Coming on the heels of Apocrypha: The Legend Of BabyMetal and Andy Black’s upcoming The Ghost Of Ohio graphic novel, Z2 Comics has just announced a collaborative partnership with rockers Skillet. Scheduled for release in Summer 2019, Eden: A Skillet Graphic Novel is based on an original story idea from Frontman John Cooper.
Z2 Comics has been making a name for themselves releasing quality graphic novels since 2012. In 2016, Z2 began collaborating with musicians to create graphic novels centered on unique stories and exclusive music. That ideal led them to work with the likes of Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys), DJ Paul Oakenfold, Jazz Trumpeter Dave Chisholm, and others. Two-thousand and eighteen marked another landmark year as Z2 partnered with Japanese Metal band BABYMETAL on the aforementioned Apocrypha: The Legend Of BabyMetal, which is one of the best-selling graphic novels Z2 has released. With the upcoming release of Andy Biersack’s The Ghost Of Ohio, as well as other soon-to-be-named partnerships, Z2 Comics continues to push the envelope with their seamless integration of music and comics.
Skillet, of course, are the Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum Rock band that fans all know and love. Having released nine studio albums — ranging from their 1996 self-titled debut to 2016’s Unleashed — over the past twenty-three years, the band has sold over 12-million records, have over 111 million plays (and counting!) on Spotify, as well as possessing a plethora of awards and accolades to their good name. With endless journeys taken and a mountain of inspirations beneath his belt, Singer, Songwriter, and Bassist John Cooper has an endless supply of material to draw from when penning new material – musical or otherwise.
For Eden: A Skillet Graphic Novel, Cooper is working alongside Z2 Comic’s creative team of Josh Frankel and Sridhar Reddy, as well as Writers Alex Paknadel and Dan Watters from Random Shock Studios (writers of Assassin’s Creed: Uprising and Doctor Who). Artist Chris Hunt, creator of Carver: A Paris Story, has already created the cover, and is working on pages for the highly-anticipated comic.
Cooper believes firmly in the partnership and the upcoming book, and has stated that this is a natural extension of Skillet’s career. “I am beyond thrilled about ‘Eden.’ It has always been a dream of mine to create a comic. Comics are still an important part of my life today and I can now share that love with my children with the release of this book.”
The story? Well, it follows two main characters, John and Korey (sound familiar?), who, in order to save their family and their town, must uncover the mystery of their dreams and a prophecy that threatens to consume them. In search of answers, they set out on a quest that will take them through the barren wastelands and gleaming cities of a near-future Tennessee. Bandmates Seth Morrison and Jen Ledger are also focal characters in the story. “It is about perseverance, unlikely heroes, and faith in what you believe. I hope that the fans love it!” Cooper explains.
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