Bob Marley Graphic Novel

BOB MARLEY: TALE OF THE TUFF GONG is a reverent and beautifully illustrated graphic novel series approved and licensed by Bob Marley Music, Inc and the Bob Marley Estate. The trilogy, with the subtitles IRON, LION and ZION, dealt with pivotal events in Bob’s life and career and was heavily researched and documented by writers CHARLES E. HALL and MORT TODD, with gorgeous art by GENE COLAN and TENNYSON SMITH. The San Diego Union-Tribune said it was “imbued with stunning graphics and a literate story line” and the reggae website www.reggaerunnins.com states “Gorgeous illustrations abound throughout, and a lot of Rasta wisdom is shared and expressed.”
These editions of BOB MARLEY: TALE OF THE TUFF GONG are highly collectible treasures among Bob fans selling for $50 a copy over the Internet and music stores. The series was release by Marvel Music (an imprint of Marvel Comics) in the mid-1990s. Due to Marvel’s distribution problems, Bob’s target audience was not reached and the third volume was never published. Ultimately the plan was to release a collected edition in book form. Because of Bob’s powerful story and how it is presented, this book has the potential to be an ‘evergreen’ release that will always be in print.
Though produced by Marvel, full rights to BOB MARLEY: TALE OF THE TUFF GONG belong to Bob Marley Music, Inc. Now Comicfix, along with BBM, Inc., is actively seeking a new publisher to release it as a collected graphic novel which includes over 40 pages never before seen! Because of Bob’s powerful story and how it is presented, this book has the potential to be an ‘evergreen’ release that once published, will always be in print.

MORT TODD was Editor-in-Chief of the Marvel Music line of Graphic Novels (an imprint of Marvel Comics) and edited TALE OF THE TUFF GONG, along with other titles featuring such bands as KISS, Alice Cooper, AC/DC, Elvis Presley and other rock, rap and country artists. He plotted the series with help from the Bob Marley estate and NEVILLE GARRICK, Art Director and Artist of some of Bob's albums.
CHARLES E. HALL is a writer, artist and musician who wrote the script. He and Mort traveled to Jamaica to do research and shoot reference for the series, including an inspiring trip to Trenchtown and Nine Mile to learn more about Bob's roots. Charles' bands include Bebe Buell & the Gargoyles and the Amazing Cherubs. He is currently developing a series that will be of great interest to Bob fans.
GENE COLAN is a legendary illustrator who has left his mark on the comics industry with a unique style and helped define such titles as Doctor Strange, Daredevil, Iron Man and Tomb of Dracula. His drawings give the story a realistic, though dreamy, quality to the telling of Bob's life.
TENNYSON SMITH is a fine artist and art teacher from Jamaica who did the covers to TALE OF THE TUFF GONG and the painted finishes over Gene's pencils. His lush style added to the authentic feel of the Jamaican and Rastafari elements of Bob's world. Tennyson also fully painted "The Dread I-story," a supplement to the series that related the history of Jamaica and the struggle of the Rasta.
Keep checking this page for examples of the interior art that will be posted soon, along with updates on our progress in seeing this great body of work in print again!