Magnetic Press launching Two Action Graphic Novels by Kevan Stevens and Jef: MEZKAL and CONVOY

Celebrated graphic novels and art book publisher Magnetic Press today revealed the upcoming premiere of two action-packed graphic novels by screenwriter Kevan Stevens and fan-favorite illustrator Jef: MEZKAL and CONVOY, two hard-boiled tales presented as a gritty, grindhouse-style double feature. Inspired by cinematic icons like Quentin Tarantino, Walter Hill, and Luc Besson, these genre-bending stories spotlight misguided anti-heroes in pursuit of destiny.

MEZKAL is a psychedelic mix of BREAKING BAD, DESPERADO, and a just whisper of APOCALYPSE NOW, following a disillusioned young man as he seeks a life away from his American drudgery in Mexico. He soon finds himself falling for a local girl who is herself wrapped up in a world of drug smugglers and other bad hombres. Filled with vibrant characters, unexpected twists, and explosive showdowns, this south-of-the-border noir is both thrilling and heartbreaking.

CONVOY thrusts readers into a near future ruined by mankind’s greed. A crew of mercenary couriers take the contract of their lives transporting precious medicine across the wasteland, only to face off against lawless raiders, competing agents, and their own frustrating disappointments. Filled with crazy characters and high-octane set pieces, CONVOY is a gonzo collision of MAD MAX and FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS.

Both titles feature the vibrant illustrations of popular French cartoonist Jef, who honed his unique visual style collaborating with noted writer/director/producer Walter Hill (the ALIEN series, THE WARRIORS, STREETS OF FIRE) on several projects that crossed the bridge between graphic novel and silver screen, including BODY AND SOUL (which Hill adapted as THE ASSIGNMENT starring Sigourney Weaver and Michelle Rodriguez) and A BULLET IN THE HEAD (starring Sylvester Stallone and Jason Momoa).

This graphic novel double feature is being offered for pre-order through a Kickstarter campaign launching on Tuesday, January 17^th at 10am CST. Unique campaign-exclusive bundles will include limited-edition artifacts from the story worlds, as well as a deluxe slipcase set of both books within a silver foil-stamped case. Other exclusive items and stretch goals can be unlocked during the campaign.

“The subtle psychedelic nature of Jef’s art makes these stories leap off the page and stick in your brain,” says Mike Kennedy, Magnetic Press’s Publisher. “You’d be hard-pressed to come up with any kind of comparison – his storytelling is like none other, and these stories, while planted in familiar soil, blossom into wholly unexpected bouquets of action, drama, and humor that put them in a category all their own. It’s no wonder his work has made it to film so many times.”