Gerard Way's Comic Legacy Continues

10/01/08 1:55pm

by Steve McLean (CHARTattack)

Gerard Way's emo-goth music can be pretty comical sometimes, but the My Chemical Romance singer is actually an award-winning comic author who'll publish his second series of books next month.

The first series was called Apocalypse Suite. Way's new six-issue The Umbrella Academy project, illustrated by Gabriel Ba, is titled Dallas. The first volume will be 32 pages, cost $2.99 and be published by Dark Horse on Nov. 26. The Dark Horse website provides this premise for it:

"The Umbrella Academy has saved the world, but the house they were raised in is destroyed. One member is bedridden, the side of her head held together with tape; and another has lost her voice, the source of her power. Now that they’ve fulfilled their destiny, does the Umbrella Academy have any future at all?"

Way told NME.com that the second series would focus on "a tragic event in American history." Since it's called Dallas, my money's on the assassination of John F. Kennedy — or J.R. Ewing.

Apocalypse Suite received a 2008 Eisner Award for best limited series. But you comic geeks who are still reading this probably already knew that.

As far as My Chemical Romance are concerned, Way provided an update on the band's website on Aug. 25 to assure fans that he didn't die in a car accident. Here's what else he had to say:

"We're living, decompressing- The Black Parade took over two years to tour and six months to make so that's a lot of existing in a fictional world, and we're just extremely happy to live in a real one for a while. One thing I can let you know is that we're excited. Genuinely more excited than we have ever been to be in this band, make some new music. And we have ALL been writing new material in our own separate worlds... I started a week after I got home, buying a good rig, an old Jag, and a bunch of pedals- just searching for the next sound.

"Bob is recovering well from his recent wrist surgery- exceedingly well considering how risky the procedure can be. We're all really happy that when he picks up the sticks again he won't be in the intense pain he was in during the last year of touring. It's going to take him a while to rehabilitate but knowing him, he will most likely be playing the drums before the doctor says it's a good idea. He just loves playing, we all do. Franks on the road with Leathermouth and Reggie and The Full Effect so you should go see them and get spit on. I know Leathermouth doesn't have a record out yet, but Frank gave it to me in Mexico and I can easily say it's my favorite post-hardcore record of the year, so I know you will at least enjoy the songs if you don't know the words.

"One of the best parts of the last five months was getting to see Ray get married and all of us be a part of the wedding. It was beautiful. I'm not sure where the happy couple is right now but I am sure wherever they are, they are really enjoying it. I have never seen him happier in my life. So we made plans to get together soon and make some demos, see where our heads are at, take it slow. If explosions happen in our heads right away who knows how soon we could have a record out, we aren't in any rush but we get just as anxious as you to find out what the next 'thing' is going to be."