Z2 announces that it will be publishing a graphic novel based on the Blues Brothers, the characters played by John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd. The Blues Brothers: The Escape of Joliet Jake is pitched in the press release as a sequel to the titular film and features a creative line-up closely tied to the original actors. Written by Stella Aykroyd, Luke Pisano and James Werner with artist Felipe Sobriero, the book was originally conceived by Judy Belushi Pisano before her passing during the production process.
Luke Pisano spoke about the weight of history for the book, stating:
“The Blues Brothers weren’t just a SNL act or movie, they were real musicians, in awe of the legends who came before them. This book is a continuation of that labor of love. This book is dedicated to my mother, Judy Belushi Pisano – the widow of John Belushi and the fierce, loving steward of the Blues Brothers legacy for over 40 years. After John’s passing, she didn’t just preserve the story—she expanded it. With the team at Z2, and with the talents of Stella and James, we finally found the right partners to make that dream turn reality. I am proud—and humbled—to continue her work in expanding this world of fun, music, and mischievousness.”
Dan Aykroyd is providing editorial oversight for the graphic novel, ensuring that the book stays aligned with the Saturday Night Live sketches and the feature film.
Stella Aykroyd speaks about the personal connection to the book, stating:
“Elwood and Jake are precious to me, in fact, one of them is actually my Dad. I’ve helped him sharpie ELWOOD onto his knuckles before Blues Brothers shows with ‘Brother Zee’, I’ve walked behind him as he’s made his way through a sea of fans dressed as Elwood and Jake all over the world and I’ve been his co-pilot on the road, where he’s explained to me the proper way to T-bone a car. Now, with Elwood, and the one and only ‘Sister Zee’,?Judy Belushi’s blessing, Luke, James, and I take the wheel and swerve into the endless possibilities that Z2, Felipe Sobreiro, and the comic book world provide for Jake and Elwood. In many ways the antics we’ve seen from the Blues Brothers have always been perfectly suited for the comic strip; flying cars, supernatural nuns, dusting an entire apartment building worth of bricks off your shoulders, and now Felipe Sobreiro’s illustrations bring them to life once again. Our development process was guided and inspired by the stories and real life occurrences from the lives of Judy, John, and Dan and their process of conception of the Blues Brothers and using it not only for easter eggs but for plot points. I am so excited to share this whole new story with all our music loving anarchists.”
The Blues Brothers: The Escape of Joliet Jake will be available for pre-order via Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and independent book, comic, and record stores.