Z2 Comics has cemented its place as the go-to publisher for any and all music based comics. The publisher has announced its never project, Holy Diver, featuring an original storyline inspired by one of heavy metal’s most iconic album covers from Ronnie James Dio. Written by Steve Niles and illustrated by Scott Hampton, the book will tell the story leading to the powerful moment captured on Dio’s debut album, definitively addressing 30 years of fan speculation. Finally questions like why the priest is being thrown into the ocean and who the true villain is will be answered.
“Steve Niles tells the story behind the album cover ‘Holy Diver,’ a story about how you can’t judge a picture by the way it appears, which is what Ronnie wrote many times in his songs; that you have to see inside the person and not judge them by the way they look or by what they wear” says Wendy Dio-Padavona. “Together with Scott Hampton’s amazing artwork they tell the story of ‘Holy Diver,’and I know Ronnie would have given his stamp of approval on this great graphic novel.”
“We have managed to work with some of the greatest legends in both comics and music, and a Dio graphic novel with a cover by the great Bill Sienkiewicz perhaps sums that up best,” says Z2 publisher Josh Frankel. “This is one of the most iconic heavy metal album covers in history. We are honored to pay tribute to the originator of the universal sign of the music that he has inspired since he first took the stage with Black Sabbath 40 years ago. Working with Wendy Dio directly to ensure it is true to his vision is the next best thing to working with Ronnie James Dio himself, and we have hit a new high note with this one!”
The original album cover was illustrated by Gene Hunter and Randy Berett. Two editions of Holy Diver will be released: A standard graphic novel and a limited deluxe edition with an exclusive vinyl edition of the album. Both are available for pre-order now through the Z2 website. Holy Diver is set for release in the summer of 2021.
Z2 Comics has cemented its place as the go-to publisher for any and all music based comics. The publisher hasCOMICONRead More