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Hip Hop legend CHUCK D Creates Special Three-Part Variant Cover and Interior Art for Matteo Pizzolo's ROGUE STATE

The Provocative, New Comic Book Series from Black Mask Studios Will Be Released on November 16 with a Special Cover and Guest Art  Drawn By the Public Enemy Co-Founder Himself 

"Depicts an American Hellscape in Art." -ROLLING STONE

LOS ANGELES, CA– What if Americans refused to be governed? 

Political violence plunges America into turmoil. Local police forces join with the National Guard, but even their combined strength is unable to quell the rage. Filling the vacuum, militia groups rise into roving gangs of vigilantes.

In a strict interpretation of the 2nd Amendment, an embattled Supreme Court overturns two centuries of settled law by recognizing militias as Constitutionally protected. In an instant, every paramilitary gang in America is suddenly deputized, transforming the entire country into a vigilante police-state. Lockdowns set in. Fear spreads… and whispers of revolution.

This is the world of ROGUE STATE, the new ongoing graphic novel series that marks writer Matteo Pizzolo’s return to comics for his first new series since 2017’s acclaimed CALEXIT, reuniting with artist C. Granda (who illustrated 2018’s CALEXIT: SAN DIEGO comic book that raised funds for families separated at the US-Mexico border) and CALEXIT cover artists Soo Lee and Ashley A Woods.

ROGUE STATE will launch with a special set of variant covers drawn by hip legend and higher thought leader Chuck D of PUBLIC ENEMY next month from Black Mask Studios, the Los Angeles based indie publisher of beloved titles including BLACK, 4 KIDS WALK INTO A BANK, SPACE RIDERS, KIM & KIM, ALICE IN LEATHERLAND, and GODKILLER. Together, Pizzolo and Granda have created a timely title about rebelling against tyranny, reconquering stolen land, punching fascists in the face, and building a better nation.

“The concepts Matt is presenting here are so familiar they should be terrifying,” says Chuck D. “I thought the concept that there are good people out there but are surrounded by adversaries, even though they might look normal, was radical. Plus, it had a throwback to the last century kind of vibe mixed in.” 

“Chuck’s illustration so perfectly captures the book’s vibe of feeling trapped in a cauldron of turmoil but not giving in to the chaos, still rising against it,” says Pizzolo. “Chuck is the preeminent incendiary storyteller, for decades through music and visual art as well, so to see the world of ROGUE STATE through his eyes is mindbending. Of course it’s powerful and booming and bold and fearless, it’s Chuck D.”

In addition to appearing as a cover, Chuck D’s illustration will also be inside the book itself as a street-art mural, in an homage to the Mission District’s history of socially-engaged public art.

“We set out to make ROGUE STATE a comic that’s politically charged but is optimistic and celebrates the history of radical art and street art. At first, Chuck was going to do one cover, but he went far beyond with this panorama of our modern hellscape, and as soon as I saw it I realized that it needed to be part of the storyworld itself,” says Pizzolo. “It’s like the most raging street art, and it conveys the inferno of horrors we all have burning away in our minds. The story is about staying hopeful enough to keep fighting, and Chuck captures that too. His work is never about wallowing in the turmoil, it’s a call to arms.”

In ROGUE STATE, a crew of young vigilantes will rise against a paramilitary police state robbing Americans of their rights. The ongoing series tells the story of Vya Of Brightstars, a mysterious figure rising from the unrest, and Clara Cruz (aka Dust Girl), who becomes activated in Vya’s movement when her fiancée Taylor Sanchez is disappeared as militias take over their Mission District neighborhood. But are Vya and Dust Girl freedom fighters or terrorists? Either way, their rogue state will not just blaze a path across America, it will also inspire others to raise their own armies... some in solidarity, others in opposition.

The first issue of ROGUE STATE will be available from Black Mask Studios on November 16, with a special variant drawn by Chuck D himself available exclusively from your favorite comic book shop in extremely limited quantities.

"A genre known as 'speculative fiction.' Except that it doesn't seem as speculative anymore." -The San Francisco Chronicle

"A Politically Charged Follow-up to Calexit." -IGN

* First Look Ashcan debuting at SDCC 2022 *

RIPPED FROM TOMORROW’S HEADLINES, MATTEO PIZZOLO & C. GRANDA INTRODUCE ROGUE STATE

Announcing a Provocative, New Comic Book Series from Black Mask Studios, Premiering at Comic Con International

What if a contested Presidential election plunged America into turmoil? What if political violence consumed the streets? And what if a raging Supreme Court, in a strict interpretation of the Second Amendment, legitimized and deputized all militias—transforming the entire country into a paramilitary police state?

What if a freedom fighter emerged from the chaos, raised a civilian army, and carved out a territory across the United States–pushing out police, militias, and National Guard… enforcing its own laws… sovereign.

What if Americans refused to be governed?

This is the world of ROGUE STATE, the new ongoing graphic novel series that marks writer Matteo Pizzolo’s return to comics for his first new series since 2017’s acclaimed CALEXIT, reuniting with artist C. Granda (who illustrated 2018’s CALEXIT: SAN DIEGO comic book that raised funds for families separated at the US-Mexico border) and CALEXIT cover artists Soo Lee and Ashley A Woods. ROGUE STATE will launch this October from Black Mask Studios, the Los Angeles based indie publisher of beloved titles including BLACK, 4 KIDS WALK INTO A BANK, SPACE RIDERS, KIM & KIM, ALICE IN LEATHERLAND, and GODKILLER. Together, Pizzolo and Granda have created a timely title about rebelling against tyranny, reconquering stolen land, punching fascists in the face, and building a better nation.

“A big part of building authenticity and depth to the characters and the world of Rogue State comes from C. Granda’s incredible eye for detail and the way he infuses the work with his own experiences and observations,” said Matteo Pizzolo, co-founder of Black Mask Studios and the writer of ROGUE STATE. “Granda grew up in Medellín-Colombia, where he still lives and runs multiple cultural organizations devoted to supporting comic book creation in Latin America. He was a kid during the Palace of Justice siege when insurgents stormed the Supreme Court and left half the Justices dead. When Granda imagines a comic book world roiled by political violence, there’s a reason it feels so vital and lived-in.”

In ROGUE STATE, a crew of young vigilantes will rise against an authoritarian state robbing Americans of their rights. The ongoing series tells the story of Vya Of Brightstars, a mysterious freedom fighter rising from the unrest, and Clara Cruz (she/her), a young professional who becomes activated in Vya’s movement when her fiancée Taylor Sanchez (they/them) is disappeared as militias take over their Mission District neighborhood. As a nationwide police state takes shape following a contested Presidential election and The Supreme Court’s Second Amendment ruling to deputize paramilitary groups, Vya and Clara’s rogue state will blaze a path across America, inspiring others to raise their own armies… some in solidarity, others in opposition. Each issue of ROGUE STATE will also include non-fiction material about building local support networks and grassroots campaigning for coming elections.

“Confronting disinformation with political art has never been more important,” said Brian Giberson, Black Mask’s head of publishing development. “Black Mask Studios has always focused on stories that are adventurous and also have a real message driving them. Starting with OCCUPY COMICS, we published stories about inequity and the struggle for financial justice. Since then, we published stories about gentrification (THE DREGS), LGBTQIA+ self-discovery and found family (ALICE IN LEATHERLAND) and empowered Black superheroes fighting racist plutocrats (BLACK). We’ve partnered with creators to fundraise for Black Lives Matter, legal aid for families separated at the border, comic shops subjected to Covid lockdown mandates, and bail funds during the George Floyd protests. The fact that the comic market continues to support and provide a platform for such brave voices is a striking reminder that comics play a crucial and important role in our social, political, and cultural dialogue."

ROGUE STATE will hit comic shops October 2022.

After GODKILLER: SPIDERLAND #1 sold out at the distributor within 24 hours of its release, we reached out to one of our favorite artists, the incredible and diabolical Corin M Howell who delivered this smoldering take on series stars Halfpipe and Soledad. Hitting shops February 9th, just in time for your strangest Valentine's Day ever.

This NSFW cover ship in a partially blacked out polybag to protect the sweet summer children, scroll down for a look at the uncensored cover.

After wrapping up its second volume, DESTINY, NY will launch a set of anthology issues beginning on Valentine's Day 2022 with a roster of some of the most exciting creators in comics!

It all starts February 9th with the DESTINY, NY: VALENTINE'S DAY SPECIAL
From Rachel Dukes, Rosi Kämpe, Chiara Colasanti, and Pat Shand.
In the first special Destiny, NY one-shot, writer Pat Shand (Snap Flash Hustle, Thirsty) tells three stories of love, yearning, and romance set in a world where magic is a real and accepted part of everyday life. In these slice-of-life stories, a cat escapes, a Necromancer is scorned, and vows are renewed. If you haven’t jumped on board the ongoing Destiny, NY title, this one-shot is the perfect jumping on point.

Then in March, we're excited to bring you DESTINY, NY: NUANCE, Pt 1:
- Vita Ayala (The Wilds, Black [AF]: Devil's Dye, New Mutants) writes an emotional, haunting tale of Cherry Gilbert: Necromancer. 
- Singer-songwriter Jenny Owen Youngs and Kristin Russo team up with Megan Levens (Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season 10, Madame Frankenstein) for a sendoff to New York City as one of our characters departs… forever? 
- Emily Ree (Anarchy Dreamers) writes and draws a slice-of-life story about Anthony the Seer. 
- Lauren Reilly and creator Pat Shand tell a tale of home and friendship through the eyes of Logan’s cat, Brody.

And this special run wraps up in April with DESTINY, NY: NUANCE, Pt 2:
- Amy Shand (Prison Witch) and Lisa Sterle (Witchblood) take Henley, resident Prophecy Professor, to anger management. 
- Claudia Aguirre (Kim & Kim) and Brian Cogan (Encyclopedia of Punk) look back at Arvid’s murderous history of crime and loyalty. 
- Erica Schultz (Forgotten Home) and Natasha Alterici (Heathen) look at the tragic past and odd future of Lilith and Song Aberdine. 
- Pat Shand and songwriter/artist Katie Kuffel team up for this dream-like comic poem to close out the second arc of Destiny, NY and send us off to the sunny shores of California for a new story.

We are thrilled to bring you these special issues so we can all experience the world of DESTINY, NY through the unique lenses of some of our favorite creators in comics!

Launching this month from writer/illustrator Iolanda Zanfardino (Alice In Leatherland, A Thing Called Truth), HECATE'S WILL introduces us to a graffiti artist heroine named Hecate who uses her art to impact the world in this street-smart adventure that celebrates outsider-art, diverse found family, LGBTQIA+ rock musicals, and never giving up on your dreams. 

“HECATE’S WILL is about the fight against the little voice in your head that reminds you ‘if you can’t take it anymore, you can always give up,'" said Zanfardino, "but you have to keep fighting it because the only way you can live your life is to be true to yourself.”

In HECATE’S WILL, we meet legendary NYC graffiti artist Hecate, who is facing burnout & despair and has decided to retire, abandoning her dream of changing the world through art--but, before she quits, she’s going to create one final street-art experience: a graffiti scavenger hunt through the streets of Manhattan that will lead her fans to a final message and artistic testament. 

As her street-art experiment catches fire with young NYC artists and activists, Hecate's best friend ropes her into working on a revival of the musical ‘RENT’ by a joyous ensemble of LGBTQIA+ artists who remind her how art brings people together, challenging all of Hecate’s expectations and assumptions. But will it be enough to inspire Hecate to renew her convictions and remain true to her artistic self? 

As Iolanda describes the book: “HECATE’S WILL is a story for anyone who knows that making Art means proudly showing your scars to the world.” 

With HECATE’S WILL, Iolanda Zanfardino has created a character struggling against creative burnout, isolation, and heartache. Hecate’s true nemesis is despair itself--she just might be the very hero we need right now.