Nationwide — An ode to two of the biggest characters in hip-hop – New York City and Wu Tang’s Ol’ Dirty Bastard, the graphic novel ODB: A Lyrical Ruckus in the City aka RUCKUS is the hottest comic of the year, incorporating the five elements of hip hop with multiple comic book genres.
On bookshelves now, ODB: A Lyrical Ruckus in the City is a brand new universe set within the five boroughs of New York City. It is a mix of high-octane kung-fu, dystopian science fiction, darkness-haunted horror, and lovelorn romance.
An elemental impact event has caused different versions of the city’s most infamous neighborhoods from across the multiverse to converge together into a single reality. Spectral apparitions now haunt the streets of Queens. In the Lower East Side, a rogue artificial intelligence has seized the streets. A hundred blocks north, time travelers are throwing a block party in Harlem. And who’s navigating us through all of this? Ol’ Dirty Bastard of course. He leads the reader through bizarre and powerful tales that cast freedom and oppression, wealth and poverty, love and loss, and even life and death like so many dice in a cosmic game of chance.
“We created a universe immersed in the five boroughs, reflecting everyday people as heroes: In Manhattan (LaGuardia Steppers) our heroes dance battle with artificial intelligence against cultural appropriation, in Brooklyn (Marcus and the Drunken Fist), our hero is up against gentrification sweeping his neighborhood. Over in Queens (Demon Flow), we see a young rapper’s struggle with ambition and authenticity in hip-hop, and in Harlem (Love in the Mix) we experience time-crossed lovers united by the historically diverse music scene Harlem celebrates,” says co-creator Nicole Beckett in the afterword.
A Lyrical Ruckus in the City was a huge collaboration between storytellers and artists.
“Our team set out on a mission to include as much talent of color as possible to reflect our New York heroes. We strove to include greats like Paris Alleyn, Ron Wimberly, Chris Robinson, Ike Reed, and David Gorden. We also brought in young and burgeoning talent like writer Jaxson Beckett Williams and illustrator Chris Gooding. All of this talent brought the heart and authenticity our culture exudes.” says Jacobs in the afterword.
Created by Beckett and Jacobs of Four Screens and Oni Press, and officially authorized by the Estate of Ol’ Dirty Bastard, this graphic novel has contributors from an epic cast every bit as sprawling as the city within: Troy-Jeffrey Allen (Chuck D’s Apocalypse 91: Revolution Never Sleeps), Paris Alleyne (Miles Morales: Spider-Man), David Brame (MediSIN), Dojo Gubser (Rot8ion), Jay Hero (Green Lantern), Maan House (Bloodborne), Mike Del Mundo (Avengers), Jason Pierre (CW’s In the Dark), Ike Reed & David Gorden (Rampage Jackson’s Big Brawl), Chris Robinson (Vince Staples’ Limbo Beach), Regine Sawyer (Dark Nights: Death Metal – The Last 52), Damion Scott (Batgirl), Felipe Sobreiro (“Weird Al” Yankovic’s The Illustrated Al), Ronald Wimberly (Prince of Cats), and introducing Jaxson Beckett-Willliams.
A Lyrical Ruckus in the City was a massive collaboration between storytellers and artists. The inspiration for the book hit during the 2020 COVID lockdown. It was an apocalyptic moment where a real-life superhero was needed. During this time, co-creators Jacobs, Beckett, and her son Jaxson Beckett Williams’ minds ran wild.
Jaxson, Nicole’s son, was 10 at the time and full of imagination. Jaxson was set on creating a superhero that looked like him. They began to write one of the stories in RUCKUS, thus Sword of the Cypher was born.
During their writing sessions, they were horrified by the tragic death of George Floyd that finally prompted civil unrest and protests throughout the country. It was obvious to them that Sword of the Cypher must have a mission bigger than the usual superhero strife. The hero, and all heroes in the newly expanded RUCKUS, had to have a deeper undertaking: prompting social justice, community building, and elevating black excellence.
The RUCKUS book tour will begin at Book Soup in Hollywood for a book signing where readers can meet the creators and writers and join the Q&A.
Monday, January 27, 2025, at 7:00pm
8818 Sunset Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Get your copy: IG @fourscreensmanagement shop or
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/odb-ike-reed/1145186972
For press inquiries, contact Nicole Beckett/ Four Screens/Estate of ODB at 323-804-4550 or
nicole@4sproduction.com