London-based independent book and comics publisher Diego Comics Publishing‘s latest title is Dark Rock Chronicles, a horror novel by Marco Guadalupi, featuring an awesome cover art by renowned illustrator Pino Rinaldi, well known for his Marvel comics work.

This new English edition of Marco’s first novel, first published in 2012 in Italy, will have its pre-launch debut at Icon Festival in Tel Aviv end of the month (info in English on the Festival here) and will be available for distributors in October. The book will also be on sale at Malta Comic Con at the beginning of December, which has just announced its new venue in Valetta.

Dark Rock Chronicles is the first book by author Marco Guadalupi, adapted in English by Juliet Haydock, introducing readers to a mind-bending alternate reality in which dark magic and heavy metal constantly clash. DRC are a band of young musicians who’ve grown tired of the oppression of the Prison for Out-of-Line Rockers, who run their country with an authoritarian rule.

Through many twists and turns, they find themselves forced to enter the deadly Rock Warrior Tournament by a powerful demon who demands “Six souls of six musicians for six instruments!” in a diabolic pact. The band of friends must use of their heavy rock abilities to defeat their enemies and escape unscathed.

Guadalupi provides an enthralling mixture of musical satire and dark fantasy adventure, one that fans of fantasy and rock music alike will love.

Always fond of the fantastic in all its forms, Marco, who lives in the beautiful town of Lecce in southern Italy, has worked with Fantasy Magazine, an Italian online magazine since 2006 and is currently its editor. He has published numerous articles, reviews, short stories, interviews and insights in magazines both online and print, and is also responsible for promoting the Lunatica fantasy fair. He is also interested in design, music, cinema and video games and has worked as a blogger and social media manager for Fanucci Editore. He is currently attending the Lupiae Comix, Cartoon and Comic school in Lecce.

Born in Rome in 1957, Pino Rinaldi won the “Premio Ostia” award for best cartoonist aged just 18. In 1979 he started to work for various Italian publishers such as Eura Editoriale, Bonelli Comics, Max Bunker Press, Panini and Marvel Italy. Internationally, he is best known for his works for Marvel UK and Marvel Comics on series such as Wild Angels (commissioned by Marvel UK but eventually published by Marvel Italia, the book a best seller in Italy in 1996 – more info here), Freedom, Captain America #453, Thor #498 and Phoenix Aftermath. His most famous character is Willard the Witch.

DieGo Comics Publishing is a family, London-based independent publishing house, operating since 2012, dedicated to discovering the unheard voices and unseen masterpieces of comics, and to pushing their selection of fantasy literature across the world.

Dark Rock Chronicles
Author: Marco Guadalupi
English adaptation: Juliet Haydock
Cover art: Pino Rinaldi
Publisher, Diego Comics Publishing
ISBN 978-0-9926443-0-7
Price £19.99 – Hardback

• Dark Rock Chronicles can be ordered from www.diegopublishing.co.uk

• Check out Pino Rinaldi’s blog (in Italian) at: http://pinorinaldi.blogspot.it | Find him on Facebook | DeviantArt

• About the Author
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John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.

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Categories: Art and Illustration, Books, downthetubes News, Other Worlds

Tags: Book Covers, Diego Comics Publishing, downthetubes News, Fantasy Fiction, Marco Guadalupi, Pino Rinaldi