Rafer Roberts and Mike Norton jam out with THE ROCK GODS OF JACKSON, TENNESSEE graphic novel

Dark Horse Books has announced details The Rock Gods of Jackson, Tennessee, a new graphic novel 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).

Here’s how the publisher describes the graphic novel:

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.

According to writer Rafer Roberts:

“This is the comic I was born to write. 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.”

Mike Norton added:

“The idea of this book was originally to make a serious autobiographical story about my hometown, but I soon realized that wasn’t as fun as working with Rafer and making stuff up that never happened!”

With a cover price of $19.99, The Rock Gods of Jackson, Tennessee is due out in bookstores on Tuesday, June 6th, 2023, and in comic shops the following Wednesday, June 7th.

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