A Heartwarming, Gut-Wrenching, Reverberating Power Chord: Previewing ‘The Rock Gods Of Jackson, Tennessee’

Dark Horse Comics has revealed a preview of The Rock Gods Of Jackson, Tennessee for If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if John Hughes directed a schlock horror ’80s drive-in movie, the answer would look a lot like The Rock Gods Of Jackson, Tennessee, a blistering reverberating power chord of a graphic novel for teens coming in July from Dark Horse Comics.

Featuring the comics-making talent of 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.

“It’s 1989 and Marty Ward – Jackson, Tennessee’s number one juvenile delinquent — never wanted to join The Rock Gods. After all, who wants to play in a band with nerds like Jonny, Lenny, and Doug? But after the high schoolers stumble into the gig of a lifetime, they must put aside their differences if they have any hope of grabbing this chance before it blows by. They have one week to pull it together.

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.

Unfortunately for Jackson, it’s up to the Rock Gods to save the city and everyone in it. If they can’t figure out how to work together, they’ll all be monster food. But, if they can join together as a band, as friends, as family . . . they’ll become legends.”

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 single handedly renders the raucous noise of a garage band in a silent medium.