Fall Out Toyworks, Issue One in Shops September 2nd
Does the name Pete Wentz sound familiar? If not, ask your 15 year old, and she'll be sure to tell you all about Wentz and his Grammy nominated band Fall Out Boy... or the record label he formed... or the fashion line he's starting... maybe even the charity work he's done with Invisible Children Inc... or his "twit-lationship" with Blink 182's Mark Hoppus...
And, starting in September, Wentz embarks on his new project, a comic book inspired by the band's music. Fall Out Toyworks, the story of a Cyborg girl named Tiffany, a little boy in a teddy bear suit, and the Toymaker who put them together in a futuristic city that may or may not be Tokyo. Loosely based on the song "Tiffany Blews" from the band's album Folie à Deux, released in 2008, the story is reportedly based on the relationship between Tiffany and the Little Boy, but so far that's all anyone's saying. Conceived by Wentz and Los Angeles based designer Darren Romanelli, and written by Brett Lewis (who wrote the acclaimed "The Winter Men" series and Image's "Bulletproof Monk" book) with art from Sam Basri and Imaginary Friends Studios, the book is set to be released September 2nd.
"Me and Darren came up with the idea of creating ... a world around 'Tiffany Blews,' " Wentz told MTV News. "It's more than a comic too. In the end, it will be a graphic novel, clothing, Web site and possible toys themselves."
Wentz is the latest in a line of musicians making their mark in the comic book biz. In 2007, My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way launched "The Umbrella Academy" through Dark Horse Comics, and the series went on to win an Eisner Award. Then, last year, Way's brother (and MCR bassist) Mikey Way wrote a Hallowe'en themed Batman story for DC Comics. "All my buddies are really into comics, including [famed artist] Jim Lee, who I talk to all the time," the younger Way brother said. "I have, like, this council of comic book geeks — kids I knew growing up, everyone — and we're always having these conversations about books and stuff, these conversations where we go, 'Man, if people could hear what we're saying right now, what would they think?'
Los Angeles based Examiner readers will be getting an exclusive chance to meet Wentz, Romanelli and other special events at the Fall Out Toyworks Release Party, Tuesday, Sept 1st at 12:00a.m at Meltdown Comics. Check out www.meltcomics.com/ for news and event schedule.
For more info check out the following links:
Fall Out Toyworks: fallouttoyworks.com/
Fall Out Boy Band Info: www.falloutboyrock.com/
Invisible Children Inc: www.invisiblechildren.com/home.php
Comments
Interesting article. There seems to be a lot more of celebs getting into the comic industry these days than when I was a kid (a long long long time ago).....I like that.
C. Lee, my guess is because the generation that grew up reading comics now has the money to start making them
The irony about Gerard Way is that he was actually an intern at DC comics before becoming a rocker with MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE and now he's gotten critical acclaim for a year's worth of UMBRELLA ACADEMY, so he is an odd example of a comic geek using a rock career to get into the comic industry. He's also the best example of such a crossover, since there are so many unsold KISS comics in quarter bins somewhere. Hopefully Pete Wentz will be likewise.
This puts me in an awkward position, as I really hate Gerard's music and band and fans immensely, but I really like Umbrella Academy. I don't know which side of him to trust!
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