Based on the forthcoming album, NOTHING MORE: SPIRITS VOLUME I unites the band with writer Dan Watters and artist Christian Rosado for a cryptic tale.

The press release follows:

Media Release -- Z2 Comics is proud to announce a collaboration with multi-GRAMMY nominated hard rock quartet NOTHING MORE for NOTHING MORE: SPIRITS VOL. I, a graphic novel that will dive deeper into the mystical narrative behind the band's upcoming LP of the same name, due October 14th via Better Noise Music. Writer Dan Watters (Lucifer, Sword of Azrael, King Diamond's Abigail) and artist Christian Rosado join the band for a story that ignites in 1952 and spans decades, driven by four disparate souls as their spirit selves search for greater purpose. Their trajectories will weave through continents and neighboring lives, building off NOTHING MORE's arcanic Spirits Test and Spirit Types—an original system developed by lead singer Jonny Hawkins.

"The comic book focuses on four of the Spirit Types. As we were making the album, I came up with the concept for the Spirits Test. Imagine if the zodiac had a baby with the Myers-Briggs personality test, and that baby came out fascinated by cryptic iconography and metal music… that is this test," Hawkins explains. "Each of us has a Spirit Type and this comic book is an artistic expression of how those Spirit Types come to life in a world very much like our own."

Guitarist Mark Vollelunga proposed a deeper exploration to be revealed in the comic, debuting in late winter 2023.

"I set forth on this collaboration with Z2 Comics, and our manager, Will Hoffman, with the idea to expand the NOTHING MORE world and elaborate on what these Spirit Types mean; where they came from and why they exist. We wanted to write stories that invoke a sense of empathy and wonder, while maintaining a personal connection to NOTHING MORE songs," Vollelunga continues.

"Dan Watters is such a brilliant, captivating writer. Both of us shared inspiration from shows like The OA and Sense8; we wanted to accentuate the differences people express when something wrecks you… and even though these differences may seem polarizing, we still need each other. These differences force us to survive and grow. This story shows that great strength and mutual respect come to those who learn how to embrace one another."

Started in 2003 by Hawkins and Vollelunga in San Antonio, Texas, NOTHING MORE has ascended to be one of the most respected hard rock outfits touring today, merging careening melodies with dynamic arrangements and pounding rhythms. Their 2017 breakthrough LP The Stories We Tell Ourselves garnered three GRAMMY nominations, cementing the group as one of the most ambitious and honed bands in their genre and beyond. The group will embark on a national tour from August to October alongside In This Moment.

"NOTHING MORE's songs have consistently challenged their audience to refuse a passive approach as they navigate life," SPIRITS VOL. I editor Rantz Hoseley says. "Songs like 'Tired of Winning' dare the listener to not simply accept the life they are told awaits them, and to question assumptions fed to them by the powers that be. That outlook served as the backbone running through the core of the graphic novel. It's a vital element that influenced every aspect of developing this book with the band, making it such a rewarding experience where we've all pushed each other to not simply create a 'comic book,' but to conjure a new mythos that, like the new album and the Spirits Test, can inspire the audience to become the best versions of themselves."

Z2 Comics and NOTHING MORE present NOTHING MORE: SPIRITS VOL. I in hardcover, as well as an oversized hardcover deluxe, and an oversized hardcover deluxe hand-signed edition. Ghonz provides cover art. NOTHING MORE will offer an exclusive softcover "Tour" edition with cover art courtesy Christian Rosado at store.nothingmore.net. Deluxe editions include an ornamental octahedron as well as four (4) Spirit Art Prints and Spirit Cards representing the eight (8) Spirit Types.

About Nothing More:

Rock audiences count NOTHING MORE among the most cherished acts, the kind of band who straddle the line between populism and intimacy with every performance. The San Antonio, Texas-born quartet builds unapologetically massive anthems from catchy hooks. Crowd-pleasers clear a path for heady, confessional, thought-provoking emotionalism. Fresh rewards reveal themselves with repeat listens, welcoming like-minded seekers with rich melodicism, like the best of Deftones or Tool. Those who saw the band on tour with hard rock heavyweights like Shinedown, Five Finger Death Punch, Breaking Benjamin, Papa Roach, and Disturbed will attest to what The Guardian observed: "There's a sophistication to NOTHING MORE's angst that raises them above the tumult-tossed pit." Kerrang! named NOTHING MORE one of 22 Artists Shaping the Future of Rock, alongside Nine Inch Nails, Twenty One Pilots, and Bring Me The Horizon. And frontman Jonny Hawkins, who met guitarist Mark Vollelunga before they were old enough to drive, appeared with Billie Joe Armstrong, Dave Grohl, and Hayley Williams in the English tastemaker's Top 50 Greatest Rockstars in the World.Hawkins and Vollelunga started the band in 2003 and were quickly joined by bassist Daniel Oliver and later by drummer Ben Anderson. The band's blend of explosive bombast and nuanced storytelling resulted in a half dozen Top 10 singles at Mainstream Rock Radio, including the No. 1 hit "Go to War" and the Sirius XM Octane song of the decade and Active Rock chart-topper "This is the Time (Ballast)." The Stories We Tell Ourselves earned a head-turning three Grammy nominations. They're set to follow it up with a new album in 2022, which is filled with their most philosophical and primal music to date. The first offering, "TURN IT UP LIKE," released in March 2022, is a fitting first taste of what's to come. NOTHING MORE appeals to fans of Linkin Park, Incubus, Rage Against The Machine, and all crucial acts that stoke relatable passion with authenticity and integrity. Memorize the arena-ready hooks. Get mesmerized by the intimate, communal live show. Dig deeper down the rabbit hole into the work of philosophers and artists like Eckhart Tolle, Carl Jung, and Alan Watts, who inspire the band. There's a place for every type of rock fan with NOTHING MORE. Built to last, here to stay.

About Z2 Comics:

Recently dubbed the "Hottest brand in music" by Forbes, Z2 Comics has quickly become the premier destination for authentic graphic novels and collectibles, created in partnership with top-tier artists, musicians and pop-culture icons. Distributed globally via Simon & Schuster, Z2 has produced 50-plus unique graphic novel properties, collaborating with Gorillaz , Blondie, Elvis Presley, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Pantera, Tori Amos, Last Podcast On The Left, Emily Hampshire, Balmain, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Jason Derulo, The Grateful Dead, Machine Gun Kelly, Sublime, Beethoven, RZA, Mötley Crüe, Vince Staples, Cheech & Chong, The Doors, Anthrax, Public Enemy, Ronnie James Dio, King Diamond, All Time Low, Ivan Moody, Yungblud, Cypress Hill, Babymetal, Major Lazer, RZA, Alter Bridge, Sturgill Simpson, Poppy, John Lee Hooker, and Charlie "Bird" Parker. Learn more at Z2comics.com, and follow us on Instagram (@z2comics) and Twitter (@z2comics).