S&S to Distribute Z2

Z2 Comics, an independent publisher specializing in graphic novels based on music, has inked a global deal with Simon & Schuster to distribute its titles to the book trade beginning in fall 2020.

"Music is truly universal," Z2 Comics cofounder Sridhar Reddy said, adding: "no other medium has more potential for bringing new readers to graphic literature than music."

Beginning in 2017 under the direction of Z2 cofounders Josh Frankel and Reddy, Z2 has focused on releasing a series of music-related titles, among them Murder Ballads by Gabe Soria and Paul Reinwand, Apocrypha: The Legend of BABYMETAL, Eden: A Skillet Graphic Novel by John Cooper, Random Shock, and Chris Hunt. Recent titles include Grateful Dead: Origins by Chris Miskiewicz and Noah Van Sciver, and Chasin’ The Bird: Charlie Parker in California by Dave Chisholm with Peter Markowski.

The house is also rebranding Z2 to emphasize that the comics publisher is also an “entertainment brand,” Frankel said, noting that the house will redesign and relaunch its website. Z2 Comics was previously distributed to the book trade by Diamond Book Distributors.

“While we continue to expand the integration with artists and musicians across our business, we wanted to reflect the excitement around our brand and the projects we are involved in,” Frankel said.