After conquering the worlds of TV, film, concerts and music, the Blues Brothers franchise is staking out previously uncharted territory—the world of graphic novels.
Announced Tuesday, May 6, the graphic novel The Blues Brothers: The Escape of Joliet Jake, is a project spearheaded by the Aykroyd family and the Judy Belushi estate that will be published by Z2.
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It’s available for pre-order now through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, as well as independent book, comic and record stores. It’s expected to arrive on shelves in October.
Original Blues Brother Dan Aykroyd, half of the duo that also featured late comic John Belushi, has penned the foreward for the book and provided editorial oversight for the project, which was written by his daughter StellaAykroyd, Luke Pisano and James Werner with artist Felipe Sobriero.
The project was originally planned by Judy Belushi Pisano, who helped conceive The Blues Brothers and died while the book was in production.
“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,” Luke Pisano said in a statement.
