Grateful Dead

Secret origins have long been a classic trope of comic books. This summer, a rather unexpected super-team will find their origins revealed in a new graphic novel. That's the release date for Z2 Comics' Grateful Dead Origins, written by Chris Miskiewicz with art by Noah Van Sciver. Origins will depict the early days of Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, Bill Kreutzmann, and Mickey Hart as they transform from bar band The Warlocks to the groundbreaking Grateful Dead.

The graphic novel will be available in two formats. On or about July 31, a limited-edition hardcover will be released. This oversized (9 x 15) individually-numbered, coffee table-style book adds art prints, autographs by the comic creators, and an exclusive 12-inch vinyl LP of an unreleased performance from August 1968 at San Francisco's Fillmore West. On July 7, Z2 will release a standard softcover edition which will contain an exclusive download of rare selections from the Dead's early days.

The exclusive hardcover edition of Grateful Dead Origins is available for pre-order directly from Z2. The standard edition, which will be available at all finer bookstores, is up for pre-orders at Amazon.com / Amazon U.K. (Link TBD) / Amazon Canada.