The Blues Brothers Is Coming Back in the Form of a Brand New Graphic Novel

The greatest musical comedy ever made is stepping back into the spotlight as The Blues Brothers return in the form of a graphic novel.

Per the official press release, "The beloved Blues Brothers universe will expand over the next few years with forays into television, film, live events, music and much more with the first IP offering being a brand new original Graphic Novel: THE BLUES BROTHERS: THE ESCAPE OF JOLIET JAKE available today, Nov. 18 via Z2." Written by Stella Aykroyd, Luke Pisano and James Werner with art by Felipe Sobriero, The Blues Brothers: The Escape of Joliet Jake is now on sale and can be purchased through Amazon.

The press release continues, "The Blues Brothers: The Escape of Joliet Jake is a love letter to the iconic Blues Brothers universe. With editorial oversight by Dan Aykroyd, the utmost care has been taken to ensure this new chapter is true to the classic skits, legendary film, and iconic albums. The result is a wild and entertaining ride for both the longtime fans, and those new to the world of Jake and Elwood Blues. The project was originally conceived by the architect of The Blues Brothers, Judy Belushi Pisano, who sadly passed away during this book’s production." In addition to The Blues Brothers: The Escape of Joliet Jake, fans of The Blues Brothers are able to purchase a vinyl album that contains unreleased music.

According to the press release, this is "a rare musical glimpse of Joliet Jake and Elwood Blues at the height of their blues powers. Belushi and Aykroyd blast through a 13-song set with some of the greatest musicians who ever lived."

What Has The Creative Team Said About The Blues Brothers: The Escape Of Joliet Jake?

What once started out as a Saturday Night Live sketch has transformed into a pop culture phenomenon. “The Blues Brothers weren’t just a SNL act or movie, they were real musicians, in awe of the legends who came before them,” Pisano said. “This book is a continuation of that labor of love. That’s why it is dedicated to my mother, Judy Belushi Pisano — the widow of John Belushi and the fierce, loving steward of the Blues Brothers legacy for over 40 years. After John’s passing, she didn’t just preserve the story—she expanded it. With the team at Z2, and with the talents of Stella and James, we finally found the right partners to make that dream a reality. I am proud—and humbled—to continue her work in expanding this world of fun, music, and mischievousness.”

Aykroyd added “Elwood and Jake are precious to me, in fact, one of them is actually my Dad. I’ve helped him sharpie ELWOOD onto his knuckles before Blues Brothers shows with ‘Brother Zee’, I’ve walked behind him as he's made his way through a sea of fans dressed as Elwood and Jake all over the world and I’ve been his co-pilot on the road, where he’s explained to me the proper way to T-bone a car. Now, with Elwood, and the one and only ‘Sister Zee’, Judy Belushi Pisano's blessing, Luke, James, and I take the wheel and swerve into the endless possibilities that Z2, Felipe Sobreiro, and the comic book world provide for Jake and Elwood"

She continued on to say, "In many ways the antics we’ve seen from the Blues Brothers have always been perfectly suited for the comic strip; flying cars, supernatural nuns, dusting an entire apartment building worth of bricks off your shoulders, and now Felipe Sobreiro’s illustrations bring them to life once again. Our development process was guided and inspired by the stories and real life occurrences from the lives of Judy, John, and Dan and their process of conception of the Blues Brothers and using it not only for Easter eggs but for plot points. I am so excited to share this whole new story with all our music-loving anarchists."

The Blues Brothers: The Escape of Joliet Jake is on sale now.