Dark Horse Comics released an early look at The Rock Gods of Jackson, Tennessee by writer Rafer Roberts and artist Mike Norton.
ROCK GODS is a full-hearted tale of teenage dreams, following an unlikely group of nerds and ne’er-do-wells as they start a band against all reason. Local hero Tommi Tungstun, a rock star who “escaped” Jackson years ago, is playing a gig in town and needs an opening act, which kicks off a series of accidental events (the way things go at that age!). Delinquent Marty wants to meet his rock idol, Lenny and Jonny want to rock, and our pensive narrator Doug just wants a basement full of friends to hang out with. Through a dim family connection to Tommi and a penchant for missing important details of conversations, Doug signs them on to the gig. The Rock Gods of Jackson, Tennessee have become a thing; now they have to figure out how to be a band.
And while we touch on each kid’s hopes, dreams, and struggles along the way, there’s something else brewing in the background: a mutant pig invasion! A nefarious biotech lab—along with the corporate/political malfeasance that enables such things—is brewing up some fresh horror to unleash on the good (or at least halfway decent) people of Jackson. These twin plots will soon crash into each other with some explosive gory violence.
Everything is brought together in a summery Stranger Things-esque mix of horror, action, pathos, and nostalgia by Rafer’s deep experience in narrative world-building, Mike’s dynamic layouts, the subdued color work of Allen Passalaqua, and next-level lettering by Crank, who singlehandedly renders the raucous noise of a garage band in a silent medium.
The Rock Gods of Jackson, Tennessee arrives on July 5, 2023.
