Nationwide — An ode to 2 of the most important characters in hip-hop – New York Metropolis and Wu Tang’s Ol’ Soiled Bastard, the graphic novel ODB: A Lyrical Ruckus within the Metropolis aka RUCKUS is the most well liked comedian of the yr, incorporating the 5 components of hip hop with a number of comedian guide genres.
“A Lyrical Ruckus within the Metropolis exhibits our heroes in all aspects of life grappling with a quickly altering world, reminding us that everybody could make an influence. Extraordinary turns into extraordinary. We hope that if you immerse your self in A Lyrical Ruckus within the Metropolis, you possibly can see the real-life superhero inside you,” says Messiah Jacobs, co-creator of the RUCKUS universe within the guide’s afterword.
On bookshelves now, ODB: A Lyrical Ruckus within the Metropolis is a model new universe set inside the 5 boroughs of New York Metropolis. It’s a mixture of high-octane kung-fu, dystopian science fiction, darkness-haunted horror, and lovelorn romance.
An elemental influence occasion has triggered totally different variations of town’s most notorious neighborhoods from throughout the multiverse to converge collectively right into a single actuality. Spectral apparitions now hang-out the streets of Queens. Within the Decrease East Facet, a rogue synthetic intelligence has seized the streets. 100 blocks north, time vacationers are throwing a block social gathering in Harlem. And who’s navigating us by way of all of this? Ol’ Soiled Bastard after all. He leads the reader by way of weird and highly effective tales that solid freedom and oppression, wealth and poverty, love and loss, and even life and loss of life like so many cube in a cosmic sport of probability.
“We created a universe immersed within the 5 boroughs, reflecting on a regular basis folks as heroes: In Manhattan (LaGuardia Steppers) our heroes dance battle with synthetic intelligence in opposition to cultural appropriation, in Brooklyn (Marcus and the Drunken Fist), our hero is up in opposition to gentrification sweeping his neighborhood. Over in Queens (Demon Stream), we see a younger rapper’s battle with ambition and authenticity in hip-hop, and in Harlem (Love within the Combine) we expertise time-crossed lovers united by the traditionally numerous music scene Harlem celebrates,” says co-creator Nicole Beckett within the afterword.
A Lyrical Ruckus within the Metropolis was an enormous collaboration between storytellers and artists.
“Our workforce set out on a mission to incorporate as a lot expertise of colour as potential to mirror our New York heroes. We strove to incorporate greats like Paris Alleyn, Ron Wimberly, Chris Robinson, Ike Reed, and David Gorden. We additionally introduced in younger and burgeoning expertise like author Jaxson Beckett Williams and illustrator Chris Gooding. All of this expertise introduced the guts and authenticity our tradition exudes.” says Jacobs within the afterword.
Created by Beckett and Jacobs of 4 Screens and Oni Press, and formally licensed by the Property of Ol’ Soiled Bastard, this graphic novel has contributors from an epic solid each bit as sprawling as town inside: Troy-Jeffrey Allen (Chuck D’s Apocalypse 91: Revolution By no means Sleeps), Paris Alleyne (Miles Morales: Spider-Man), David Brame (MediSIN), Dojo Gubser (Rot8ion), Jay Hero (Inexperienced Lantern), Maan Home (Bloodborne), Mike Del Mundo (Avengers), Jason Pierre (CW’s Within the Darkish), Ike Reed & David Gorden (Rampage Jackson’s Huge Brawl), Chris Robinson (Vince Staples’ Limbo Seashore), Regine Sawyer (Darkish Nights: Demise Steel – The Final 52), Damion Scott (Batgirl), Felipe Sobreiro (“Bizarre Al” Yankovic’s The Illustrated Al), Ronald Wimberly (Prince of Cats), and introducing Jaxson Beckett-Willliams.
A Lyrical Ruckus within the Metropolis was a large collaboration between storytellers and artists. The inspiration for the guide hit throughout the 2020 COVID lockdown. It was an apocalyptic second the place a real-life superhero was wanted. Throughout this time, co-creators Jacobs, Beckett, and her son Jaxson Beckett Williams’ minds ran wild.
Jaxson, Nicole’s son, was 10 on the time and stuffed with creativeness. Jaxson was set on making a superhero that seemed like him. They started to write down one of many tales in RUCKUS, thus Sword of the Cypher was born.
Throughout their writing periods, they had been horrified by the tragic loss of life of George Floyd that lastly prompted civil unrest and protests all through the nation. It was apparent to them that Sword of the Cypher will need to have a mission greater than the standard superhero strife. The hero, and all heroes within the newly expanded RUCKUS, needed to have a deeper enterprise: prompting social justice, neighborhood constructing, and elevating black excellence.
The RUCKUS guide tour will start at E book Soup in Hollywood for a guide signing the place readers can meet the creators and writers and be a part of the Q&A.
Monday, January 27, 2025, at 7:00pm
8818 Sundown Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Get your copy: IG @fourscreensmanagement store or
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/odb-ike-reed/1145186972
For press inquiries, contact Nicole Beckett/ 4 Screens/Property of ODB at 323-804-4550 or
nicole@4sproduction.com