Iconic rock band KISS is no stranger to comic books. It had its own Marvel comic special back in the day and even appeared in Howard the Duck way back in 1977.
Now, Dynamite Entertainment will be publishing a new KISS series for the first time in decades, and it looks to be unlike anything the band has been involved in before.
The comic is described as a dark sci-fi adventure coming from writer Amy Chu and artist Kewber Baal, one that Chu says will focus on the mythology and legend of the band. Specifically, Chu listened heavily to the band's 1981 album Music from "the Elder" for inspiration, with the first arc of the comic series drawing from the themes, lyrics and song titles of the album.
Here's the official description for the series:
"In a world without sun and a world without heroes, four young friends embark on a dangerous mission — to uncover the truth about the mysterious Council of Elders and their underground home, the city of Blackwell. But first they need some help from the past ..."
That's not a whole lot to go on, but covers for the series may provide a few more details. The first issue of the series will be getting 10 different variant covers, and one of those covers features giant KISS robots. Whether or not those robots will actually be making an appearance in the comic remains uncertain (variant covers very often have nothing to do with the actual interior of the book), but it certainly looks like too great an opportunity to pass up. KISS piloting mechs in a dark, dangerous sci-fi future? Sign us up.
Chu choosing Music from "the Elder" as her primary inspiration is an interesting choice. The album is considered to be one of the band's least successful works and was a radical departure from its previous albums. If nothing else, Chu is at least aware of that fact.
"Like the movie Blade Runner, which came out around the same time, people didn't know what to make of it," she says (via ComicBookResources). "If that album came out now, I think it would be entirely different reception."
Perhaps Chu's comic will change the minds of KISS fans about one of the band's most controversial albums, but even if it doesn't, at least the artwork will look great.
KISS #1 will go on sale this October.
