Cypress Hill + Z2 Debut ‘Black Sunday’ Graphic Novel, Documenting The Band’s Journey through the L.A. Riots, Lollapalooza and recording their 5x Platinum Masterpiece
Deluxe editions come with exclusive 2 LP vinyl variant of their performance at the Royal Albert Hall with the London Symphony
LOS ANGELES, CA (April 8, 2025) — As part of the ongoing celebration of Cypress Hill’s seminal and groundbreaking album, Black Sunday, Z2 is proud to announce “CYPRESS HILL: BLACK SUNDAY,” a graphic novel that commemorates the era and impact of the album and the band. Developed with the band, writers Noah Callahan-Bever and Gabriel Alvarez take you on a narrative journey through the making of the album as the artwork of Ken Knudsten, Sebastian Piriz, Giorgio Pontrelli, Felix Ruiz and Guillermo Sanno immerses you deep in the vibe and historic cultural events that surrounded Cypress Hill as they brought Black Sunday to life. With a new cover by the designer of the original album cover, Jay Papke, and a new interview with Cypress Hill as they look back on the album that made them superstars, this is a tribute that is truly Insane in the Brain!
When asked about Black Sunday‘s iconic sound and cover art aesthetic B-Real shared: “We called it Black Sunday because we’re Raiders fans and also Black Sabbath fans. So Black Sunday felt like an appropriate title for the album. We tried to match the imagery up with what we were putting down musically.”
Another aspect of the ongoing celebration is the exclusive vinyl included with the Platinum Editions. What began as a joke on a 1996 episode of “The Simpsons” has now become a true multi-cultural milestone. “Cypress Hill and the London Symphony Orchestra: Black Sunday Live at the Royal Albert Hall,” captured as a feature-length concert film, will be in cinemas for a special theatrical event March 30, 31 and April 2. Cypress Hill and the London Symphony Orchestra: Black Sunday Live at the Royal Albert Hall, the full length live album, will be released June 6 via Mercury. Only 500 copies of this historic concert will only be available in exclusive GREEN VINYL to preorder on Z2comics.com in the Platinum Signed Bundle.
“It was amazing to take this journey with the people of London who supported Cypress Hill from day one.” —Sen Dog
Available for pre-order now at Z2Comics.com, with a retail release date of June 3rd, 2025, the “BLACK SUNDAY” graphic novel follows Z2’s acclaimed and best-selling first Cypress Hill collaboration, “TRES EQUIS,” charting the path taken by the band, and the battles fought, as they rose to the challenge of delivering a sophomore album that would outshine their powerful debut release. The entire book is set against the backdrop of the L.A Riots, Lollapalooza and touring with their friends— the Beastie Boys. The “BLACK SUNDAY” graphic novel also includes an extensive interview with album designer Jay Papke, taking fans behind the scenes to show the elaborate process that went into the creation of one of the most recognizable album covers in music. The book also contains a brand new interview with B-Real, Sen Dog and Eric Bobo as they reflect back on the album, graphic novel and their lasting legacy.
“The work we started together on ‘Cypress Hill: Tres Equis’ only gets better. Collaborating again with Cypress, Noah and Gabriel to tell the true story of Black Sunday resulted in another sequential masterpiece.” says Z2’s President, Josh Bernstein. “It’s an honor working with B-Real, Sen-Dog, Muggs, Bobo and the entire Cypress Hill + Z2 families to ensure this project smokes.”
The oversized Deluxe edition with slipcase and the limited, signed platinum edition that comes with a Hydro74 Holographic Collector’s Card will only be available directly from Z2 at Z2Comics.com, while a standard softcover edition without slipcase will be available via Z2’s global book distribution partner Simon & Schuster (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books a Million, and Indigo) as well as other independent comic and music shops worldwide via Diamond, Lunar and Alliance Distribution.
Preorder your Deluxe and Signed Platinum edition copies today. Shipping for these tiers begins in September!
THE CREATORS:
Noah Callahan-Bever
The Chief Content Officer of Complex and a proud New York City native, Noah Callahan-Bever has been obsessed with comic books since Secret Wars, and hip-hop since Criminal Minded. He has spent his career in service to these passions (and fellow travelers), creating magazines (Complex, VIBE, Mass Appeal), websites, books, TV shows, music videos and now graphic novels. When not making stuff, he can be found cooking for his wife or teaching his two daughters how not to go out like a spineless jellyfish.
About Gabriel Alvarez
Gabriel Alvarez began writing about hip-hop in 1993. He has written for Rap Pages, The Source, Vibe, XXL, Mass Appeal and Complex. He’s also the co-author of ego trip’s “The Book of Rap Lists,” as well as co-creator of the cult classic reality TV series, “The (White) Rapper Show,” and its follow-up “Miss Rap Supreme” (Vh1). His more recent writing credits include: the Nas podcast, “The Bridge: 50 Years of Hip-Hop” (Spotify) and the “Cypress Hill: Tres Equis” graphic novel (Z2 Comics).
About Cypress Hill:
Three decades ago, B-Real, Sen Dog, and DJ Muggs sparked a trip that left popular culture stoned, stunned, and staggering in anticipation for more. Naming themselves after a local street in Los Angeles, Cypress Hill burst on the scene in 1991 with the release of their self-titled debut album. The singles “How I Could Just Kill a Man” and “The Phuncky Feel One” became underground hits, and the group’s public pro-marijuana stance earned them many fans among the alternative rock community. Cypress Hill followed their debut with Black Sunday in the summer of 1993, which debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top 200, garnered three GRAMMY® Award nominations, and went triple platinum in the U.S. As a result, Cypress Hill became the first rap group to have two albums in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 charts at the same time and are the first Latino-American hip-hop group to achieve platinum and multi-platinum success. Since the release of Black Sunday, Cypress Hill have put out seven more albums including 2018’s critically acclaimed, Elephants on Acid. Cypress Hill made history once again in 2019 when the group was honored with their very own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2021, Cypress Hill released “Champion Sound.” Produced by Black Milk, the single appears on the soundtrack of “R.B.I. Baseball 21” and is also the featured song for the band’s partnership with Montejo Cerveza. 2021 also saw Cypress Hill celebrate the 30th anniversary of their self-titled debut this year with a SONY reissue on vinyl, 7-inch box set, a reissue across all DSP’s that includes eight unreleased tracks, as well as a graphic novel and their very own STANCE sock. Cypress Hill continue to be busier than ever in 2022. On March 18, 2002, the band released Back In Black to critical acclaim. In their review of the album, Kerrang declared it “solidifies their status as a collective still expanding upon their legacy.” On April 20, 2022 Cypress Hill released their “Insane in the Brain” documentary, which is part of Mass Appeal’s “Hip Hop 50” franchise in partnership with Showtime. Upon its release, the New York Times said the documentary was “an often-engaging chronicle of the group”, while Variety declared “the Cypress Hill documentary should put into perspective their pervasive influence and groundbreaking, Latin-tinged hip-hop crossed with booming metallic rock.” On July 10, 2024, Cypress Hill once again made pop culture history performing a historic show with the London Symphony at the Royal Albert Hall. Initially predicted by an episode of “The Simpsons” 28 years prior, the collaboration was brought to life in a sold-out, one-night-only event that showcased their revered Black Sunday album with an unforgettable classical crossover. Hailed by several publications as a piece of “hip hop history,” it was noted that the group “sets a whole new standard for crossover.”
About Z2:
Recently dubbed the “hottest brand in music” by Forbes, Z2 has quickly become the premier destination for authentic graphic novels and collectibles, created in partnership with top-tier artists, musicians and pop-culture icons. Distributed globally via Simon & Schuster, Z2 has produced 50+ unique graphic novel properties, collaborating with Gorillaz, Iron Maiden, Blondie, Elvis Presley, Freddie Mercury, Balmain, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Jason Derulo, The Grateful Dead, Tori Amos, Pantera, Machine Gun Kelly, Sublime, Beethoven, Spiritbox, RZA, Mötley Crüe, Vince Staples, Cheech & Chong, The Doors, Emily Hampshire, Anthrax, Public Enemy, Ronnie James Dio, King Diamond, All Time Low, Judas Priest, Ivan Moody, Yungblud, Cypress Hill, Babymetal, Major Lazer, RZA, Alter Bridge, Sturgill Simpson, Poppy, John Lee Hooker and Charlie “Bird” Parker. Learn more at Z2comics.com, and follow us on Instagram (@z2comics) and X (@z2comics)
