covers_Elvis Graphic Comic 4/4/12 4:03 PM Page 1
TM
Special Preview Featuring the Talents of:
Stan Lee Paul Pope John Cassaday Jeevan J. Kang Steve Rude Mukesh Singh Greg Horn Gilbert Hernandez Tony Millionaire Luke Ross and more... TM
© EPE, Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off.
THE WORLD’S GREATEST
GRAPHIC NOVEL CREATORS CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF THE WORLD’S
GREATEST ROCKSTAR!
GRAPHIC ELVIS
®
FREE COMIC BOOK DAY SPECIAL PREVIEW Created by
Sharad Devarajan • Gotham Chopra Designed by
Sharad Devarajan Edited by
Sharad Devarajan • Dave Land • Gotham Chopra Production & Additional Design by
Mark McNabb Cover Illustration by
Mukesh Singh Special Thanks: Carol Butler, Scott Williams, Robert W. Dye, Jane Terrell, Steven Gibbs, Alicia Dean and Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. Additional thanks to Christopher Linen, Cathy Paglia, Robert James and Raju Wolfe For Liquid Comics Sharad Devarajan, Co–Founder & CEO Gotham Chopra, Co–Founder & Managing Partner Suresh Seetharaman, Co–Founder & President TM
© EPE, Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off. FREE COMIC BOOK DAY SPECIAL PREVIEW, May 2012, First Printing, published by Liquid Comics LLC. 770 Broadway, Second Floor, New York, NY 10075. GRAPHIC ELVIS © EPE, Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off. All Rights Reserved. The artwork featured in this book is © 2012 Liquid Comics LLC. All Rights reserved. The Liquid Comics logo is TM & ® Liquid Comics LLC. All names, characters, events and locales in this publication are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), events or places, without satiric intent, is coincidental. No portion of this book may be reproduced by any means (digital or print) without the written permission of Liquid Comics LLC except for review purposes. Printed in U.S.A. For information regarding press, media rights, foreign rights and licensing please email: info@liquidcomics.com ISBN:1935829165 • www. liquidcomics .com
1st Edition May, 2012 • Printed in U.S.A.
covers_Elvis Graphic Comic 4/4/12 4:03 PM Page 2
On January 15th, 1971 Elvis Presley
stepped up to the podium inside a rather unglamorous auditorium in Memphis, Tennessee. He appeared nervous, dressed modestly in a black tuxedo and a white shirt with a bowtie. It was the first and only award show he'd ever attended in person. Always humble, Elvis had not even accepted his Grammy Award in person. When Elvis began speaking, his words seem to come out cautiously, very much the opposite of what one would expect since he usually glowed while in front of a crowd no matter the size. For days, Elvis had agonized over the words he would use to accept the honor he was being given by the Junior Chamber of Commerce of America for being one of the nation’s Ten Outstanding Young Men in 1971. For while he performed hundreds of hit songs written by others during his career, the words he spoke that night would be his own. Cue the pin drop silence:
"When I was a child, ladies and gentlemen, I was a dreamer. I read comic books, and I was the hero of the comic book. I saw movies and I was the hero in the movie. So every dream that I've dreamed has come true a hundred times…" Those who knew Elvis best, including his young wife Priscilla and a small entourage of friends and family who were part of the audience that night, were well aware that his words rang true. Despite the fact that he was already the world's greatest rock star and had won countless gold records as well as many other prizes and awards from around the world, it was this award that he would cherish because it was for his efforts to make the world a better place. One could assume, in that moment, the familiar superhero-like twists and turns he had experienced in his remarkable life came together in way that helped everything make sense. The greatest comic book heroes are always misfits, a motley crew of sages, seekers, and psychotics that defy rules, dream of greatness, and dare to embrace it. Elvis' fascination with the heroes of comic book lore spanned his entire lifetime. From days spent thumbing through secondhand comics as a young boy in Tupelo, to the stacks he kept by his side in the '50s while traveling from one sold-out concert to the next, to the "Taking Care of Business" logo he fashioned for himself and his buddies, the king loved comic books and what they represented. Elvis realized that true greatness lurked beyond fame and fortune. The margins of his personal copies of books like Kahlil Gibran's “The Prophet” and Herman Hesse's "Sidhartha" were filled with scribbled words like "Love," "Spirit," and "God." After all, every hero’s ultimate quest is for answers — answers to who we are, why we're here, and what it’s all about. Elvis Presley got closer than many.
"All I want to know is the truth, to know and experience God. I'm a searcher, that's what I'm all about…" As the presenters of this original work — a marriage of Elvis' own reflections, quotes, correspondences, writings, photos, and memorabilia with original artwork created by some of the world’s leading graphic artists and storytellers, we can attest to having a great admiration for the man, the lore, and the searcher that Elvis was. To have the opportunity to listen to his music and interviews, to study the photos and documents in the archives at Graceland, and to immerse ourselves in the magic that is Elvis’ home in Memphis, is to have experienced something truly amazing and almost indescribable. But even more so, as we approach the 35th anniversary of Elvis' death, to be a part of a celebration and re-imagination of one of modern history's greatest creative icons is an honor of the highest order.
"When I was a child, ladies and gentlemen, I was a dreamer. I read comic books and I was the hero of the comic book. I saw movies and I was the hero in the movie. So every dream that I've dreamed has come true a hundred times..." –Elvis Presley ABOVE: PHOTO © ALFRED WERTHEIMER
Our profound thanks to the Elvis Presley Estate, the Presley family, and the millions of fans that have ensured Elvis will always be with us. If it was Elvis' dream to be a comic book hero, then what a gift it is for us to have played some small role in helping to make that dream come true. Gotham Chopra & Sharad Devarajan December 2011 This is a Free Comic Book Day Special Preview of the "Graphic Elvis" limited collector’s edition hardcover book, featuring selected stories and excerpts. To purchase the full book, please download the interactive digital app or visit GraphicElvis.com to purchase the book.
On January 15th, 1971 Elvis Presley
stepped up to the podium inside a rather unglamorous auditorium in Memphis, Tennessee. He appeared nervous, dressed modestly in a black tuxedo and a white shirt with a bowtie. It was the first and only award show he'd ever attended in person. Always humble, Elvis had not even accepted his Grammy Award in person. When Elvis began speaking, his words seem to come out cautiously, very much the opposite of what one would expect since he usually glowed while in front of a crowd no matter the size. For days, Elvis had agonized over the words he would use to accept the honor he was being given by the Junior Chamber of Commerce of America for being one of the nation’s Ten Outstanding Young Men in 1971. For while he performed hundreds of hit songs written by others during his career, the words he spoke that night would be his own. Cue the pin drop silence:
"When I was a child, ladies and gentlemen, I was a dreamer. I read comic books, and I was the hero of the comic book. I saw movies and I was the hero in the movie. So every dream that I've dreamed has come true a hundred times…" Those who knew Elvis best, including his young wife Priscilla and a small entourage of friends and family who were part of the audience that night, were well aware that his words rang true. Despite the fact that he was already the world's greatest rock star and had won countless gold records as well as many other prizes and awards from around the world, it was this award that he would cherish because it was for his efforts to make the world a better place. One could assume, in that moment, the familiar superhero-like twists and turns he had experienced in his remarkable life came together in way that helped everything make sense. The greatest comic book heroes are always misfits, a motley crew of sages, seekers, and psychotics that defy rules, dream of greatness, and dare to embrace it. Elvis' fascination with the heroes of comic book lore spanned his entire lifetime. From days spent thumbing through secondhand comics as a young boy in Tupelo, to the stacks he kept by his side in the '50s while traveling from one sold-out concert to the next, to the "Taking Care of Business" logo he fashioned for himself and his buddies, the king loved comic books and what they represented. Elvis realized that true greatness lurked beyond fame and fortune. The margins of his personal copies of books like Kahlil Gibran's “The Prophet” and Herman Hesse's "Sidhartha" were filled with scribbled words like "Love," "Spirit," and "God." After all, every hero’s ultimate quest is for answers — answers to who we are, why we're here, and what it’s all about. Elvis Presley got closer than many.
"All I want to know is the truth, to know and experience God. I'm a searcher, that's what I'm all about…" As the presenters of this original work — a marriage of Elvis' own reflections, quotes, correspondences, writings, photos, and memorabilia with original artwork created by some of the world’s leading graphic artists and storytellers, we can attest to having a great admiration for the man, the lore, and the searcher that Elvis was. To have the opportunity to listen to his music and interviews, to study the photos and documents in the archives at Graceland, and to immerse ourselves in the magic that is Elvis’ home in Memphis, is to have experienced something truly amazing and almost indescribable. But even more so, as we approach the 35th anniversary of Elvis' death, to be a part of a celebration and re-imagination of one of modern history's greatest creative icons is an honor of the highest order.
"When I was a child, ladies and gentlemen, I was a dreamer. I read comic books and I was the hero of the comic book. I saw movies and I was the hero in the movie. So every dream that I've dreamed has come true a hundred times..." –Elvis Presley ABOVE: PHOTO © ALFRED WERTHEIMER
Our profound thanks to the Elvis Presley Estate, the Presley family, and the millions of fans that have ensured Elvis will always be with us. If it was Elvis' dream to be a comic book hero, then what a gift it is for us to have played some small role in helping to make that dream come true. Gotham Chopra & Sharad Devarajan December 2011 This is a Free Comic Book Day Special Preview of the "Graphic Elvis" limited collector’s edition hardcover book, featuring selected stories and excerpts. To purchase the full book, please download the interactive digital app or visit GraphicElvis.com to purchase the book.
JAILHOUSE
ROCK
"When I first heard Elvis' voice, I just knew that I wasn't going to work for anybody, and nobody was going to be my boss. He is the deity supreme of rock and roll religion as it exists in today's form. Hearing him for the first time was like busting out of jail. I thank God for Elvis Presley." –BOB DYLAN PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE ARCHIVES AT GRACELAND
ARTWORK: GILBERT HERNANDEZ
JAILHOUSE
ROCK
"When I first heard Elvis' voice, I just knew that I wasn't going to work for anybody, and nobody was going to be my boss. He is the deity supreme of rock and roll religion as it exists in today's form. Hearing him for the first time was like busting out of jail. I thank God for Elvis Presley." –BOB DYLAN PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE ARCHIVES AT GRACELAND
ARTWORK: GILBERT HERNANDEZ
CAN'T HELP FALLING IN
LOVE
"Before Elvis, everything was in black and white. Then came Elvis. Zoom, glorious Technicolor." 窶適EITH RICHARDS PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE ARCHIVES AT GRACELAND
ARTWORK: JOHN CASSADAY, COLOR: PAUL MOUNTS
CAN'T HELP FALLING IN
LOVE
"Before Elvis, everything was in black and white. Then came Elvis. Zoom, glorious Technicolor." 窶適EITH RICHARDS PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE ARCHIVES AT GRACELAND
ARTWORK: JOHN CASSADAY, COLOR: PAUL MOUNTS
SHAKE, RATTLE & PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE ARCHIVES AT GRACELAND
ROLL ARTWORK: STEVE RUDE
"His kind of music is deplorable, a rancid smelling aphrodisiac... It fosters almost totally negative and destructive reactions in young people." –FRANK SINATRA ON ROCK N' ROLL
SHAKE, RATTLE & PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE ARCHIVES AT GRACELAND
ROLL ARTWORK: STEVE RUDE
"His kind of music is deplorable, a rancid smelling aphrodisiac... It fosters almost totally negative and destructive reactions in young people." –FRANK SINATRA ON ROCK N' ROLL
ARE YOU LONESOME
TONIGHT
PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE ARCHIVES AT GRACELAND
ARTWORK: TONY MILLIONAIRE, COLORS: JIM CAMPBELL
"There have been many accolades uttered about Elvis' talent and performances through the years, all of which I agree with wholeheartedly. I shall miss him dearly as a friend. He was a warm, considerate and generous man." –FRANK SINATRA
ARE YOU LONESOME
TONIGHT
PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE ARCHIVES AT GRACELAND
ARTWORK: TONY MILLIONAIRE, COLORS: JIM CAMPBELL
"There have been many accolades uttered about Elvis' talent and performances through the years, all of which I agree with wholeheartedly. I shall miss him dearly as a friend. He was a warm, considerate and generous man." –FRANK SINATRA
BONUS FEATURE: See the Animated version of this comic book by Stan Lee by downloading the FREE Graphic Elvis Digital App.
BONUS FEATURE: See the Animated version of this comic book by Stan Lee by downloading the FREE Graphic Elvis Digital App.
ELVIS
"BEFORE THERE WAS NOTHING" –John Lennon
On August 27, 1965, Elvis met the Beatles at his home in Bel-Air, bringing together the two biggest super powers in the music industry for a brief few hours. What may have started as an awkward get together orchestrated by assorted handlers, quickly turned into a friendship as the men shared stories and listened to records. The Beatles and Elvis even had a private jam session that no one at the time thought to record — forever losing one of the greatest moments in music history. PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE ARCHIVES AT GRACELAND
ARTWORK: M. S. CORLEY
ELVIS
"BEFORE THERE WAS NOTHING" –John Lennon
On August 27, 1965, Elvis met the Beatles at his home in Bel-Air, bringing together the two biggest super powers in the music industry for a brief few hours. What may have started as an awkward get together orchestrated by assorted handlers, quickly turned into a friendship as the men shared stories and listened to records. The Beatles and Elvis even had a private jam session that no one at the time thought to record — forever losing one of the greatest moments in music history. PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE ARCHIVES AT GRACELAND
ARTWORK: M. S. CORLEY
MORE PEOPLE WATCHED
ELVIS THAN THE
MOON LANDING
On January 14th, 1973, Elvis graced the stage in Honolulu, Hawaii in what was dubbed the “Aloha from Hawaii” concert. Several thousand were in attendance and cameras were rolling. Later, it was estimated that Elvis' performance was viewed by a global audience of over 1.5 billion people, and was the most-watched broadcast by an individual entertainer in television history. The concert was seen by more Americans than the number of people who watched the first man land on the moon. PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE ARCHIVES AT GRACELAND
ARTWORK: LUKE ROSS
MORE PEOPLE WATCHED
ELVIS THAN THE
MOON LANDING
On January 14th, 1973, Elvis graced the stage in Honolulu, Hawaii in what was dubbed the “Aloha from Hawaii” concert. Several thousand were in attendance and cameras were rolling. Later, it was estimated that Elvis' performance was viewed by a global audience of over 1.5 billion people, and was the most-watched broadcast by an individual entertainer in television history. The concert was seen by more Americans than the number of people who watched the first man land on the moon. PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE ARCHIVES AT GRACELAND
ARTWORK: LUKE ROSS
"FOR EVEN LOVES CROWNS YOU SO SHALL IT CRUCIFY YOU" A handwritten note by Elvis inside one of his many books on spirituality from his library at Graceland. PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE ARCHIVES AT GRACELAND
ARTWORK: PAUL POPE
"FOR EVEN LOVES CROWNS YOU SO SHALL IT CRUCIFY YOU" A handwritten note by Elvis inside one of his many books on spirituality from his library at Graceland. PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE ARCHIVES AT GRACELAND
ARTWORK: PAUL POPE
ARTWORK: GREG HORN
"I NEVER EXPECTED TO BE
ANYBODY IMPORTANT."
–Elvis Presley
ARTWORK: GREG HORN
"I NEVER EXPECTED TO BE
ANYBODY IMPORTANT."
–Elvis Presley
STORY AND ARTWORK: CHRIS ELIOPOULOS