Fantagraphics Celebrates 50 Years of Hip-Hop With Release of Hip Hop Family Tree Omnibus

Fantagraphics Celebrates 50 Years of Hip-Hop With Release of Hip Hop Family Tree Omnibus

Fantagraphics is celebrating fifty years of hip hop with the release of a hardcover edition of Ed Piskor‘s Eisner award-winning graphic novel, HIP HOP FAMILY TREE. The HIP HOP FAMILY TREE OMNIBUS will feature over 140 pages of additional content, including a foreword by director Charlie Ahearn, who helmed the film WILD STYLE, as well as an afterword by esteemed hip-hop journalist Bill Adler.

Piskor will provide new annotations for the entire series, ensuring an enriching experience. Additionally, the omnibus will include a stunning cover gallery, among other exciting features.

The publication of this omnibus edition represents a significant milestone as it gathers the entire HIP HOP FAMILY TREE series under one cover for the very first time. Since the release of the first volume in 2013, Piskor’s graphic masterpiece has captivated readers worldwide, becoming a perennial bestseller. The series has not only spawned multiple printings and fourteen comic books but has also inspired Piskor’s popular YouTube comics channel, Cartoonist Kayfabe, where he shares his creative insights with fellow cartoonist Jim Rugg.

HIP HOP FAMILY TREE is a remarkable and award-winning comic that presents a comprehensive history of hip hop culture. Piskor’s dynamic and vibrant illustrations transport readers from the humble beginnings of the South Bronx to the flourishing nightclubs, recording studios, and radio stations that fostered this groundbreaking art form. Bursting with authenticity and meticulously researched details, Piskor’s artwork channels the energy and essence of late 1970s New York City.

The comic brilliantly captures the technical innovations, the triumphs, and the setbacks of hip hop’s evolving landscape, employing a storytelling style that combines the captivating storytelling of Ken Burns with the larger-than-life approach of Stan Lee. Similar to acclaimed hip hop documentaries such as Style Wars and Scratch, HIP HOP FAMILY TREE stands as an essential cultural chronicle, earning it a rightful place on the bookshelves of hip hop enthusiasts, pop-culture aficionados, and anyone curious about the formative years of this influential movement.

Ed Piskor expresses his immense gratitude for the lasting success of his creation, stating, “Being a cartoonist means that my books are my babies, and for one of them to have a life beyond 10 years is an absolute blessing. Given the fact that it’s also the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop culture, it was essential for us to bring about the best presentation possible for the material. I couldn’t be happier.”

Fantagraphics Associate Publisher Eric Reynolds lauds Piskor’s dedication to both comics and hip hop, describing HIP HOP FAMILY TREE as “not only a kick-ass comic book but one of the most valuable resources to chronicle hip-hop’s glorious 50-year history.”

The forthcoming omnibus edition represents the culmination of Piskor’s unwavering passion for these art forms as it collects scattered material from years of work into one definitive and captivating hardcover edition. To ensure a balanced and comprehensive package, Piskor has even contributed new artwork specifically for this highly anticipated release.

Prepare yourself for the ultimate edition of HIP HOP FAMILY TREE commemorating 50 years of hip-hop culture. The HIP HOP FAMILY TREE Omnibus will be available at your favorite local comic shop and everywhere books are sold on October 17, 2023.