxe editions are available exclusively at Z2’s website while a standard 9”x9” edition is available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, as well as other independent retailers and fine comic shops worldwide.

Ice Nine Kills and Z2 Return for more Meta Carnage in Inked in Blood II: Once Upon A Crime

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Z2 has announced Ice Nine Kills—Inked in Blood II: Once Upon A Crime, the sequel to last year’s slasher thriller. This new volume blends the real-world journey of the famed theatrical metal pioneers with a claustrophobic, adrenaline-doused dose of serial-killer slayings. Due in Fall 2023, the direct sequel unites Ice Nine Kills architect Spencer Charnas with co-writer Ryan J. Downey and artists Nino Cammarata and Giorgia Sposito. Mike Cortada, who’s responsible for the evocative album artwork behind Ice Nine Kills’ most recent albums The Silver Scream and Welcome to Horrorwood: The Silver Scream 2, returns to illustrate the cover art. 

Ice Nine Kills—Inked in Blood II escalates the tension from the first volume, introducing Max Charnas—the identical twin brother of INK mastermind Spencer Charnas—who hatches a plan to blackmail, frame, and destroy his sibling. The new volume ignites at The Silver Scream Con, the real-world Massachusetts gathering that debuted last August, where the blood and power chords continue to fly. The resulting thrill ride packs more crunch and hooks than an Ice Nine Kills breakdown, with serial killers and doppelgängers cleaving a bloody path from panel to panel. 

Z2 and Ice Nine Kills present Inked In Blood II: Once Upon a Crime in standard hardcover and deluxe hardcover editions, set to release Fall 2023. The deluxe hardcover will come with a print triptych by Phillip Sevy art prints and two-sided Spencer Charnas collector’s coin. Oversized platinum editions will come signed by Spencer Charnas with an elegant slipcase, the triptych art prints, the double-sided collector’s coin, and the Ice Nine Kills double LP of Welcome to Horrorwood: The Silver Scream 2 in an exclusive purple splatter vinyl variant. 

Pantera and Z2 Celebrate 30 Years of Vulgar Display of Power with a Graphic Novel

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Z2 Comics reaches “a new level” in 2022 with the release of an ambitious graphic anthology paying tribute to one of the biggest bands in the history of heavy metal, whose innovative fusion of groove and hardcore served as one of the defining sounds of the 1990s: Pantera! The Vulgar Display of Power graphic novel unites famous fans of the band throughout comics and music to team up on adaptations of all eleven of the album’s tracks.

Creators including Alan Robert, Eric Peterson, Keith Buckley, Burton C. Bell, Steve Niles, Tony Lee, and illustrators Brian Ewing, Ryan J. Downey, Erik Rodriguez, Ryan Kelly, Steve Chanks, Kevin Mellon, John Pearson, and Danijel Zezelj will each offer a unique interpretation inspired by the lyrics and music to create a whole new way to experience this landmark work of heavy art. 

Fronting this legacy of admiration and talent, legendary tattoo artist and friend of the band Paul Booth provides the stunning cover art, showing the grisly aftermath of the sucker-punch cover photo from the original album. 

Z2 and Pantera present Vulgar Display of Power in both softcover and hardcover formats, as well as deluxe, super deluxe, and platinum editions packaged with an exclusive vinyl variant LP of the classic album, gallery ready prints by Danijel Zezelj, Erik Rodriguez, and Alan Robert, signed editions from Philip Anselmo and Rex Brown, plus more available exclusively through Z2’s webstore! Also available in a limited and numbered edition will be a one-time release of a special Pantera “punch action” resin statue, paying tribute to the album’s iconic cover art.