#SDCC: Z2 COMICS AND HEAVY METAL ICONS JUDAS PRIEST ANNOUNCE THE 
SCREAMING FOR VENGEANCE GRAPHIC NOVEL

Inspired by the Band’s Best-Selling Album of All-Time,
An Original Science Fiction Epic Released in Time
For the Album’s 40TH Anniversary and the Return of Comic
Con International in 2022, Available to Order Now

Z2 Comics proudly announces that one of the biggest acts in the history of heavy music will team with the rapidly growing entertainment brand for an original graphic novel to be released in 2022, in time for the anniversary of their highest selling album of all time, the indisputable classic: Screaming for Vengeance.

Teaming with writers Rantz Hoseley (Comic Book Tattoo, the Heroin Diaries) and Neil Kleid (Savor), and artist Christopher Mitten (Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.), the multi-platinum selling Metal Gods bestow upon their generations of fans their first-ever graphic novel!

500 years from now, a ring of cities orbit high above the surface of a dead world, controlled by a ruling elite that maintains power through manipulation and brutality. When a naïve engineer inadvertently threatens the status quo with his vital scientific discovery… A BLOODSTONE… he is betrayed by those he trusted and cast out to the broken planet below.  In the wreckage and desolation of a broken world where every day is a battle for survival, he must choose between accepting his new life in exile…or SCREAMING FOR VENGEANCE.

“I cannot overstate what an inspiration Judas Priest has been to me, personally.” said Hoseley. “I was already a fan of the band, when Screaming for Vengeance was released, but no one was ready for the impact it had. That incredible cover art? Those songs? That album became my daily soundtrack and creative fuel, to the point where I wore the cassette out in my car. To be able to contribute to a project inspired by these songs that mean so much to me? Well, that is an honor and a responsibility I take very seriously.”

To further celebrate the creative legacy of this monumental album and landmark anniversary, the graphic novel includes an extensive interview with original cover artist Doug Johnson in which he discusses the process of creating the award-winning album cover design, and the origin of the metallic bird of prey, now known as “The Hellion.” Additionally, as part of the expansion of Z2’s product offerings, newly appointed Z2 Vice President of Collectibles and Aggronautix founder Clint Weiler has designed a detailed Hellion statue, with working “electric eyes” in celebration of both the original album design, and the dramatic conclusion of the story in the SCREAMING FOR VENGEANCE graphic novel”

Certified double platinum in the United States, Screaming for Vengeance was released in July of 1982, and marked the beginning of the band’s success in North America, transcending the “new wave of British heavy metal” sound they had come to define, and moving them into the mainstream despite a heavier-than-ever sound. The album’s first single “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming” would prove to be one of the biggest hard rock hits in history and continues to inspire fists in the air around the world to this day. The album was ranked #3 on Rolling Stone’s 2017 list of “100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time,” and is celebrated throughout the world as one of the genre’s most defining moments, ushering in the success of heavy music in the 1980s up through today.

Judas Priest: Screaming for Vengeance will be released in both softcover and hardcover formats in finer bookstores, comic shops and record stores everywhere in July 2022, with special limited deluxe and super deluxe versions featuring an exclusive anniversary vinyl LP, prints and more available to order now through the Z2 website.

About Judas Priest
There are few heavy metal bands that have managed to scale the heights that Judas Priest have during their 50-year career. Their presence and influence remains at an all-time high as evidenced by 2018’s ‘Firepower’ being the highest charting album of their career, a 2010 Grammy Award win for ‘Best Metal Performance’, plus being a 2006 VH1 Rock Honors recipient. Poised now to celebrate that illustrious career as they enter their 50th year in the industry – 2020 will see the band embark on an epic 50thanniversary tour in celebration. Judas Priest originally formed in 1969 in Birmingham, England (an area that many feel birthed heavy metal). Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, K.K. Downing and Ian Hill would be the nucleus of musicians (along with several different drummers over the years) that would go on to change the face of heavy metal. The current line up which changed in 2011 consists of Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, Ian Hill, Richie Faulkner and Scott Travis – Priest also received a second Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nomination in 2019, with 2020 serving as the 40th anniversary of ‘British Steel’ and the 30th anniversary of ‘Painkiller.’ But most importantly, 2020 was the band’s 50th anniversary and they are finally on a major tour for the world to celebrate this remarkable band’s 50 YEARS OF HEAVY METAL!!

About Z2:
Recently dubbed the “hottest brand in music” by Forbes, Z2 has quickly become the premier destination for authentic graphic novels and collectibles, created in partnership with top-tier artists, musicians and pop-culture icons. Distributed globally via Simon & Schuster, Z2 has produced 50+ unique graphic novel properties, collaborating with Gorillaz, Blondie, Elvis Presley, Freddie Mercury, Balmain, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Jason Derulo, The Grateful Dead, Machine Gun Kelly, Sublime, Beethoven, RZA, Mötley Crüe, Vince Staples, Cheech & Chong, The Doors, Anthrax, Public Enemy, Ronnie James Dio, King Diamond, All Time Low, Ivan Moody, Yungblud, Cypress Hill, Babymetal, Major Lazer, RZA, Alter Bridge, Sturgill Simpson, Poppy, John Lee Hooker and Charlie “Bird” Parker. 

Learn more at Z2comics.com

JUDAS PRIEST 2022 Fall Tour Dates with QUEENSRŸCHE

Oct. 13 Wallingford, CT – Toyota Oakdale

Oct. 15 Albany, NY – MVP Arena

Oct. 16 Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall Fenway

Oct. 18 Uniondale, NY at Nassau Veterans

Oct. 19 Wilkes-Barre, PA – Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

Oct. 21 Kalamazoo, MI – Wings Event Center

Oct. 22 Detroit, MI – Masonic Temple Theatre

Oct. 24 Cincinnati, OH – The Andrew J Brady Music Center

Oct. 25 Waukegan, IL – Genesee Theatre

Oct. 27 Green Bay, WI – Resch Center Theater

Oct. 29 Moline, IL – TaxSlayer Center Moline

Oct. 30 Mankato, MN – Mayo Clinic Event Center

Nov. 01 Sioux City, IA – Tyson Events Center

Nov. 02 Rapid City, SD – The Monument

Nov. 07 Ontario, CA – Toyota Center

Nov. 08 Tucson, AZ – TCC Arena

Nov. 10 Loveland, CO – Budweiser Events Center

Nov. 12 Park City (Wichita),KS -Hartman Arena

Nov. 13 St. Charles, MO – The Family Arena

Nov. 15 Corbin, KY – The Corbin Arena

Nov. 17 Southaven, MS – Landers Center

Nov. 18 Baton Rouge, LA – Raising Canes River Center

Nov. 20 Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center

Nov. 22 San Antonio, TX – Tech Port Center & Arena

Nov. 23 San Antonio, TX – Tech Port Center & Arena

Nov. 25 Dallas, TX – The Factory – Deep Ellum

Nov. 26 Corpus Christi, TX – Concrete Street

Nov. 28 Edinburg, TX – Burt Ogden Arena

Nov. 29 Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall

Judas Priest “Screaming For Vengeance” Comic and Fall 2022 Tour Dates first appeared on Game On Media.

News of Z2’s 2021 lineup begins to roll out with news of what is sure to be one of the publisher’s most anticipated projects yet – the Holy Diver graphic novel, creating an original storyline inspired by one of heavy metal’s most iconic album covers. Today’s announcement brings news that acclaimed horror comics writer Steve Niles will tell the tale behind the events leading to the powerful moment captured on the cover of DIO‘s debut album, definitively addressing 30 years of fan speculation. Why is the priest being thrown into the ocean? Who is truly the villain in this scenario? All of these questions are exclusively answered for the first time within the pages of this 120-page graphic novel.

“Steve Niles tells the story behind the album cover ‘Holy Diver’, a story about how you can’t judge a picture by the way it appears, which is what Ronnie wrote many times in his songs; that you have to see inside the person and not judge them by the way they look or by what they wear,” says Wendy Dio. “Together with Scott Hampton‘s amazing artwork they tell the story of ‘Holy Diver’, and I know Ronnie would have given his stamp of approval on this great graphic novel.”

“We have managed to work with some of the greatest legends in both comics and music, and a DIO graphic novel with a cover by the great Bill Sienkiewicz perhaps sums that up best,” says Z2 publisher Josh Frankel. “This is one of the most iconic heavy metal album covers in history. We are honored to pay tribute to the originator of the universal sign of the music that he has inspired since he first took the stage with Black Sabbath 40 years ago. Working with Wendy Dio directly to ensure it is true to his vision is the next best thing to working with Ronnie James Dio himself, and we have hit a new high note with this one!”

In reverence, Steve Niles says, “I’m so excited to be writing this book. I hope I do Ronnie James Dio justice.”

Dio: Holy Diver reunites Steve Niles (Criminal Macabre, 30 Days of Night, October Faction) with Gotham County Line artist Scott Hampton for an all-new original story, inspired by the original iconic album art by Gene Hunter and Randy Berett. Two editions are available for preorder now; both the standard graphic novel, as well as a limited deluxe edition, the full details of which will be revealed within the coming weeks. Dio: Holy Diver is available for preorder now through the Z2 website. DIO’s Holy Diver releases in summer of 2021.

About Z2 Comics:

Z2 is the premier destination for top quality music-based comics and graphic novels, having worked across genres to deliver an authentic experience to diverse audiences. Some of the publisher’s best-selling books include Apocrypha: The Legend of BABYMETAL, YUNGBLUD Presents: The Twisted tales of the Ritalin Club and Eden: A Skillet Graphic Novel, alongside debut works of graphic fiction by Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys), Andy Biersack (Black Veil Brides), DJ Paul Oakenfold, internet sensation Poppy, jazz trumpeter Dave Chisholm and others. Z2’s upcoming works include books created with partnership with The Grateful Dead, Sturgill Simpson and others.

Z2 Comics to Pay Tribute to Heavy Metal Icon Ronnie James Dio’s Holy Diver first appeared on Game On Media.