In science fiction fandom, it’s accepted that Jimi Hendrix was himself a fan. After reading Philip José Farmer’s Night of Light, the legend goes, Hendrix took inspiration for his classic, “Purple Haze.” Some would rather go with the psychedelic explanation, but those people clearly never read Farmer. If you try and apply a narrative to the song, this could be a guy waking up on an alien planet, trying to get home to his love. ‘Scuse me while I kiss the sky? Bernie Taupin wrote about space travel as “…being high as a kite,” so let’s split the difference and imagine both stories are true.
Which fits for Hendrix’s first official comic book appearance, which he’d probably also have liked. Titan Comics has been working with Jimi’s sister Janie Hendrix to bring her brother to life in a time-traveling, dimension-hopping science fiction adventure called Jimi Hendrix: Purple Haze. Of course, he’ll be fighting to save the universe with rock and roll and a certain signature sound. It’s unclear if he’ll be stopping by Electric Ladyland.
“Jimi transcended time and space with his music, leaping generations into the future,“ said Janie, head of the family company, Experience Hendrix, L.L.C. “There was an otherworldliness about him that was a true fascination for many. It’s thrilling to have a Sci-Fi story told introducing Jimi as a time traveler, freedom fighter, and magical musician. This graphic novel is an amazing depiction of what Jimi’s music, his songs, his art conveyed with futuristic imagination! Fans of Jimi, illustrated storytelling, and science fiction will be enthralled!”
I’m enthralled already because they’ve brought in one of my favorite artists, Tom Mandrake. He’ll be delineating the words of Mellow Brown and DJ Benhameen. Together, they’ll take Hendrix on a journey combining pulp fiction, afro-futurism, and of course, psychedelia. Like I said, both explanations can be true. This first ever official Jimi Hendrix graphic novel hits stores in November 2023 in hardcover retailing for $29.99.
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