1980’s classic musical comedy The Blues Brothers is making the leap to comics for the first time. Z2 Comics has announced they will publish The Blues Brothers: The Escape of Joliet Jake, a graphic novel written by Stella Aykroyd (the daughter of the original film’s co-writer and co-star, Dan Aykroyd), Luke Pisano, and James Werner, with art by Felipe Sobreiro. Due out October 7, 2025, the book will honor the late John Belushi‘s character, “Joliet” Jake Blues, with a storyline revolving around a detective who discovers Jake is his father.
It’s 1997, almost two decades after the events in THE BLUES BROTHERS film and Chicago law enforcement is once again in pursuit of the notorious musical criminal, Jake Blues, after a mysterious jailbreak. On the case is up and coming detective, Robert Papageorge, whose world is turned upside down when his mother reveals that the fugitive he’s after is his biological father…
While investigating, Robert receives a little help from Elwood Blues and musicians, and discovers what everyone is actually chasing: the Briefcase full of Blues, a powerful blues relic. An unlikely partnership forms between Robert and Wolfie, an orphan from the Blues Brother’s alma-mater, St. Helen’s of the Blessed Shroud. Together, they unravel a web of mysteries tied to Blues Brothers adventures with Jake and Elwood that we’ve never seen before! Get back to the heart of recidivist mischief, soul and bombastic chases. Sink your teeth into a new Blues Brothers adventure.
The book marks the comics debut of all three writers. Pisano is a writer and marketing manager, and the son of Belushi’s widow, Judith Belushi-Pisano, who passed away last year. He says the book was conceived by (and is dedicated to) her, stating, “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 turn reality. I am proud – and humbled – to continue her work in expanding this world of fun, music, and mischievousness.”
Stella Aykroyd, whose background was in ghostwriting and documentary films, discussed how big of a role her father’s alter-ego played in her life in the press release, saying “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.” She adds, “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.”
Werner, who is also an actor, filmmaker, and musician, stated, “It makes complete sense to me that the new generation of Blues Brothers will begin in comic book form, where the possibilities for destroying police cars is infinite, physics have no bounds, and the potential for jam partners is off the charts. The Blues Brothers universe is full of music and absurdity. Jake and Elwood are FINALLY reuniting, and I am forever grateful that Luke and Stella have asked me to join the band.”
The Blues Brothers: The Escape of Joliet Jake will feature a foreword by Dan Aykroyd, and retail in hardcover for $34.99. It is available to pre-order now from various bookstores. In the meantime, you can sign up for updates, including details on limited edition copies, at Z2’s website. At the time of writing, it is unclear if the book will ignore the 1998 sequel Blues Brothers 2000 (which killed off Jake offscreen) or not, although the premise and 1997 setting does make it appear it’ll retcon it to some degree.
