Iconic punk band Blondie is working with Z2 Comics on a graphic novel that recounts the early years of the long-lasting New York City band, art, and fashion icons. Against the Odds is inspired by some of their most popular songs and lesser known favorites.
Blondie makes their comic debut during the year that will see the EP and film release of their trip to Cuba, their first archival box set, and more. It is written by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti the talented creative duo who brought Harley Quinn huge success in the 2010s.
“I think it would be impossible to give Blondie and the downtown New York music scene the proper respect and visceral representation it deserves if I didn’t live through it,” Palmiotti said. “My life was comic books and music and there was no more exciting time in my life than when Blondie hit the music scene. Amanda and I are having a blast telling the story of the band and how they went from killing it on stage in small clubs to becoming an unstoppable worldwide sensation.”
“When I was a growing up (and still pretty much, to this day), a few of the things I loved were music, comic book heroes, ultra-cool style, and a wicked, wild, and weird sense of humor,” Conner said. “Blondie embodies all those things, and when I listen to their music, I can’t not dance. Or if I have to sit and work for long hours, I can’t not at least bounce and bop along in my seat. As a teenager, Debbie Harry was one of the superheroes I wanted to grow up to be. In fact, I still wanna grow up to be her.”
Blondie had one of the punk scene’s most successful stories from the Manhattan clubs to attracting audiences around the world. Their graphic novel follows that trip from early singles to their enduring influence and continued popularity today.
“Blondie is one of those rare bands whose influence and impact can be felt across a half dozen musical styles. Whether you’re talking about the reggae groove of ‘The Tide is High,’ the defiant dance floor anthem ‘Atomic,’ or the groundbreaking introduction of rap into mainstream culture with ‘Rapture,’ Blondie’s influence and ability to transcend categorization is undeniable,” editor Rantz Hoseley said. “With an identity that emerged in equal parts from fine art and pop culture, having Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner leading the creative charge on graphic novel that explores Blondie’s rise from the dangerous streets of 1970s New York, to become an international powerhouse was a natural fit for Z2.”
Blondie: Against the Odds features art by John McCrea with a cover by Conner and colorist Paul Mounts. It is available for preorder now and will be released in the fall of 2021. It will be available in soft and hardcover editions in comic shops, book stores, and record stores. There are also limited deluxe and signed super deluxe versions, packaged with exclusive vinyl, prints, and more available only through Z2’s website. The super deluxe edition will include the archival box set.