COVER ART CREDIT: Bill Sienkiewicz; PHOTO CREDIT: Clemente Ruiz
John Dolmayan, drummer of the internationally renowned rock band System Of A Down, has ventured into the world of comic book creation with the release of Dead Samurai, a zombie thriller set in 16th century feudal Japan. The first issue of the series was released on November 6, 2024, through Diamond Distribution. The comic is available for purchase on Torpedo Comics’ website and promises to captivate fans of both historical fiction and horror genres.
Set in a time when a leprosy-based infection turns millions into cannibalistic, mindless creatures, Dead Samurai follows the journey of Shinzu, a half-Japanese, half-Portuguese samurai. After failing to protect his Daimyo and family, Shinzu contemplates ritual suicide in disgrace. However, when he discovers that the Daimyo’s youngest daughter has survived the massacre, he finds a renewed sense of purpose. Determined to redeem himself, he embarks on a mission to protect her and restore his honor. The story explores themes of duty, sacrifice, and honor, with a tone reminiscent of The Three Musketeers.
The debut issue features striking cover art by Bill Sienkiewicz, known for his work on titles such as New Mutants and Moon Knight. Ryan Benjamin, who has illustrated for major franchises like Star Wars and Iron Man, provides the interior artwork. Fans can also look forward to limited edition variant covers from some of the most iconic names in the comic book industry, including Jim Lee (President and Publisher of DC Comics), Frank Miller (Sin City, The Dark Knight Returns), Art Adams (Fantastic Four), and others.
Dead Samurai marks Dolmayan’s second comic book series, following his 2019 release of Ascencia, a post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller. Dolmayan’s passion for comics began long before his music career. As a child, he collected and sold rare comics, eventually turning this hobby into a business with the founding of Torpedo Comics in Las Vegas in 2003. The store, which specializes in rare and hard-to-find comics, has since expanded to multiple locations in Southern California.
For Dolmayan, creating comics provides a different yet equally fulfilling outlet as his music career. He compares the process of writing comics to composing music, with both serving as avenues to explore personal creativity and develop unique characters and stories.
Fans of Dolmayan’s work and comic enthusiasts alike can check out Dead Samurai now and stay tuned for future issues and variant cover announcements via Torpedo Comics.
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