Def Leppard and the Vault Comics imprint Headshellare announced their forthcoming graphic novel collaboration, Hysteria co-written by Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen and Eliot Rahal (Bleed Them Dry, The Vain, Midnight Vista), with illustrations by Alex Schlitz (YULE: Dreadful Tales for the Holiday Season, Sagas of the Shield Maiden Vol. 2), Fabi Marques (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Batman: The World) as colorist and Andworld Design as letterer. Def Leppard kicked off their 2024 North American summer tour in July. Retail and deluxe editions of Hysteria will be released spring 2025 with merch to follow.
“Blending music and comics together like this is an incredible and insane dream, and I could not be more thrilled by the work Eliot, Alex, and Vault have put into Hysteria. It has been a joy and one hell of a ride. I know fans are going to love it,” said Phil Collen, Def Leppard guitarist.
Continuing the celebration of rock, the graphic novel Hysteria follows Foz, the frontwoman of indie band Darkside, after she inherits her father’s estate and discovers it comes with a half-remembered guitar from her childhood. The guitar speaks to her, promising fame and success. Soon, it delivers. But when Darkside’s equipment is stolen at a massive music venue, just before they’re set to take the stage with Def Leppard, Foz goes on the warpath to get it back. A knuckle-dusting rampage ensues, and the guitar’s true history is revealed.
Co-writer Eliot Rahal said, “From the very beginning, before we had anything, this story felt big. Phil came to us with a vision, a ton of passion, and the word ‘Hysteria’—something that has a lot of history for the band. It’s something that carries a lot of meaning. A legacy. And in many ways, that’s what this story is about. The Vault team worked with me tirelessly to help create a framework to capture that spirit. Then… as the team assembled and the art came in… I saw the idea take shape in real-time, and the weight of the project became even more real. I put everything I had into this book because it was clear to me that everyone else also had as well. I’ll be forever grateful for being a part of this project.”
Def Leppard’s Hysteria, the graphic novel, features never-before-heard music from Darkside, to be recorded in collaboration with Phil Collen, as it tells the story of the world’s most dangerous guitar. Additional details on the release of the Darkside EP will be announced at a later date.
“As a Midwestern native raised on rock and roll and a musician from a family of musicians, Foz and Darkside’s story has come to mean a lot to me,” added illustrator Alex Schlitz. ”The opportunity to work on this book with Def Leppard has been not only a huge honor, but such an exhilarating treat. I’m so grateful to be part of the team bringing this story to life, and I’ve had such a blast working with Eliot, Phil, and Fabi to create this world. I’m excited for everyone else to finally get to come on the journey with us!”
Damian Wassel, Vault CEO, added, “I could say all the usual things about this graphic novel. Hysteria is one of the most iconic albums of all time. Def Leppard are titans of rock. So, no surprise, the graphic novel rocks too. But there’s so much more to it than that. Because Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen isn’t just an animal on the guitar. He’s a lifelong comics fan. Poured out on the pages of this graphic novel is a story he couldn’t tell you in a song that takes you to places Def Leppard have never gone before with their music. Leading the creative charge for the band on this project, Phil has worked hand in hand with writer Eliot Rahal and artist Alex Schlitz to create a graphic novel that takes off like a rocket, about a band that gets cursed and is left with no choice but to run riot.”
Def Leppard joins forces this summer with fellow rock icons Journey for The Summer Stadium Tour 2024, which kicked off on July 6th in St. Louis, MO at Busch Stadium and will run through 24 cities, from coast-to-coast, ending on September 8th in Denver, Colorado at Coors Field. Cheap Trick, and The Steve Miller Band will join the tour, varying city by city. Tickets are currently still available through local providers
Horror, thrills, music, and more are blended together in this fun, fast-paced, roller coaster ride from one of the biggest bands in rock history. Hysteria will be available in stores and online on April 15, 2025.
