Z2 Comics has announced Eternal Blue: A Spiritbox Graphic Novel, a new graphic novel collaboration with the Canadian metal band Spiritbox. Based on the band’s 2021 debut album Eternal Blue, the graphic novel is co-written by the band and Jim Krueger, with art by Amilcar Pinna and Trionna Farrell. No letterer was named in the announcement. Justin Cherry provides the book’s cover art.
Here’s how Z2 describes Eternal Blue: A Spiritbox Graphic Novel:
Eva is a popular painter on the verge of unbelievable acclaim and success, but her inability to reconcile the public perception of who she is, versus her actual self, allows the SPIRITBOX to transport her to a surreal world, where she finds herself trapped in the realm where all our false shadows become real and dangerous.
As with all Z2 Comics releases, Eternal Blue will be available in a both standard and deluxe editions; unlike other Z2 releases, though, one of the editions for the new graphic novel will actually allow fans to communicate with the dead.
The $299 Platinum Edition of Eternal Blue, a limited edition of 500, includes the hardcover graphic novel signed by the band’s vocalist Courtney LaPlante, a set of art prints by Jason Levesque, four enamel pins…and an actual Spiritbox, a replica of the artifact from the book equipped with lights and sounds. As described by Z2:
This machine cycles through the radio frequency spectrum, creating a din of white noise that lost souls harness to communicate from beyond the veil. […] When activated, the box gives off a blue glow as it emits the noises of the spirit world. From the top of the box, an image of Eva is projected onto the ceiling.
If you’re on a budget and need to prioritize communication with the afterlife over books, the Spiritbox can also be ordered on its own for $99. Here’s a video of the box in action:
In a statement announcing the new book, Spiritbox’s LaPlante, co-writer Jim Krueger, artist Pinna, and Z2 editor Randy Hoseley all expressed their enthusiasm at bringing this unique project to life:
“I am in love with this story and artwork. I cannot wait for you to discover Eva and the world that she has been thrust into,” explains Spiritbox vocalist Courtney LaPlante. “It truly is an extension of my feelings and the state of mind I held while writing our album, Eternal Blue, and the lyrics that resonate with me still. Although we are very different, I can’t help but let a lot of myself seep into Eva’s personality and experiences. I care about her so much. Jim and Amilcar are brilliant and we are so happy to share this with you after keeping it to ourselves for so long.”
“Spiritbox has such a precise concept of their aesthetic, and how it ties into their music, that it makes the process of collaboration and creative exploration a joy,” editor Rantz Hoseley explains. “The result is an ambitious and haunting journey that pulls you down through the Eternal Blue darkness into a surreal realm of deeply personal exploration. For me, this is one of those books where it’s thrilling to get to read the story before everyone else, and I cannot wait for everyone to be able to experience Eva’s journey.”
“When I took on this job, I had no idea what it was going to become. I loved the poetry and metaphoric mysteries of Spiritbox (the band),” writer Jim Krueger says. “I loved their music and the chance to finally work with Z2. But again, I was unprepared for the magic that happened creatively with this one. Or the places I was going to be allowed to go. And the art, the art. I cannot wait for people to see this. But grab quick, I might be buying all the copies.”
“I couldn’t wish for a better script to draw! Jim’s writing on Spiritbox is weird, nightmarish, and surrealist! All things that I love to draw!” artist Amilcar Pinna elaborates.
Check out larger images of the Levesque’s prints below. Eternal Blue: A Spiritbox Graphic Novel is available for preorder now, with an expected release date of June 2022.
