Dance Gavin Dance And Z2 Return With Double Flipbook Graphic Novel Set
by Brendan M. Allen
What is the logical next step when your first graphic novel ends with the world being destroyed? For Sacramento-based rock band Dance Gavin Dance and Z2, the answer is to create two new twisted universes, tied together by the power of music.
Presented in a Flip-book format, Dance Gavin Dance: Night Of The Fruit Mafia/Dance Of The Robot tells the stories of two radically different worlds that impact each other and interact in mysterious and unexpected ways. The new graphic novel brings more exploration into the lore of DGD with two quirky stories.
Dance Gavin Dance’s lead guitarist Will Swan says “Each (story introduces) new characters and ideas that build upon the complex storylines the band has weaved throughout our music for the last few decades. It’s a rare opportunity to tackle a new medium and create a different experience for fans.”
The two worlds are powerfully brought to visual life by two artists with radically different styles Ulises Fariñas and Jonathan Marks Barravecchia.
In designing the world of the Fruit Mafia, Fariñas shares, “(I) wanted the book to have the look of graffiti artists in high school. I remember I would pour over the senior art students’ sketchbooks that were filled with ideas, colors, and didn’t care about breaking the rules.”
For Dance of the Robot, Barravecchia says he approached the art with “the intention to ground the characters in the ‘real world,’ so the moments of crossover with Fruit Mafia, and the moments of surreality would feel more impactful. I wanted the events or moments that misalign with the reality we know being questioned by the reader and the characters simultaneously.”
“It was a thrill to work with Dance Gavin Dance to bring one of their coolest characters to life and expand the band’s myth in unique new directions.” says writer Chris Miskiwicz.
The stories expand on the canon, myths and iconography created by Will Swan and Jon Mess, giving fans of Dance Gavin Dance wild new dimensions to the band’s music.
The 100 page oversized 12”x12” flipbook comes in a slipcased Deluxe Edition as well as a limited and signed Platinum Edition. The Platinum Edition comes with art prints, a collector card, and an exclusive Double-LP with one Sea Blue and Baby Blue Smush vinyl disc and one Canary Yellow and Lemon Splatter vinyl.
Dance Gavin Dance’s new album, Pantheon is the first to feature new vocalist Andrew Wells in lead position. Deluxe and platinum editions are available exclusively at Z2’s website at this link, while a standard 9”x9” edition is available via independent retailers and local comic shops.