The Blues Brothers: The Escape of Joliet Jake

Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi’s ramshackle 1980 musical comedy gets a good-natured graphic novel companion. It’s a family affair—Aykroyd’s daughter Stella and Belushi’s son Luke share writing duties with James Werner, with art by Brazilian cartoonist Felipe Sobrerio. The book wisely acts as if the unloved 1998 sequel never happened, opening in 1997 with Joliet Jake and Elwood Blues (now a priest) in prison for destroying most of the Chicago Police Department’s cars. Though he’s just days away from parole, Jake escapes. A couple proto–Blues Brothers—guitarist Wolfgang and Officer Ztdetelik, son of Jake’s jilted, flamethrower-wielding fiancé (played in the film by Carrie Fisher)—take part in the chase. This sets off a daisy chain of chaos involving a secret briefcase that could change music history, more vehicular mayhem, and set pieces like a run through the Art Institute of Chicago that reverently reference the original film. Unfortunately, without the actors, the graphic novel format can’t match the movie’s deadpan comic timing. Felipe Sobreiro’s cartoony art still mostly carries the energy forward, with flashbacks that have a nice, densely hatched R. Crumb quality. Back matter includes interviews with the authors about their fathers’ legacy, and Dan Aykroyd provides a sweet foreword. Dedicated fans will dig this, though they may prefer a rewatch. (Nov.)