Johnny Cash was a lot of things — devout Christian, country superstar, anti-Vietnam activist, variety show host. But folks might not remember him as the writer and star of his own comic book, Hello, I’m Johnny Cash. Now, that little-known comic is getting
a 50th-anniversary rerelease from Z2 Comics, set to come out on Wednesday, Sept. 23, which is Local Comic Store Day.
Released in 1976 and cowritten with Evangelical leader Billy Zeoli, Hello, I’m Johnny Cash was an autobiographical look at Cash’s career up to that point, from his early recording career to his marriage to June Carter and the subsequent birth of their children. The comic was an attempt to bring in younger fans, and as such, had a particular focus on his redemption arc, i.e., how he managed to overcome the temptation of illicit drugs and sex, and, thanks in no small part to June Carter, rededicate his life to God.
Though the original comic was illustrated by Al Hartley, whose unique style made Archie Comics so recognizable, the rerelease will also be available with two alternate covers by renowned cover artists Tim Bradstreet (Vampire: The Masquerade, The Punisher) and Chip Kidd (Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park, Haruki Murakami’s IQ84). It will also include an interview with Johnny and June’s son, John Carter Cash, as well as an essay by comic book writer Alex Segura. “It was fairly unusual for musicians to have licensed comic books back in the late Seventies,” John Carter Cash said in a release. “Having people celebrate something as unique as this comic and the continued interest in my father says as much about the fans as it does about him.”
This is far from the first music-related release from Z2, who has previously published graphic novels onBlondie, Freddie Mercury, and the Grateful Dead, among others. But what makes this unique, according to Z2 president Josh Bernstein, is the fact that it started organically with the Man in Black himself in an era before the comic-book crossover even existed. “Decades before music and graphic storytelling became a thriving medium, Cash recognized the power of sequential imagery to tell his powerful story,” he said. “Now, 50 years later, Z2 proudly returns this pioneering work to print, honoring the artist who blazed the original trail for us all.”
Of course, Cash wasn’t shy about sharing his story. Though the comic was originally made to give children an entry into his work, his autobiographies, 1975’s Man in Black and 1997’s Cash, tell his story for an adult audience with brutal honesty, chronicling his infidelities, addictions, and above all, his deep faith.
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