Posted in: Comics, Comics Publishers, Current News, Vault | Tagged: Def Leppard, Hysteria

Def Leppard's Phil Collen's Surprise Hysteria #0 Comic For October

Vault and Def Leppard have announced a special zero issue ahead of Hysteria, the forthcoming graphic novel co-written by guitarist Phil Collen

Vault and Def Leppard have announced a special zero comic book issue ahead of Hysteria, the forthcoming graphic novel co-written by Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen and Eliot Rahal, drawn by Alex Schlitz, coloured by Fabi Marques, and lettered by Andworld Design. This single issue offering will give readers an early look at the much anticipated forthcoming graphic novel, out in April 2025, for 5 dollars.

There will also be a 200-copy limited foil variant edition of Hysteria #0 signed by Phil Collen himself with a CGC witnessed certificate of authenticity, exclusive to comic book stores, for a hundred bucks.

"Blending music and comics together like this is an incredible and insane dream, and I could not be more thrilled by the work Eliot, Alex, and Vault have put into Hysteria. It has been a joy and one hell of a ride. I know fans are going to love it," said Phil Collen.

"Continuing the celebration of rock, the graphic novel Hysteria follows Foz, the frontwoman of indie band Darkside, after she inherits her father's estate and discovers it comes with a half-remembered guitar from her childhood. The guitar speaks to her, promising fame and success. Soon, it delivers. But when Darkside's equipment is stolen at a massive music venue, just before they're set to take the stage with Def Leppard, Foz goes on the warpath to get it back. A knuckle-dusting rampage ensues, and the guitar's true history is revealed.

"Co-writer Eliot Rahal said, "From the very beginning, before we had anything, this story felt big. Phil came to us with a vision, a ton of passion, and the word 'Hysteria'—something that has a lot of history for the band. It's something that carries a lot of meaning. A legacy. And in many ways, that's what this story is about. The Vault team worked with me tirelessly to help create a framework to capture that spirit. Then… as the team assembled and the art came in… I saw the idea take shape in real-time, and the weight of the project became even more real. I put everything I had into this book because it was clear to me that everyone else also had as well. I'll be forever grateful for being a part of this project."

"Def Leppard's Hysteria, the graphic novel, features never-before-heard music from Darkside, to be recorded in collaboration with Phil Collen, as it tells the story of the world's most dangerous guitar. Additional details on the release of the Darkside EP will be announced at a later date.

"As a Midwestern native raised on rock and roll and a musician from a family of musicians, Foz and Darkside's story has come to mean a lot to me," added illustrator Alex Schlitz. "The opportunity to work on this book with Def Leppard has been not only a huge honor, but such an exhilarating treat. I'm so grateful to be part of the team bringing this story to life, and I've had such a blast working with Eliot, Phil, and Fabi to create this world. I'm excited for everyone else to finally get to come on the journey with us!"

Def Leppard's Hysteria issue #0 will be published on the 16th of October. Hysteria the graphic novel will be published in April 2025. the solicitation listing runs below.

We Sold Our Souls meets a Josie and the Pussycats-from-hell in Def Leppard's HYSTERIA, the graphic novel, a supernatural thriller that tells the tale of the world's most dangerous guitar!
Worship at the altar of the almighty Guitar.
It wants your love.
It craves your blood.
It desires YOU.
A struggling band is gifted with a magical guitar that rockets them to success, but when it's stolen they'll stop at nothing to get it back.
When Foz, the frontwoman of indie band Darkside, inherits her father's estate, it comes with a guitar she half-remembers from her childhood. The guitar speaks to her, promising fame and success. Soon, it delivers. But when Darkside's equipment is stolen at a massive music venue, just before they're set to take the stage with Def Leppard, Foz goes on the warpath to get it back. A knuckle-dusting rampage ensues, and the guitar's true history is revealed.
Written by Phil Collen (Def Leppard) and Eliot Rahal (Bleed Them Dry), and illustrated by Alex Schlitz, HYSTERIA is a musically immersive experience, featuring never-before-heard music from Darkside (written by Phil Collen), appearances by Def Leppard, loads of rock n' roll easter eggs, and the tale of the guitar that's destroyed many bands.
HYSTERIA explores fame, addiction, gender dynamics, silencing of female voices, mistreatment of women, female empowerment, rage, and descent into madness.
For fans who are fascinated by Faustian bargains for fame with music's mysterious and legendary artists – and curses: Blue guitarist Robert Johnson (and his song Crossroads), violinist Niccolo Paganini, Giuseppe Tartini's Devil's Trill Sonata, the Gloomy Sunday curse, the "Curse of the Ninth," Jelly Roll Morton, the many members of the 27 Club, and even poet Percy Bysshe Shelley (To a Lady, With a Guitar), as well as the books We Sold Our Souls (Grady Hendrix), The Wicked + The Divine (Kieron Gillen), Your Favorite Band Cannot Save You (Scotto Moore), The Armageddon Rag (George R.R. Martin), Murder Falcon (Daniel Warren Johnson), Wylding Hall (Elizabeth Hand), Signal to Noise (Silvia Moreno-Garcia), Blue in Green (Ram V), The Ballad of Black Tom (Victor LaValle), Phonogram (Kieron Gillen), Machine Gun Kelly's Hotel Diablo (Eliot Rahal, Machine Gun Kelly, Ryan Cody), the classic The Yellow Wallpaper (Charlotte Perkins Gilman), Daisy Jones & The Six (novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid and miniseries), A Song for Quiet (Cassandra Khaw), Violin (Anne Rice), The Vampire Lestat (Anne Rice), and the films Streets of Fire, Green Room, Lords of Chaos, Nocturne, and the classic 80s rock/shock movie Trick or Treat.
Would you sell your soul for rock n' roll? Pick up HYSTERIA and find out.

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