Z2 Comics Teams Up With Singer-Songwriter Teddy Swims For New Fall Children’s Graphic Novel
by Richard Bruton
Z2 Comics continues its mission of bringing a diverse range of music graphic novels with the news of the debut graphic novel from singer-songwriter Teddy Swims – as told by Swimmy the Teddy Bear!
Z2 have already announced huge books from Blondie, Anthrax, Cypress Hill, and a biography of Jim Morrison this year, but they’re also looking at new and upcoming musicians for their musical graphic novel line, with the latest being Teddy Swims in the children’s graphic novel Swimmy and the Valley of the Last Song.
Here’s the PR from Z2:
“Teddy Swims: Swimmy and the Valley of the Last Song follows the adorable anthropomorphic Teddy Bear version of Teddy and the elephantine versions of his bandmates. Get ready to meet the Bear behind the band! In this all-ages graphic novel collaboration between Teddy Swims and Z2 Comics, Swimmy the Bear and his fun-loving friends get an opportunity to take their act from small-time to worldwide, but is a laidback bunch of critters ready for the pressure that comes with big agents, big deals, and big dreams? Swimmy the Bear and his fun-loving friends get an opportunity to take their act from small-time to worldwide, but is a laidback bunch of critters ready for the pressure that comes with big agents, big deals, and big dreams?”
Teddy Swims: Swimmy and the Valley of the Last Song is written by Grace Thomas and illustrated by Fred Stresing, with an exclusive limited deluxe version to include prints by artists Ian McGinty, Michael Lee Harris, and Sarah Stern.
The new graphic novel, Swimmy and the Valley of the Last Song, is an imaginative adventure through the lens of a teddy bear, designed to have that all-ages appeal.
“Ever since I was a kid I’ve dreamed of building my own universe of characters and stories that everyone can enjoy, especially children. I believe so strongly that the job of a musician or anyone with a platform should use it to guide and influence the upcoming generation in a positive way! And for the adults I always want to do anything I can to preserve that child in all of us because it’s the most important part of us! That being said, developing a comic book has always been a dream of mine! I hope you fall in love with Swimmy’s adventure as much as I have. Here’s to dreaming even bigger and making this a series!
Teddy Swims.”
Teddy Swims was born Jaten Dimsdale in 1992, getting his stage name from the acronym ‘Someone Who Isn’t Me Sometimes‘. His eclectic musical style is reflected in the bands he’s played in and the projects he’s been involved with over the years, from singing in local hard rock bands in high school, cover bands playing weddings, noisy metalcore groups, and rapping with hip-hop artists, through to opening for Tyler Carter and longtime friend Addy Maxwell, funk-rock band Elefynts and country-influenced hard rock act WildHeart.
His career really took off in 2019 with a karaoke video of himself performing Michael Jackson’s ‘Rock with You’ on YouTube to honour the 10th anniversary of Jackson’s passing. Since then, the Atlanta-based artist has racked up 1.4 million subscribers and 168 million views on YouTube alone, resulting in Swims signing a recording contract with Warner Records in January of 2020.
This led to the release of his first original song ‘Picky’, followed by ‘Broke’, and his most recently released song, ‘Till I Change Your Mind’. With his UK tour for May cancelled due to Covid, Swims is busy releasing more original music and covers on YouTube.
Swimmy and the Valley of the Last Song arrives in comic shops and bookstores everywhere this fall, with all editions, including the exclusive deluxe hardcover available to preorder directly from Z2 now.
