Pocket to Publish Blokhedz Collections
In the latest effort to combine the popular acclaim of hip-hop with the visual storytelling of the comics medium, Simon & Schuster's Pocket Books division will publish trade paperback collections of Blokhedz, a much praised urban supernatural adventure story produced by the twin African-American comics creators, Mark and Mike Davis.
by Calvin Reid, PW Comics Week -- Publishers Weekly, 1/30/2007
In the latest effort to combine the popular acclaim of hip-hop with the visual storytelling of the comics medium, Simon & Schuster's Pocket Books division will publish trade paperback collections of Blokhedz, a much praised urban supernatural adventure story produced by the twin African-American comics creators, Mark and Mike Davis. Blokhedz was originally published as a four-issue serial in 2004 by Street Legends Ink, the Los Angeles-based company that publishes the comic and produces the toys and merchandise based on it.
In March Pocket Books will publish Blokhedz: Genesis vol. 1, a 128-page trade paperback collecting the original periodical issues. And in the fall of 2007, Pocket will release a second volume of Blokhedz continuing the story. Both books will be in full-color in a small manga-sized paperback format.
Blokhedz is the story of Blak, a teenage rapper who has grown up in the tough Monarch Housing Projects of fictional Empire City. Blak's rhymes have a mystical power to become reality and he uses this power to try to track down the gang members who murdered his older brother.
Pocket Books editor EdSchlesinger said the series was originally acquired for G-Unit Books, Pocket Book's copublishing venture with the rapper 50 Cent. The book was eventually moved to Schlesinger, a member of Pocket's licensing and media tie-ins department, which oversees the production of a range of licensed projects from movie tie-ins to original novelizations of Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, CSI, Star Trek and 30 Days of Night.
While Schlesinger acknowledged that this is his first effort at editing a comics project, he also described himself as "a huge comics fan." He also emphasized his expertise in editing and managing a wide range of licensed comics-derived and pop culture material.
Street Legends Ink produces a variety of Blokhedz toys, apparel, skateboards and other merchandise. The company is also in the midst of producing a feature-length Blokhedz animated film. And while Schlesinger noted that Blokhedz offered "great cross-promotional opportunities," he emphasized that he was "most impressed by the gorgeous art work and the great story." Schlesinger described the Blokhedz project as "a strong, classic good vs. evil story. The world and the mythos the twins have created has great potential for a continuing story. They have unlimited potential for character development. "
The Davis twins will be in New York for a panel at New York Comic-con and for book signings. Schlesinger said Pocket will team with Street Legends on publicity and marketing. He added, "Pocket has more graphic novel projects in the pipeline."
Brandon Schultz, president of Street Legends as well as a writer and producer of the comics series, said Blokhedz and Street Legends are a part of Imajimation Studios, the animation studio that is producing the Blokhedz animated feature. Street Legends will also organize, "grassroots events to make sure people see the books," said Schultz. "We're trying to get the word out to the urban music and pop radio audience. There's a great crossover between music and comics fans."
