Steve Niles, writer of 30 Days of Night, will pen the tale of one of metal’s most enduring album covers.
Z2 Comics has announced their latest in their series of musically-driven graphic novel publishing projects.
Working with the estate of metal icon Ronnie James Dio, Z2 has adapted the anthemic “Holy Diver” into a comprehensive graphic novel. Enlisting the talents of writer Steve Niles (30 Days of Night, Criminal Macabre, Simon Dark), the novel will detail the narrative behind the imagery of the album cover. The 120-page effort will finally answer fan speculation as to who the real villain is and why the priest its being thrown into the ocean.
“Steve Niles tells the story behind the album cover ‘Holy Diver,’ a story about how you can’t judge a picture by the way it appears, which is what Ronnie wrote many times in his songs; that you have to see inside the person and not judge them by the way they look or by what they wear,” says Wendy Dio. “Together with Scott Hampton’s amazing artwork they tell the story of ‘Holy Diver,’and I know Ronnie would have given his stamp of approval on this great graphic novel.”
“We have managed to work with some of the greatest legends in both comics and music, and a DIOgraphic novel with a cover by the great Bill Sienkiewicz perhaps sums that up best,” says Z2 publisher Josh Frankel.
“This is one of the most iconic heavy metal album covers in history. We are honored to pay tribute to the originator of the universal sign of the music that he has inspired since he first took the stage with Black Sabbath 40 years ago. Working with Wendy Dio directly to ensure it is true to his vision is the next best thing to working with Ronnie James Dio himself, and we have hit a new high note with this one!”
The collaborative adaptation with Dio is another in a succession of projects from Z2 that include works with the likes of Gorillaz, Andy Biersack of Black Veil Brides, Dance Gavin Dance, Poppy and the Grateful Dead among others.
Dio: Holy Diver is available for pre-order HERE
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