The comics world and the hip hop world have crossed over at times in the recent past, and the successes of current titles such as Blokhedz and Tokyo Tribes have conclusively proven that there is an audience for hip hop-themed comics. Now, one of the greatest rap groups of all time is poised to re-stake their claim in this field.

Public Enemy, the socio-political rap group that took the music industry by storm and influenced a generation of rappers and rockers, will be the stars of a new graphic novel, made with the cooperation of front man Chuck D, due out next year. The book will be an action-adventure story that reflects the politics and ideology of the group, expressed in such modern classics as “Don't Believe the Hype,” “911 Is a Joke,” and the anthemic “Fight the Power.”

“The reality is Public Enemy is a world-famous revolutionary, political hip hop band that inspires young and old alike. The fiction is they are members of a secret underground organization called the Underground Railroad,” says creator Adam Wallenta of American Mule Entertainment (AME) in describing the book’s premise. “While they are touring the world they act as agents of peace and justice and help people whenever they are in need. They don’t have super powers but they still kick major ass. There will be lots of adventure and action as well as social commentary reflecting many of today’s issues.”

Wallenta is an illustrator and musician who started out doing color work on Marvel titles like Spectacular Spider-Man, New Warriors, and X-Men Adventures, among others. He went on to form AME with Bryon Turner and they put out The True Adventures of Adam and Bryon. When Turner left for the military, Wallenta continued with an anthology, Imagine, and another series, The Retributors. At the same time he did lots of freelance work (including a brief stint in Hollywood) as well as recording and producing music under the moniker Illus.

“Music has always been a way for me to express myself in a way that I didn’t think I could do with my art,” says Wallenta. “I started writing songs when I was 13 and was in the recording studio by the time I was 16, laying down songs for my first album. Music has always been a passion of mine, and in many ways I’ve always been torn between which to pursue full-strength. I suppose comics and art just came a little easier, but the truth is both are incredibly difficult careers.”

Wallenta first met Public Enemy while on tour with them in 2002 and he brought up the possibility of a PE comic with Chuck D after seeing their previous attempt at it flounder. “I remember when I interned at Marvel and they had the license, but they were doing it all wrong. They didn’t understand the music. They didn’t feel it or love it. I did and I knew I could translate that vibe into a kick ass comic. It took some time to work out the details, but we are now finally in production and it will be released next year.”

The book will come with an exclusive CD of new PE material (to coincide with several new PE albums currently in the works) as well as songs by artists from Chuck D’s label SlamJamz and other indy musicians. Wallenta plans to due his utmost to spread the word among hip hop fans. “The graphic novel will be distributed to all of the major book store chains as well as music stores. There will be a big grassroots movement to push awareness of the book on all of the hip hop websites, and promotional material will be sent to all of the major hip hop magazines for their review. I don't think we can afford to take out an ad in Rolling Stone or The Source but hopefully we can get them to write a review. With Flav on TV and several new PE albums in [the] store, I think we can get people interested in checking the comic. It's going to be a great book for fans and newcomers alike.”

To help build some buzz for the graphic novel, while contributing to a worthy cause at the same time, Wallenta and Chuck D plan to release a one-shot featuring pages and sketches from the book and a section of illustrated lyrics to a new PE song about Hurricane Katrina that will also be included. Proceeds will go towards Katrina relief.

Wallenta’s color tone work can currently be seen in the Top Shelf graphic novel The King. In addition to the PE book, he has several other projects in the works which will all make their debut at next year’s Comic-Con International in San Diego