Dark Horse Books has announced a new graphic novel that combines action, adventure, horror, and humor called The Rock Gods of Jackson, Tennessee. Set for release June 6th in comic shops, the graphic novel is by Rafer Roberts (Grumble, Minecraft: Stories from the Overworld), artist Mike Norton (Grumble, Battlepug, Revival), colorist Allen Passalaqua (JSA, Batgirl and the Birds of Prey), and letterer Crank!
“This is the comic I was born to write,” says writer Rafer Roberts. “ROCK GODS is incredibly weird, and a little scary, but it’s also oddly tender and caring.”
So what’s The Rock Gods of Jackson, Tennessee about?
It’s 1989 and Jackson, Tennessee’s number one juvenile delinquent, Marty Ward, never wanted to join the Rock Gods. After all, who wants to be in a band with nerds like Jonny, Lenny, and Doug? But after the high schoolers stumble into the gig of a lifetime—opening for local rock legend Tommi Tungstun—the four outcasts must put aside their differences and play together if they want to achieve their dreams of fame, freedom, and popularity.
Standing in these future superstars’ way are: their parents, their teachers, a school full of jerks and bullies, a town full of bad bosses, sanctimonious preachers, and corrupt politicians, each other, and a rampaging horde of mutated monsters tearing through Jackson and eating everything in their path.
“The idea of this book was originally to make a serious autobiographical story about my hometown,” artist Mike Norton says, “but I soon realized that wasn’t as fun as working with Rafer and making stuff up that never happened!”
Check out the cover below.
For more on this news, read the official press release below.
Dark Horse Books presents a rockin’ new tale in The Rock Gods of Jackson, Tennessee! This legendary new graphic novel combines elements of action, adventure, horror, and humor packed in one epic trade paperback book. Rock Gods is created by writer Rafer Roberts (Grumble, Minecraft: Stories from the Overworld), artist Mike Norton (Grumble, Battlepug, Revival), colorist Allen Passalaqua (JSA, Batgirl and the Birds of Prey), and letterer Crank! (Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters, Rick and Morty).
It’s 1989 and Jackson, Tennessee’s number one juvenile delinquent, Marty Ward, never wanted to join the Rock Gods. After all, who wants to be in a band with nerds like Jonny, Lenny, and Doug? But after the high schoolers stumble into the gig of a lifetime—opening for local rock legend Tommi Tungstun—the four outcasts must put aside their differences and play together if they want to achieve their dreams of fame, freedom, and popularity.
Standing in these future superstars’ way are: their parents, their teachers, a school full of jerks and bullies, a town full of bad bosses, sanctimonious preachers, and corrupt politicians, each other, and a rampaging horde of mutated monsters tearing through Jackson and eating everything in their path.
“This is the comic I was born to write,” says writer Rafer Roberts. “ROCK GODS is incredibly weird, and a little scary, but it’s also oddly tender and caring.”
“ROCK GODS started with Mike throwing ideas at me,” continues Roberts. “His idea about his high school friends starting a rock band (but having to fight monsters instead) seemed like it would be in my wheelhouse. And, like Mike, I was also in a terrible rock band back in high school and thought I might have something to say.”
“The idea of this book was originally to make a serious autobiographical story about my hometown,” artist Mike Norton says, “but I soon realized that wasn’t as fun as working with Rafer and making stuff up that never happened!”
The Rock Gods of Jackson, Tennessee will be available in bookstores June 6, 2023 and comic shops June 7, 2023. It is available for pre-order now on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and at your local comic book shop and will retail for $19.99.
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