Legendary Hip-Hop
group Public Enemy has teamed with Adam Wallenta of American Mule Entertainment
to release a politically charged comic book.
The untitled comic book, made with the cooperation of PE front man Chuck D, will
be an action-adventure story that reflects the political and ideological views
of the group that hit big with songs like "Don’t Believe the Hype,"
"911 Is a Joke," and the 1989 classic anthem "Fight the Power."
"The reality
is Public Enemy is a world-famous revolutionary, political Hip-Hop band that
inspires young and old alike," co-creator Adam Wallenta told AllHipHop.com.
“The fiction is they are members of a secret underground organization
called the Underground Railroad, while they are touring the world they act as
agents of peace and justice and help people whenever they are in need. They
don’t have super powers but they still kick major ass. There will be lots of
adventure and action as well as social commentary reflecting many of today’s
issues."
Wallenta worked
on several comics in the past, including “Imagine” and “The
Retributors” and Marvel’s "X-Nation" and "New Warriors"
comic books.
"I was interning for Marvel Comics and they had a music division that was
producing a Public Enemy comic book," Wallenta explained. “I remember
seeing some of the artwork and thinking they had it all wrong. Because of poor
sales with some of their other books and a shake up in the editorial offices,
I believe the book was scrapped all together. After seeing them on tour I decided
to run the idea past them about doing a comic book and we created the concept."
The untitled comic
book will come with an exclusive CD of new PE material that will coincide with
several group projects in the works, as well as songs by artists from Chuck
D’s label Slam Jamz and other artists.
To help build some
buzz for the graphic novel, Wallenta and Chuck D. plan to release a one-shot
featuring pages and sketches from the book.
A section of illustrated
lyrics to a new PE song about Hurricane Katrina will also be included and proceeds
will go towards Katrina relief.
The Public Enemy
comic book will make its debut at the 2006 Comic-Con International in San Diego.