The folks at AfterShock Comics initially talked about this back at NYCC last year and they’ve now set a June 3rd, 2020 debut for the Kill a Man original graphic novel. Coming from writers Steve Orlando and Phillip Kennedy Johnson, it’ll be illustrated by Al Morgan with lettering from Jim Campbell. The book will be priced at $17.99 for the 128-page volume.
“Kill A Man is a story of LGBTQ+ identity and struggle, co-written by one of the leading voices in that community, Steve Orlando,” said Phillip Kennedy Johnson. “It’s also a story about the Mixed Martial Arts scene, co-written by me and illustrated by Alec Morgan, both of us MMA practitioners. Readers will see authentic LGBTQ+ culture and fight culture joined in the same story and embodied within the same characters.”
“I don’t think MMA culture has kept up with progress in its attitude towards the queer community, specifically towards gay men. As an MMA superfan, seeing a top MMA contender outed as gay before his rightful title shot and fighting his way back is a pretty fascinating story, one I would want to read for sure. And it’s DEFINITELY not a story you’re going to read anywhere else right now, which is one reason my co-creators and I are so passionate about telling it.”
Plot Concept: As a child, James Bellyi watched his father die in the ring as payback for slurs thrown at the other fighter. Today, he’s a Mixed Martial Arts star at the top of his game, and one of the most popular fighters in the world…until he’s outed as gay in his title shot press conference.
Abandoned overnight by his training camp, his endorsements, his fans and his sport, to regain his title shot Bellyi is forced to turn to the last person he ever wants to see again: Xavier Mayne, a gay, once-great fighter in his own right…and the man James once watched kill his father.
