Legendary Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson , in celebration of the release of his seventh solo album, expanded his creative universe with a comic book series of the same name.
The series, conceived by Dickinson over a decade ago, was created in partnership with Z2 Comics . Titled The Mandrake Project: Year One , the comic book already has a release date: August 5, 2025.
The release will feature deluxe, oversized editions with 184 pages, including a series of interviews that chronicle the journey of the vocalist and his creative team in conceiving the album, tour, and comic book series.
With an introduction written by Kurt Sutter , creator of the iconic Sons of Anarchy , the book comes in a slipcase and features interactive elements. Containing four exclusive collectible cards, the comic book series is written by Tony Lee and illustrated by Staz Johnson .
Pre-orders are now open on the official Z2 Comics website .
The narrative about power and the search for identity
Since "The Mandrake Project" is a dark narrative about power, set against a backdrop of scientific and occult genius, Dickinson stated: "Finally, we've reached the end of the beginning. I have to pinch myself to believe that the first volume of ' The Mandrake Project ' is about to be released."
Excited, the vocalist declared that he feels he doesn't fully control the story: “some entity is squeezing the blood from my subconscious and turning it into ink on the page. We're only just beginning. We are all made from death.”
Z2 Comics editor-in-chief Rantz Hoseley shared : “You pray for collaborators like him. Bruce challenged us to surpass our best work, and we gladly accepted that challenge.” He happily states that the final result is ambitious and exuberant ( via Blabbermouth ).
A comic book enthusiast, Bruce revealed himself to be a fan of superheroes like Doctor Strange, Silver Surfer , and Human Torch , who served as inspiration for the series.
Dickinson believes that music and comics are related. In fact, he had already explored this idea in Iron Maiden's own album, Piece Of Mind , also released by Z2.
In an interview with Omelete , Bruce stated that The Mandrake Project is, first and foremost, an album, unlike the 12-episode graphic novel
Furthermore, he revealed that the story is about a guy who is searching for his identity and is involved in the Mandrake Project, which seeks to capture the human soul at the point of death, store it, and then place it back into something else.
READ ALSO : Bruce Dickinson reveals why he doesn't headbang during concerts
